Lonzo Ball says he will NOT work out for the Celtics




ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg captured Ainge's quote on the matter:

"We tried to get [Ball] in," Ainge told the "Toucher and Rich" program while Boston's front-office staff traveled for a draft workout in New York that included Duke's Harry Giles and Kentucky's Malik Monk.

"We don't deal with [Ball's camp] all that much. They didn't show up at the combine, which is very common -- many of the top 10 or 15 players don't show up for the [NBA's] combine. ... We just tried to get him in for a workout and they politely said no."

Fine by me! Only more reason to draft that stud out of Washington by the name of Markelle Fultz. Have you seen what he's looking like lately?



EYES EMOJI. This kid is already turning into a beast.

You still know that Ainge is going to play some mind games with Magic Johnson and the Lakers front office, though. He noted how the Celtics have drafted players in the past who had never worked out for them, clearly as an attempt to entice the Lakers to trade up a spot.

The projected top-two pick out of UCLA is clearly hoping that he ends up with his hometown Lakers with the No. 2 pick. Well, that's at least what his dad, LaVar, is hoping for:

"That's all we working out for is the Lakers," LaVar Ball told Lakers Nation earlier this month. "Just the Lakers. There's nobody else that we need to work out for."

"If Lonzo goes to Boston, he turns into a 2. ... Lonzo's always going to be a point guard. He can play any position, but his true position is point guard and Boston has so many guards, you don't need that guy," LaVar Ball said.

Later he added: "Here's the thing: I prefer Zo to go to the Lakers, but if Boston were to choose him and Lonzo wants to play basketball, then guess what, he doesn't care where he goes."

Ok LaVar, but you aren't going to stop Danny from picking the player he wants...which hopefully isn't Lonzo anyway!


Follow Erik Johnson on Twitter: @erikjohnson32

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