LaVar Ball: Lonzo won't re-sign with Lakers unless Lakers sign LiAngelo and LaMelo

What's the story?

In an interview with Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas, LaVar Ball has announced that Lonzo Ball won’t resign with the Los Angeles Lakers unless LiAngelo and LaMelo are also signed.

In case you didn't know...

LiAngelo is averaging 13.8 points per game till now in the five appearances he has had for Vytautas while LaMelo is averaging 7.6 points per game, according to Eurobasket.

The heart of the matter...

LaVar Ball has a master plan of getting all of his three sons into the same NBA team. According to him, Lonzo Ball will not re-sign with the Lakers unless his two brothers join him. This will massively impact the long-term status of Lonzo Ball. LaVar discussed his plan on Monday with Lithuanian reporter Donatas Urbonas:

LaVar Ball on his big plan how he's going to bring Lonzo, Melo and Gelo to one NBA team: “Lonzo will be on his 3rd year and I want let every NBA team know, that Lonzo is not going to resign with the Lakers, but will go to any team, that will take all of my three boys.” pic.twitter.com/GErdXjraYU
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) February 12, 2018

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The two other Ball brothers LaMelo and LiAngelo are playing for Vytautas Prienu in Lithuania, while Lonzo is in the midst of his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have team options on Lonzo through the 2020-21 season. Therefore, even if the two sides don’t agree to an extension, he would only become a restricted free agent at that point. The Lakers will be able to match any kind of deal that the 2017 No. 2 draft pick receives.

LiAngelo Ball is eligible to be drafted in 2018, but it is going to be a tough sell getting to join his brother's roster with him not even being in one of the 60 picks. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski explained in December that the guard has “no chance” of being taken and wasn’t on any extended lists after leaving UCLA. Although LaMelo is highly touted, he is just 16 years old and won’t be eligible for the recruiting for another two years.

What's next?

With All-Star Weekend right around the corner, the Lakers play one of their last two matches before the break against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

Author's take

With Lonzo struggling in his rookie year shooting only 35.6 percent from the field in 36 games, he might not have enough leverage to control the rest of the roster. There's still a lot of time left for Lonzo on his rookie contract to make a mark and become an important player for the Lakers. Only time will tell whether LaVar Ball's master plan would work or not.