On Tuesday, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that the Lakers are interested in acquiring a "difference-making playmaker" to free up LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the latter of whom the Lakers acquired two years ago with a trade package that included Ball. Stein believes that despite obvious financial limitations, the Lakers will actively pursue Ball once free agency opens Aug. 2. "Word is that the Lakers, on top of their well-chronicled need for more shooting, covet one more difference-making playmaker who would allow James and Davis to spend more time at power forward and center," Stein wrote. "Expect to eventually hear of them searching for potential pathways, however obstacle-strewn they would be, to reacquiring restricted free agent-to-be Lonzo Ball for that reason."