Even though the New Orleans Pelicans are poised to miss the playoffs this year, they still have a lot of reasons to be optimistic. For one, the evolution of Zion Williamson into an All-Star has been nothing short of amazing. His pairing with Brandon Ingram is also a development worth looking out for. Of course, another name worth mentioning in this conversation is Lonzo Ball.

Statistically speaking, the fourth-year veteran is having the best season of his career. After a bad stint in the Orlando bubble last year, Ball has raised every facet of his game by averaging 14.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals. He’s also shooting the ball better, especially from beyond the arc, with a 37.5% rating on 8.4 attempts per game.

Although Ball has taken a leap this year as compared to his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, there’s still sufficient doubt when it comes to his card stock. We examine three reasons below why it’s safer to steer clear of Lonzo Ball cards.

Lonzo Ball has a limited ceiling

Again, Lonzo Ball’s improvement this season has been a pleasant surprise. After a rough stint with the Lakers, the guard has been showing everyone he can still contribute on both ends of the floor. But as incredible as it may seem, there’s one detail that cannot be overlooked: his limited ceiling.

Lonzo Ball Pelicans

No matter how hard card fans would wish it, Ball is nowhere near the likes of Stephen Curry or Russell Westbrook. You can’t expect him to take over games or fill up the stat sheet like that on a nightly basis. At best, he has the potential to become a fringe All-Star who can defend opposing guards and space the floor.

Since his ceiling won’t be as high as other young stars in the NBA, there won’t be much room for Ball’s card value to rise. This means investing in his stock won’t hold any potential for profit down the road for those who want to flip Lonzo Ball rookie cards.

He can’t lead a team on his own

Some of the best players to invest in are those who lead their own squads. Some of the names that easily come to mind are Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, and Trae Young, among others. Unfortunately, Ball isn’t included in that conversation.

Lonzo Ball, Pelicans

The Pelicans point guard, while talented on his own, isn’t enough to push his team toward contention. Ball will always need a high-level scorer at his side to become effective because he can't take games over offensively on his own. 

Although his playmaking, defense, and improving 3-point shot will play well with most stars in the league, he doesn’t possess the killer instinct or natural gene to lead a team of his own. The best-case scenario for Ball is to play second fiddle to a bona fide offensive wing to become truly effective.

LaMelo Ball is a better prospect for card enthusiasts

While a younger sibling will often have to live in the shadow of an older one, it looks like this won’t be the case with LaMelo Ball. The 19-year-old is averaging 16.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.6 steals in 28.8 minutes per game. As compared to Lonzo Ball's numbers, you can see a stark difference between the two.

LaMelo’s game in his rookie season justifies the hype surrounding him, as evidenced by his impressive card value. In essence, this is the situation Lonzo should have been in, especially after four years in the NBA. When taking these factors into consideration, the younger Ball will come out as a better investment opportunity for card enthusiasts, both for the short and the long term.

Image 1 - 46193133 Lonzo Ball 2017 Panini Prizm #289 RC Rookie PSA 10 GEM MINT

As of now, Lonzo Ball’s current value on eBay is $105.5, which has risen from $85 at the end of April. This price can be considered affordable, especially with the potential for his value to spike up when the guard becomes a free agent. Nevertheless, there are other better players to invest in right now, including his younger brother. 

The wiser course of action is to find guys who will play in the coming postseason and invest in them. Doing so will give you a better chance of making a profit before the season ends.