There’s no former Lakers’ player who is more polarizing or misunderstood than Lonzo Ball, who was drafted #2 overall by Los Angeles back in 2017 where he played his first two seasons before being traded to New Orleans.
Over hyped by Magic Johnson and the LA media and hounded by his father LaVar Ball’s antics, Lonzo Ball spent a good portion of his two seasons with the Lakers fighting injuries and trying to live up to inflated expectations. But being exiled to New Orleans via the Anthony Davis trade allowed Lonzo the time and opportunity to work on honing his game, especially his 3-point and free throw shooting and overall decision making as a point guard.
Now that it appears the Pelicans are committed to pursuing Kyle Lowry as their starting point guard going forward, here are ten reasons why Lonzo Ball is the perfect point guard for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers:
1. EXCEPTIONAL BASKETBALL IQ
One of intangible LeBron and the Lakers value is basketball IQ. Lonzo’s greatest talent is his vision and anticipation at both ends of the court. Like Caruso, Lonzo does the little things that don’t show in the box score.
2. ELITE VOLUME 3-POINT SHOOTER
The Lakers need volume 3-point shooters. After shooting just 31.5% on 5.3 attempts per game his two years with the Lakers, Lonzo shot an impressive 37.6% from deep on 7.2 attempts per game in two years with the Pelicans.
3. SAVVY AND VERSATILE DEFENDER
At 6′ 6″ with a 6′ 7″ wingspan, Lonzo has all the instincts and tools to be an elite defender who can guard ones, twos, and threes and provide defensive savvy and versatility that few NBA point guards are capable of doing.
4. GIFTED PASSER AND PLAYMAKER
From high school to UCLA to the Lakers and then the Pelicans, Lonzo has always been a ready made playmaking highlight reel. While he still needs to improve his P&R passing, Lonzo is an elite outlet and lob playmaker.
5. BALL NEVER STOPS OR STICKS
With LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the lineup, the Lakers don’t really want a ball dominant point guard. Lonzo is a great fit because the ball doesn’t stop when it gets to him. Lonzo’s elite at moving the basketball.
6. EXPERIENCE PLAYING WITH LEBRON
While Lonzo struggled at times during his 2-year stint in LA, he had a great relationship with LeBron James, who always respected his game and knew and understood the pressures Lonzo faced with all of the media hype.
7. FAMILIAR WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS OF LA
You hear Lakers fans and media always talking about how players struggle to play or shoot as well in LA as other cities because of the bright lights. Lonzo has been here before and that will help him adjust to playing in LA.
8. GREAT UPSIDE AT 22-YEARS OLD
Just 22-years old with 4 years of NBA experience, Lonzo has already shown he is nowhere near the player he has the potential to become. He needs to learn to run pick-and-rolls and to attack the basket with drives and floaters.
9. REASONABLE SALARY AND BIRD RIGHTS
With Kyle Lowry, Dennis Schroder, and Spencer Dinwiddie now demanding much of the attention and $30 million per year, the Lakers may have an opportunity to sign-and-trade Lonzo for $20 to $22 million per year.
10. MEMBER OF KLUTCH SPORTS’ FAMILY
Don’t disregard how important being a Klutch Sports client could be to Lonzo Ball ending up on the Lakers. Rich Paul and Rob Pelinka already have an impressive track record at directing Klutch talent to the Lakers.
This is going to be one of the most dynamic offseasons in NBA history. The Play-In Tournament has suddenly transformed a leauge that used to be split fairly evenly between sellers and buyers. Now it’s like everybody’s a buyer.
The Lakers want to reduce the workload on 36-year old LeBron by acquiring a ‘difference-making playmaker’ so James can move to the four and Davis to the five. Lonzo’s 7 assists and 7 attempted threes per game are a pefect fit. The Lakers don’t need a ball-dominant point guard like CP3 or Russ. They need a point guard who can quickly get the ball in the right player’s hands, take and make a high volume of threes to create spacing, and play defense.
Lonzo Ball may not be the old school ball-dominant point guard but he has the potential to become the prototype future modern NBA point guard and is the perfect point guard for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Kyle Lowry wanting $30 million per year for three years and Russell Westbrook throwing the Lakes into luxury tax hell, I’m starting to like the option of signing-and-trading for Lonzo Ball as the Lakers best option for a ‘difference-making playmaker.’
I love Lonzo’s 7 assists and 7 attempted threes per game plus his defensive savvy and versatility. He needs to improve his pick-and-roll playmaking and his ability to attack and finish at the rim, but he’s already shown a great ability to adjust and adapt with how he has improved his 3-point and free throw shooting. That bodes well for Lonzo being able to become an All-Star point guard down the road.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the upcoming point guard musical chairs dance that’s coming up starting on Thursday. With the Pels looking to land Lowry, teams chasing Simmons, the shadow of Westbrook lurking, Lonzo could end up being the surprise point guard for the Lakers. I think he might be our best overall option.
#10 is the biggest reason why this isn’t outlandish. I think the Pelicans are gearing up to retain Lonzo, not trade for Lowry but who knows.
Also, I’d be fine with Lonzo coming back to LA but I also feel like that’s unlikely, as well. The brothers who have made it in the NBA have done well away from home. Coincidence? Maybe, but maybe there’s something to playing with less pressure and not more.
I watched an interview where a valid point was made. They said for years people have been trying to pair a true point guard with LeBron but it’s usually been a secondary ball handler like a shooting guard. In essence LeBron is the point guard and probably always will be. In this context I wouldn’t mind Lonzo. He’s great on the break. In the half court LeBron could handle the half court offense. I wouldn’t have Lonzo run the 2nd unit. While Alex isn’t a wizard with the ball he runs the half court better. You might even have THT run the 2nd unit. He handles the ball well and is a much better finisher at the rim. You could even look into bringing in Bledsoe if he gets bought out, which he probably will. Could sign him to minimum deal.
Aloha, Michael,
There’s a reason why the Lakers want to acquire a ‘difference-making playmaker’ to play the one so they can move LeBron to the four and you can bet your life that LeBron James is part of that decision.
Fans don’t realize how much effort it takes to play point guard vs. playing off the ball. That’s why LeBron doesn’t bring the ball up the court and it’s why the Lakers want LeBron to play more off the ball this season. He’s 36 years old and has now sufferred a season ending injury in 2 of the last 3 seasons. The Lakers need to preserve as much of LeBron as they can and having him play off the ball at the four is a smart way to do that.
If the Lakers can bring in an elite playmaker, then we may see LeBron become more of a scorer than playmaker. As good as James is as a playmaker, the reality is he is probably better as a scorer. Think of how Rondo at the one and LeBron at the four worked during the Bubble Championship. The 36-year old version of LeBron could average 30 points per game next season with a Lowry, Westbrook, Ball, or DeRozan at the one.
As for Caruso, there’s no way he’s in the rotation at point guard. He’s a turnover waiting to happen. He averages 2.8 turnover per game in just 21 minutes. THT is a much better ball handler and playmaker but neither of them are capable of taking over the one so LeBron can play the four.