While the Los Angeles Lakers were connected to multiple prospects heading into the 2017 NBA Draft, many expected them to select Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 overall pick. Seeking a pass-first point guard, they selected Ball after he completed just one season at UCLA. Ball endured an up-and-down first season, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team despite only appearing in 52 games due to multiple injuries. Ball went into what Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson referred to as the biggest summer of his career. Some of the optimism that Ball would make leaps in his progression was dampened with news he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome left knee. Nonetheless,