Stephen A. Smith is a believer in LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers, but he thinks the only players who should be untouchable in trade talks are LeBron, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart. Yes, that means Smith would have no problem giving up Brandon Ingram or Lonzo Ball, and he expounded on this fact to note that Ball is no De'Aaron Fox:
The Kings' second-year man is fast, can score, and has progressed leaps and bounds since last season. Fox is averaging nearly 18 points as well as 7.3 assists per game this season, both drastically better than last season.
Smith has never shied away from sharing a controversial opinion, but it's clear right now that Fox has the edge over Ball. Fox has shown leadership on a Kings squad that has surprised a lot of people in the NBA. The Kings have a young, talented roster headlined by Fox and sharpshooter Buddy Hield in the backcourt, and they can make some noise in the Western Conference.
Smith's comparison of the two guards is fair, and the fact that they were drafted very closely to one another in the 2017 NBA Draft is a recipe for comparison. But while De'Aaron Fox clearly is the better player right now, Lonzo Ball is still a quality young player in his own right, and perhaps the Lakers guard can catch up as their careers go on.
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