The Tribune

By INIGO 'NAUGHTY' ZENICAZELAYA

THE NBA Finals appears to be headed to another rapid conclusion.

And when the Lakers don’t make the Finals the buzz around the team goes into hyperdrive.

Free agency will feature LeBron James and a supporting cast eager to join the Lakers and improve upon what is already a strong nucleus of young players.

Solid drafting from the front office has been encouraging as well.

• Here are the latest rumblings from ‘Lakerland.’

NO TO LiANGELO

It doesn’t sound like the Lakers care for the idea of bringing more members of the Ball family out West.

The Lakers had a recent workout that included the younger Ball, but according to USA Today’s Sam Amick, this particular storyline isn’t going to go much further than that:

“While the Los Angeles Lakers held a workout Tuesday that included the younger brother of starting point guard Lonzo Ball, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports team officials have no interest in drafting or signing the 19-year-old...”

MITCHELL

ROBINSON

Mitchell Robinson is one of the more interesting stories in the 2018 NBA Draft, so it makes sense the Lakers would somehow be connected to him. Especially at pick #25.

It’s no surprise the Lakers would have an eye on a guy like Robinson despite his commitment to Western Kentucky before not playing.

Robinson is, in a word, rare.

He’s huge and can shoot quality numbers from beyond the arc, which is already rare for a guy his size.

But some of the other measurables and what he’s doing on the court before even turning pro is impressive.

It’s easy to point to Kyle Kuzma as a guy the Lakers got right in the latter portion of the first round recently.

The difference with Mitchell is the Lakers can afford to wait on Robinson to grow into the player he’s supposed to become.

A player with ridiculous upside like Robinson, this could be the smartest possible move.

PAUL GEORGE

The Lakers have been linked to everything Paul George this offseason.

The Lakers have been in play, well before George joined the OKC Thunder.

Hollywood couldn’t write a better script, considering he’s a hometown kid who wants to pursue a title while being the face of a major franchise.

The Lakers check all the boxes, and the latest in the saga has the Houston Rockets Wire’s Kelly Iko reporting the Lakers are “still favourites” to land George despite his liking what he sees from the Rockets. Also to land George, the Rockets would have to pull off some serious cap magic to help George’s contract come aboard.

Manoeuvres like a sign-and-trade are always possible, but his life would be quite a bit less complicated if he just joined the Lakers.

However, Lakers fans knew this wasn’t going to be easy, no matter how sweet the whole scenario seemed.

The franchise has been in the conversation for major free agents every offseason, yet has been used more as leverage than anything else.

The front office has built a quality young roster.

It’s an appealing one, too, so there is some believability to the notion it’s one a star like George might want to come on over and lead.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net