Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Is Lonzo Ball Good Enough To Improve The Franchise?

Rookie point guard Lonzo Ball dazzled fans with several stellar performances during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this month. Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson said that Ball’s display proved that he's a "special player."

Ball, who recorded two triple doubles in the tournament, won the Most Valuable Player award Monday during the Summer League finals. The 19-year-old skipped past most defenders and tossed jaw-dropping passes to his teammates almost every game, averaging a record 9.3 assists.

Johnson commended Ball’s Summer League play Tuesday during a press conference, promising that there was more to come.

READ: Los Angeles Lakers News: How Good Is Lonzo Ball? Rookie Named MVP At NBA Summer League

"You can see that. If he's getting triple-doubles in the summer league, he is going to get triple-doubles in the regular season," Johnson said. "Just like me, when I got here, there was pressure. I was the No. 1 pick [in 1979]. I didn't care about that. I am going to play my game. Lonzo is going to play his game. The great ones do."

The Lakers Hall of Famer praised Ball’s point guard skills and knack for controlling the game's pace and getting teammates involved. Johnson compared Ball’s passing prowess to his own play in the Showtime 80s.

"I think it is the same in terms of the basketball IQ," Johnson added, referring to similarities he and Ball share. "What is lacking in our game is a guy that can create a shot for somebody else. That is why Golden State, San Antonio and Cleveland are so good. They got multiple guys who can create a shot for somebody else. That is the one thing that he has that you cannot teach."

During his stint with UCLA, Ball earned a reputation for being a top facilitator, averaging 7.6 assists per game. Johnson cited Ball’s natural ability to make his teammates better.

"Lonzo is special, no question about it, because he makes everyone better," Johnson said. "He does something you can't teach. He gives you a scoring pass. Very few point guards in this league can do that. I am talking about giving you a pass that leads to the score, not just passing it to you.

The Lakers second overall pick rested during Monday’s Summer League championship game versus the Portland Trail Blazers after he injured his calf muscle Sunday. An MRI Tuesday concluded it was a mild calf sprain, which required up to two weeks of rest. Despite missing two games due to injury, Ball averaged 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He had four games with at least 10 assists.

READ: Lonzo Ball Will Be The Michael Jordan Of Assists, Says Ex-NBA Player Jay Williams

The Lakers struggled through a 26-56 last season. Johnson, along with new general manager Rob Pelinka, looked to improve the team with hopes of perhaps of luring LeBron James in 2018. Rumors have swirled that the Lakers are the frontrunners for Paul George, a player that can push them into contention in the competitive Western Conference.

Johnson and Pelinka have placed a stronger emphasis on shooting, while adding Ball, a pass-first point guard to help the offense flow. They traded guard D'Angelo Russell and center Timofey Mozgov for center Brook Lopez, drafted Kyle Kuzma and acquired free-agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Johnson said Caldwell-Pope's athleticism, ability to finish and defend different positions complemented the play of current teammates.

"I would love to see [Caldwell-Pope] on one wing, [Brandon Ingram] on the other, Ball in the middle. Julius [Randle] trailing. Lopez trailing after that," Johnson added. "It is going to be awesome. Larry Nance. On and on and on."