The New Orleans Pelicans are open to trading Lonzo Ball, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. And with the trade deadline nearing, there is no shortage of suitors.
Ball, currently in his fourth season, doesn’t produce numbers that jump off the stat sheet. Still, there are plenty of teams who could use his services. Here are five teams that should trade for Lonzo Ball.
5. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are struggling this season. A part of that is because they have zero home games. Another reason is their defense hasn’t been the same since some major roster moves.
The Raptors lost both Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol to the LA teams during free agency. Without their former big men, teams have been able to get paint touches at will. The Raptors have relied on Chris Boucher and Pascal Siakam to deter shots, and for the most part, it hasn’t been working.
Adding Ball to their roster adds a quality defender who can limit opposing guards from getting into the paint. He is long, standing at 6’6 with a 6’9 wingspan. He not only adds height, but he will be able to create for Fred VanVleet and take a load off of Kyle Lowry.
4. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers rely on McCollum and Lillard to be their playmakers every minute of each game. That formula has worked out in the regular season, but ends up a mixed bag in the NBA Playoffs.
It’s the same story every year. They get hyped up in the regular season, then fizzle out in the playoffs. They struggle in the playoffs because they are an undersized backcourt with one defensive liability in Damian Lillard and another undersized defender in CJ McCollum.
Ball is 6’6 with a 6’9 wingspan. Not only does he not hog the ball, but he’s also an excellent help-side defender.
Currently, he has to play the role of a spot-up shooter, something that hasn’t been his strong suit in the league. With the Blazers, he won’t have to be an elite three-point shooter. Instead, he will be able to be a slasher and playmaker.
The Blazers will then be able to stagger Lonzo Ball and Lillard’s minute to ensure that there is a playmaker on the floor at all times, and they will also have someone who can create for Dame– taking a load off of him.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJkEgtOT4Jk
Early in free agency, there were reports that the Clippers were in search of a true point guard. Leonard’s successful runs have come on teams with traditional points guards.
His season with the Raptors was alongside Kyle Lowry. That formula resulted in a championship. Kawhi’s developmental years were in San Antonio next to Tony Parker, one of the league’s all-time floor generals. That formula resulted in a championship.
So when it comes to Leonard and the Clippers searching for a floor general, it’s easy to understand why. Ball can be the floor general for the Clippers. He would be able to find Paul George and Leonard in their sweet spots and would be the perfect compliment for the Clippers’ bench unit.
Lonzo Ball is not only an excellent floor general, he’s a lengthy defender. He is able to force opposing guards out of their spots and he gets his hands on a lot of passes. Considering the Clippers’ identity is supposed to be built on defense, this deal seems like a no brainer.
2. Miami Heat
Youth is an asset in the NBA. Right now the Miami Heat are filled with those kinds of assets. Bam Adebayo is 23-years-old, Tyler Herro is 21, and Duncan Robinson is 26. These young guns have already proven they can make key plays in big moments, despite their lack of experience. Imagine adding a young floor general to that mix.
The Heat have floor spacing and an explosive inside presence. With sharpshooters running the wings and a respected rim runner, Ball will be able to play his game at an extremely high level. More so, Tyler Herro won’t have to be a primary decision-maker for Erik Spoelstra.
When Butler or Dragic have to miss time, the Heat often turn to Herro to be a playmaker. While Herro is very capable of creating for himself, he hasn’t shown that he can consistently create for others. Throwing Ball into the mix would allow for Herro to play his natural position and give that backcourt a much-needed boost defensive. The Heat would lose nothing in rebounding, and when Butler returns he won’t have to carry such a heavy load.
Goran Dragic is 34. Father Time is currently undefeated. Dragic is injury prone. It is never a player’s fault when they get hurt, but the older a player gets the more nagging injuries they have. The Heat suffered because of his absence in the NBA Finals. It’s not his fault. But at the end of the day, it happens when a player ages.
Lonzo Ball is young, can facilitate, and can defend.
1. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have struggled finding lineups that compliment Stephen Curry.
Lonzo Ball may not be a Ray Allen, but he has a very high basketball IQ. Not only would he be able to find Curry in the half-court, in his shooting pocket, but he would also force teams to play an honest defense. When he drives, he is able to find the open man. Right now the Warriors have players who get into the lane but don’t know what the next play is. That is Ball’s specialty.
On the other end, the Warriors haven’t been consistent on the defensive side. Ball is a big point guard who can stay in front of the ball, shrink the court, rotate properly, and finish the play by grabbing the board. He is literally a Steve Kerr player who just hasn’t been able to play for Kerr.
The Warriors were able to build their first championship team behind lineups that feature players like Ball off the bench. Shaun Livingston was a high IQ quality defender point guard off the bench. He was a tall one who forced mismatches. He didn’t have the three-point jump shot, but when you play with the Splash Brothers, you don’t need to be Reggie Miller– you just have to play your role.
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