Lonzo Ball introduced as 'new face of the Lakers' by Magic Johnson

UCLA prodigy Lonzo Ball was introduced as "the new face of the Los Angeles Lakers" Friday by team president Magic Johnson, a day after the point guard was picked No. 2 overall in the NBA Draft. Johnson said that Ball has "greatness written all over him" and essentially gave the keys of the franchise to the teenager.

The Lakers have missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons. And while analysts don't expect Ball to carry the Lakers into next year's postseason, there is strong belief around the league that the team will return to winning ways in the near future. Johnson and general manager, Rob Pelinka, have reiterated the team's plan to sign two max-level free agents next July to pair up with franchise cornerstones Ball and Brandon Ingram.

"I want to introduce you to the new face of the Lakers, the guy who I think will lead us back to where we want to get to. We expect a Ball jersey hanging up there one day. He has greatness written all over him. Now he just has to go out and push him, and we will, too. And (Lakers coach) Luke (Walton) and the coaching staff will do the same thing and it's OK, because he receives all that well," Johnson said in the presser, via ESPN.

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Johnson, who helped the Lakers win five championships in the 1980s, has set the same expectations for Ball, who has drawn comparisons with Magic for his playing style and pass-first attitude. Though Ball won't be walking into a team with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers boast of exciting young players such as Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and Ivica Zubac.

"We want to start building a successful team, and you have to have a great leader. And somebody that can make their teammates better, somebody who has incredible basketball IQ -- his IQ is off the charts -- and somebody who can get their teammates to follow them and want to get out on that wing like James Worthy and Byron Scott and Michael Cooper used to do back in the day. We feel like we have that person right here in Lonzo Ball," added Johnson, while challenging Ball to live up to the hype.

Meanwhile, there is still a possibility of Lakers pulling off a Paul George trade this summer. With George making clear his intentions to test free agency next summer, the Pacers are under pressure to ship the All-Star forward. George has been linked strongly to the Lakers, his hometown franchise. With Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and possibly Paul Georg on board, the Lakers could prove to be an attractive destination for free agents in the summer of 2018.