Report: Lakers reportedly sent scouts to observe LiAngelo Ball in Lithuania

What's the story?

According to The Score, the Los Angeles Lakers sent scouts over to Lithuania to observe LiAngelo Ball for a potential draft pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Lakers took LiAngelo's brother Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick.

In case you didn't know...

In the 2017 NBA Draft, only Markelle Fultz was taken ahead of Lonzo Ball, but both men have missed significant time due to injuries this season. Ball played in 52 games; while Fultz played in only 14, but just recently made his debut and is making some important contributions for the 3-seed Philadelphia 76ers.

The heart of the matter...

A shoplifting incident in China forced LaVar Ball to pull his sons LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball from UCLA in their freshman seasons. Both Ball brothers would sign with the BC Vytautas this past December, a Lithuanian basketball club.

LaVar has stated publicly that he desires to have all three of his sons to play together on the Lakers, and he states that Lonzo Ball told him that he wouldn't re-sign with them unless his brothers are on the team.

The Lakers appear to be serious about bringing the Ball brothers together as they reportedly sent scouts two weeks after LiAngelo declared for the 2018 NBA Draft.

Through 11 games this season, LiAngelo is averaging 14.5 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game. Several people within the NBA have indicated that LiAngelo is not a priority on many team's draft boards and is likely to go undrafted.

What's next?

The 2018 NBA Playoffs begin on Saturday afternoon with four games on the schedule. First round match-ups on Saturday include the Spurs v. Warriors, Wizards v. Raptors, Heat v. 76ers, and Pelicans v. Trail Blazers.

Author's take...

I'm going to go out on a (very strong) limb and say that the three Ball brothers are not going to be playing together on the Los Angeles Lakers. If several people in the league who believe he's going to go undrafted, will the Lakers sign him as an undrafted free agent and have a bench spot for him?

On top of that, there are some that are high on LaMelo's playmaking skills, so there is a lot of luck that will be involved with the Lakers landing both brothers to play alongside Lonzo.