Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball has signed with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. “For me, it was an easy call and it was the right time to make that call.”
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 14, 2020
ESPN Story: https://t.co/IhRjENLDzu
Lonzo Ball signs with Klutch Sports! Setting Up Possible Lakers Reunion?
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September 14, 2020 9 Comments
While it’s probably just coincidence but maybe it’s not. There are lots of reasons why Lonzo might want Rich Paul as an agent and one of them could be a desire to return to the Lakers.
Lonzo has two years left on his contract and his and the Pelicans’ poor play in the bubble has, to coin a phrase, left him on the bubble. The Pels may want to trade him rather than give him a new contract. He could easily be on the market this offseason.
Lonzo still has major flaws in his game but also major strengths in his defense, playmaking, and rebounding, all skills that could be a great fit on the Lakers.
The key could be his improved 3-point shooting as he shot 37.1% from deep this season while averaging 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.0 assists and is still just 22 years old.
Next to Rondo, Lonzo is probably the most polarizing player among Lakers fans. Some still love him. Some have always thought he was overhyped and overrated. Personally, I love the kid and would welcome him back to the Lakers but the question is always at what price. He’s making $11 million now.
Dang, Tom. I look in ever so often but now you’ve done it and gone too far. Trade Alex Caruso? No effing way.
I’m starting to think you’re a super secret deep buried Clipper disinformation agent.
You hated LBJ coming here, against the AD for young bucks trade, don’t like KCP, been so anti Rondo, tried and still trying to trade Kuzma, dislike all the Cs: Javale, Dwight and Boogie, lukewarm on DGreen and hated on the Vogel hire. Hate smash mouth big bball preferrng MDA’s small ball shyte. That’s almost the entire team roster and philosophy.
AND NOW, you’re trading Caruso for Lonzo?!
That like trading DFish for Smush. Clutch for Choke.
No, Tom.
LOL. That’s pretty funny, Peter. I have to admit I do have many ghosts of previous first takes in my closet but reacting, reviewing, and reevaluating sports opinions is part of the process of being an aware and informed fan. Better than being a blind, deaf, and dumb follower of a team. And who wants to blog and talk sporsts with somebody like that?
Intelligent and insightful article by Jonathan Kiernan covering a polarizing subject with great respect. Jonathan hits all the points perfectly and proposes a deal that could be a win-win for both the Lakers and the Pelicans. Lonzo Ball back in purple and gold? I would love that!
There have been several articles trying to turn Lonzo’s signing with Klutch into some form of meme but Jonathan Kiernan does a great job of ignoring that news and making a reasonable case for why the Lakers and the Pelicans should make the deal. I suspect Jonathan wrote the article before hearing the Klutch news.
However, you can’t ignore the reality of how Lonzo signing with Rich Paul could change the dynamics. Not only do the Lakers have four Klutch clients in LeBron, AD, KCP, and THT but you can’t ignore how AD leveraged his impending free agency into a trade to the Lakers. There could be a fire from this smoke. And Klutch clients are like family and talk to each other.
They’re shopping him because they don’t want to pay that team option 11.5. Kid isn’t worth it. Particularly with the shrinking cap. No matter how well you do everything else, if you’re not a respected shooter, you’re a minimum salary guy.
As long as we have LeBron, Lonzo is a bad fit. He really struggled as a secondary ball handler with the Lakers. Caruso is the same size, as athletic and is every bit as good on the defensive end as Lonzo. Plus he understands his role on offense. While is not the playmaker that Lonzo is, with LeBron, he doesn’t have to be. I also don’t think that Lonzo is as good as what we would have to give up to get him. It would cost Kuz for sure, probably Alex and THT as well.
I do agree that cost is the issue in trading for Lonzo. The trade Jonathan Kiernan proposes is McGee, Caruso, and the 28th pick in the draft, which I think is a fair trade.
Ball’s stats were 11.8 points, 6.1 boards, and 7.0 assists in 32.1 minutes and shot 39.0/37.5/56.6%. Poor from the field and line but good from three. But still only 22 years old. The 26-year old Caruso averaged just 5.5 points, 1.9 boards, and 1.9 assists in 1.4 mintes minutes and shot just 41.2/33.3/75.0%.
As to fitting with LeBron, all you have to do is look at what’s going on with Rondo to understand the Lakers are better when LeBron has a secondary playmaker on the court with him as it frees him up to be a scorer. That’s why Lonzo would be great alongside LeBron.
Lonzo’s also a sperior three-point shooter and playmaker. Caruso is a better defender right now but Lonzo has far more upside to grow and develop and is 4 years younger. Lonzo does have issues with his free throws that are troublesome but hopefully fixable with a good shooting coach.
If you can trade McGee (who’s future value to the team may be mitigated by Morris and Cousins), Caruso, and the pick for Lonzo Ball, a former 2nd overall pick, who is only 22 years old and has dramatically higher upside, that’s deal the Lakers would probably jump imo.
Like Jonathan said, the Pelicans could probably get more than the Lakers’ offer from other teams in a Lonzo Ball trade. And if they hire D’Antoni, Lonzo’s perfect for his system.
Can’t shoot, so not a fit in Pringleball. I think the slightly elevated 3 point shot this year was the exception, not the rule. The terrible FG/FT % is telling.
It’s troublesome for sure, Stan, but if I could get Lonzo for McGee, Caruso, and the 2th pick, I think it’s a steal. But don’t worry, Pelicans will get better offers than that for Lonzo. He still is only 22 and has great upside.