Ball returning to Lakers' lineup, will be on minutes limit

The Los Angeles Lakers are doing something that sounds more suited for LaVar Ball: Putting Lonzo Ball on restriction.

The high-profile rookie and second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft will make his long-awaited return to the Lakers' lineup on Friday night as the club hosts the Dallas Mavericks in its first game after the All-Star break.

But, the team announced, the move comes with some caveats -- a minutes restriction and a ban on back-to-back games for now.

Ball has missed the Lakers' last 15 games with a sprained left knee, his last game coming on Jan. 13 against Dallas. The former UCLA star is averaging 10.2 points, 7.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds in 36 games this season.

The team Ball returns to, however, will look a bit different than the one he last ran the floor with. Most notably, Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson are gone, having been shipped to Cleveland at the trade deadline for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a first-round pick.

Los Angeles is currently 23-34 and in 11th place in the Western Conference.

--Field Level Media