Lonzo Ball worked out for the Lakers earlier today and he reiterated his desire to don the purple and gold, calling Los Angeles “home,” as Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com relays. The UCLA product added that he’d be comfortable playing for any team should the Lakers pass on him. “I’ll go to any team and just do what I do,” Ball said. “Play basketball.”
Today’s workout could be the first of several since the team would like to get more familiar with Ball’s unorthodox shooting form, according to Goodman. Multiple sources tell Goodman that despite the scrutiny of Ball’s shot, the point guard remains the favorite to go No. 2.
Ball believes his workout went well and he told reporters why L.A. should take him. “They need a leader,” Ball said. “They need a point guard. I feel like I can fill that hole.”
Here’s more from Los Angeles:
- Chad Ford of ESPN.com cautions that Ball to the Lakers is not a done deal and notes that a trade involving the No. 2 overall pick remains a possibility. Los Angeles isn’t going to mortgage the future for instant success, but Ford writes that the front office would like to start winning again “sooner than later.”
- Some within the Lakers’ front office are strong supporters of Josh Jackson with the feeling that the small forward’s defense would fit in well with the team, Ford writes in the same piece.
- Ford adds (same piece) that the team took notice of how De’Aaron Fox outplayed Ball in their NCAA Tournament matchup and the scribe pegs the odds of L.A. selecting Fox at 25%. He adds that Fox, Jackson, and Ball all have workouts with the team this week and those will all have an impact on the team’s decision.
- D’Angelo Russell would be an excellent fit next to Ball, Kevin Pelton contends in that same piece. Pelton cautions that it wouldn’t be great backcourt defensively, but it could work on the other end because of each guard’s ability to spread the floor.
Here’s my question to everyone:
If you were the GM and coach who drafted Ball, would you change his jump shot?
My answer definitely YES !!
He’s going to shoot in the low 30s from three-point land as a pro, and that’s not good enough for a guy with the ball in his hands at the start of almost every offensive set.
He’s young enough and the team drafting him can control him for 5 years financially/ contract wise. I think it’s a no-brainer… you got to fix that jumper/set shot/thing of his.
If the shot doesn’t get blocked consistently, and he makes it the way he has, I wouldn’t change it. But, if he can’t even get a shot off, it obviously has to change. It’s not all that different from Kevin Martins mechanics, and he could shoot it. If he’s comfortable and it works, keep it. If not, fix it…
My concern is with his defense and his willingness to score at the next level, as well as the consistency of the shot.
He relies on that step back way way too much. He had to use it against guys at 24hr fitness. I’d be more worried about that than his goofy shot. Basically he can’t shoot from anywhere that his step back puts him near out of bounds.
Which is what I was referring to about getting the shot off
Kevin Martin ! Xlnt comparison ! He was 6-7 and had no problem with that jumper.
K-mart was an off-the-ball player. He didn’t have the ball in his hands long. He got the ball he shot the ball. Not a great comp. Yes he had a weird shot, but most of his shots came off screens or on the move and dribble drive floaters. He did have to use the stepback when going 1 on 1 a lot though to get his shot off if not coming off.
Don’t touch it until he shows failure at this level.
If it’s strange, but works, then don’t touch him. It’s when he starts to struggle that you adjust him. He may never have those struggles.
I wonder if what the team might do is watch him in the summer league. If that J is successful there maybe leave it alone. Still me personally, there’s no doubt I would fix it immediately.
Just a technical question, can a rookie like Ball make a private deal with a team instead of going through the draft?
No.
Well there have been players that have forced their hands on the issue. The most famous being Kobe, when he said he wouldn’t play for any team other than the Lakers and if any team but them got him, he would just play overseas. I don’t see Lonzo doing that but players can force teams hands if they try hard enough
I’m sorry but I don’t see what makes him so good. Stats are not great or even good. I’m I missing something.
As it pertains to Lonzo, I dont know for sure about how he’s going to end up. He can’t play defense, isn’t a lengthy dude for his size, and I question if he’ll be a willing and able scorer in the NBA, as well as if his jumpshot will stay consistent b/c of the release point and likey susceptibility to getting the shot blocked. That being said, he is really fun to watch, seems like a good kid that legit likes to see his teammates success and make them better, despite his father, seems like a really good playmaker, a pretty good rebounder at his size, and is pretty athletic. I can’t say Jason Kidd right now, just b/c of his size, though I see some of young Kidd in there. To me, he reminds me more of Goran Dragic, but not as good a finisher at the rim, and less of his scoring mentality.
Based on the things his dad has said and will continue to say, especially when the 2 projected to be better younger brothers come out, he better be lebron lol. I do think he should at least have a pretty nice career, but I can’t say for sure he is a star. If his jumpshot does fall consistently, he will be a star offensively though
Also, that lakers team is really bad defensively. Adding him won’t help. They also have an issue with too many 4s on the roster, and essentially zero of anyone that can/should play the 3. It’s a weird situation. Both Fox and Jackson do make sense for them b/c of other moves they could theoretically make. The Lakers don’t really have any paint attacking players and both Fox and Jackson can get to the rim with ease, and set up teammates, as well as play defense. They both need to work on the jumpshot, obviously, but both showed improvement later in the year. I also personally think they both have a shot to be top guys in this draft.
Ball is definitely a high pick, but I’m just not sure I’d take him over Josh Jackson, De’aaron fox, Jonathan Isaac, and Markelle Fultz. I’d probably take him over Tatum, unless I need an iso scorer at the 4/3 spots, which would make it a consideration. I would take him for sure over Monk, NtilikIna (I haven’t had a chance to check out much of any online games of him, so I only know what I’ve read/heard and how he’s looked in certain workouts), Dennis Smith, and Lauri Markkanenm so he’s definitely at least a mid-top 10 pick, if not a top 3 guy…Ultimately, it could actually end up coming down to fit, or how teams feel like he can improve, b/c there is so much talent in the top 9 of this draft
For me when I am a Manager:
Picks.
1. Jackson
2.Fultz
3.Issac
4.Fox
5.Tatam
6.Ball
7.Monk
8.Gillis
9.collins
10.Markannen
I actually agreed with that, for the most part, until Giles
Giles two knee surgeries in your top ten!
Hey maybe the 76ers will pick him? LOL
In terms of talent by itself, I’d probably rank them
Jackson
Fultz
Isaac
Fox
Tatum
Ball
Smith Jr.
Monk
Ntilikina
Donovan Mitchell
Markennen
Justin Patton
Justin Jackson
Etc…
I would like to know more info on Zach Collins though. He is the one guy I don’t really know much about in the top half of the draft. Can anyone tell me how he is on defense? What’s his athleticism like? Can he defend pick and roll, and protect the rim? Offensively, is he a ball stopper, or can he make quick decisions? Does he play above the rim?
It is “Magic” Time!
Yes I think he will not be very good as a GM abut Polinka will save him.
Ball will not be a Laker. Would you rather have Dwayne Wade or Jason Kidd with a circumstance making the player bigger than the team? Fox is better then Ball!
Jackson could be the talent level of a Chuck Barkley. Do you want Ball or Sir Charles! ?
Magic is Showtime and the Ball Family is “No Time”
I think the Lakers would be smart not to draft ball and maybe look to trade the pick or trade back in the first round. But I think the Lakers would never hear the end of it from Lavar and Lakers fans if they passed on Ball so I think he is pretty much a guarantee to be the Lakers pick unless something unforeseen happens between now and the draft