It’s been a struggle to get respectability at the beginning of the 2018-19 NBA season but the Los Angeles Lakers are now in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. In order to move up, the team is exploring trades and among them is a trade with the Phoenix Suns. According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Suns are looking for a deal that would net them a playmaker.
Though their primary target from the Lakers squad is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the playmaker they are looking for could very well come from the same team—Lonzo Ball.
The second-year guard from UCLA has been having a roller-coaster ride to the season, learning to play alongside superstar teammate LeBron James who is getting the lion’s share of the playmaking duties for the Lake Show. The adjustment hasn’t come easy for Ball as he has been timid at times and then overaggressive at others. If the Lakers would like to move him in order to help facilitate his growth as a player, they will find a number of teams who are going to be interested.
Here are the five best trade options for Lonzo Ball
Spurs receive: PG Lonzo Ball, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF Brandon Ingram
Lakers receive: DeMar DeRozan, future second-round pick
This trade with the San Antonio Spurs could have happened in the offseason had the Lakers been willing to give up Brandon Ingram except the return would have been Kawhi Leonard instead of DeMar DeRozan. Imagine Leonard and LeBron James together! But don’t discount the value of the veteran shooting guard should he play with James in L.A.
Despite his demeanor, DeRozan’s competitive fire burns beneath that quiet exterior and he will be a welcome addition to the Lakers as the secondary All-Star that the team has been looking for this season.
For Ball, he will learn a lot about maximizing his talent from Coach Gregg Popovich who helped Tony Parker become the superstar that he has turned out to be.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brandon Ingram add to the team’s athleticism, shooting and overall depth. Perhaps Pop can bring out the superstar talent from within Ingram that’s only been seen on a few occasions during his time in L.A.
4. Phoenix Suns
Suns receive: PG Lonzo Ball, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Lakers receive: SF Trevor Ariza, SG Troy Daniels
Ball will be asked to grow up pretty quickly with the Suns who need a floor general who will finally be able to move Devin Booker off the ball and allow him to return to playing his type of game. If there’s an opportunity that will fast track the growth of the Lakers’ 2017 second-pick overall, it’s with the Suns who are seeking a playmaker who can give their offense a boost. With all the young legs on this roster, Ball will have a blast running up and down the court and dishing the ball to the best scoring option available.
The Suns and their fans are going to absolutely love Lonzo and his style of play.
Pope will add depth to the Suns’ guard rotation. Despite his early season struggles, he can be a valuable reserve as the primary reliever to Booker.
Blazers receive: PG Lonzo Ball, SF Brandon Ingram
Lakers receive: PG Kemba Walker
The Charlotte Hornets point guard is having the best season of his career and to pair this guy with James is going to be loads of fun for Lakers fans. Though similar in his style of play to Kyrie Irving, James’ former superstar point guard with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Walker is a better fit playing alongside the four-time MVP. He’ll play off the ball more with James running the offense.
Ball has only shown flashes of being the next Jason Kidd but his potential could be unleashed in a Hornets jersey. He’ll have plenty of wisdom coming from former Spurs point guard Parker who will make sure his new protégé plays the right way.
Hornets owner Michael Jordan will also receive another young player to build this team around with Ingram. The third-year forward just hasn’t meshed well playing with Laker teammates James and Kyle Kuzma. Playing in a new environment should accelerate his growth into the player he was expected to become.
Blazers receive: PG Lonzo Ball, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF Brandon Ingram
Lakers receive: SG Damian Lillard, future second-round pick
James has always been enamored with Damian Lillard who is one of the best point guards in the league. Known as a clutch shooter, he will take some of the pressure off of no. 23 especially in the fourth quarter.
As for Ball, his presence on the floor means more shots for Blazers players. Regardless of how good he is, Lillard has taken much of the shot attempts away from some of his teammates. But this time, they have a pass-first point guard who will deliver them the rock if they’re open. He’ll never shoot the lights out like Lillard but he will be the playmaker that they have never had in a long while.
Pope and Ingram will deepen the Blazers bench and allow the team to have more bodies to throw at their opponents in a much faster-paced game.
Wizards receive: PG Lonzo Ball, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF Brandon Ingram
Lakers receive: SG Bradley Beal, future second-round pick
Sure the Washington Wizards are a mess right now but a little tweaking here and there could work wonders for the disappointing eastern conference team that was expected to start the season strong. With the Wizards looking for an identity, it’s only a matter of time before they trade their two key players John Wall and Bradley Beal.
The Lakers will call dibs on Beal more than Wall who will be dealt soon enough.
An All-Star for the first time last season, the shooting guard will benefit greatly from playing with James who will get him wide-open looks at the basket like he’s never had before.
With Ball replacing Wall eventually, Washington is going to have to be patient as their new point guard learns the ropes. For last season’s second pick overall to be effective in the role that Wall will vacate, he will have to be more aggressive than he has been since his rookie year. Expect Ball to average at least 15 points, eight assists and seven boards a game if he plays for coach Scott Brooks and the Wizards.
With Pope and Ingram along for the ride as well, the Wizards will have a brighter future than they realize if they should pull the trigger on this trade. And so will Wall, for that matter.
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