Yep, while the connection between Lugia and the Winged Mirages felt random on the first glance, since they had no real direct connections in-game until XY's Sea Spirit's Den (a cave that alludes to the mascot of Silver).
Nevertheless, it's actually great imo. Because:
- The three birds received important roles
- Lugia's role as a guardian of the sea has been highlighted well.
As a fan who've begun from Gen I, I'm actually proud to see this series that I love and grew up with expanding! While I'm not satisfied with every new Pokémon, generally I welcome the addition.
Look at this. :)
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/41030/pokemon-marketing-director-teases-flowers-in-series-future