The Los Angeles Lakers were ecstatic to select UCLA’s Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Lakers traded Ball away too soon because of his unconventional jump shooting and precocity, which were out of step with the championship window they were hoping to take advantage of with LeBron James leading them. But in a recent fake trade, Los Angeles acquired an older, more capable version of the player they had great expectations for.
A proposed trade that would send Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls to the Lakers in exchange for Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a 2025 second-round pick from the Clippers. He noted that Ball’s trade value might not be very high due to his absence from the court for over two and a half seasons. However, if the Lakers are confident in his physical and mental readiness, acquiring him could be advantageous. Regarding Vucevic, Rovenchuk emphasized that he would be the more significant asset, capable of starting and allowing Anthony Davis to transition to the power forward position.
Ball would benefit the Lakers in every way that they had anticipated on draft night. The California native was an outstanding outside shooter when last seen, not fantastic. In 2021–22, he made 3.1 three-pointers a game with a field goal percentage of 42.3 percent. He also recorded exceptional steals, rebounds, and assists (5.4, 5.1), to round out his stats.
The 26-year-old floor general might be the kind of point guard that the Lakers need to run and shoot next season, similar to Jason Kidd.
He plays excellent individual and team defense, shoots three points with amazing speed and ferocity, is unselfish and will advance the ball when his teammates have the opportunity, and is an excellent catch-and-shoot player. Although Los Angeles would be losing out on other players in addition to him, given his injury history and the trade they would be making in exchange, the deal is well worth it.
The Lakers would also profit from bringing in Nikola Vucevic, a center with a reputation as a 20-10 big man who can spread the floor and spearhead an offensive attack for a postseason club. In particular, with Anthony Davis prone to injuries, Vucevic might fill in as James’ go-to first or second scorer on occasions when Davis sits. Hachimura, a gifted player who showed his mettle in the playoffs in 2023, would have to go, but Ball might advance further in his career and the Lakers might create another championship team as a result of the trade.
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