Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball‘s one of the league’s what-if stories.
What if the former second overall pick resisted his father’s desire to make he and his brothers a brand? What if that stopped him from wearing those ill-fated Big Baller Brand sneakers? Finally, what if not wearing those shoes prevented him from suffering the meniscus tear that may have started a debilitating chain reaction?
Those questions can’t be answered, only ruminated over. Nevertheless, with the Utah Jazz waiving Ball after attaining him and two second-round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of the trade deadline, they’re the first ones that pop up. They’re thrown into even sharper relief by Ball’s numbers since returning from the knee injuries that kept him out for two-plus seasons: 6.1 points and 3.6 assists per game, 33.9% shooting from the field and 31.3% shooting from 3.
As far as the way that Ball moves in the open court, he looks good. Yet, it’s clear that he’s not as explosive as before, frequently failing to get into the paint. Add in the decline in his efficiency as a 3-point shooter and his overall scoring profile is far less than optimal. Even so, Ball’s a high IQ facilitator who can still create turnovers. Any team, even his brother’s, could find value in that.
