Los Angeles Lakers: The pros and cons of drafting Lonzo Ball
Los Angeles Lakers
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Lonzo Ball is an exciting talent that seems destined for the Los Angeles Lakers, but there are pros and cons for selecting the UCLA point guard.
The 2017 NBA Draft is an opportunity for the Los Angeles Lakers to find their next star.
Having hit rock bottom with their franchise-worst 2015-16 season, we've since seen a minor improvement in 2016-17, with this year's draft providing a possible catalyst for a purple and gold resurgence.
UCLA's Lonzo Ball is an unquestionable talent, but like every player coming into the league, there are pros and cons to be considered on draft night.
The Lakers are almost certain to see Ball on the board after the Boston Celtics select Markelle Fultz with the first pick of the draft on June 22.
That scenario would come as no surprise given Ball ranks second in all categories on DraftExpress.com:
2nd in 2017 Mock Draft
2nd in NCAA Freshmen
2nd in Top 100 Prospects
2nd in Pac-12 Prospects
Behind Fultz in every one, the writing is on the wall: Ball is headed to Los Angeles.
Does anyone remind you of yourself at that young age in this year's draft?
"That's easy, Lonzo Ball"
– @MagicJohnson— ESPNLosAngeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) May 25, 2017
His talent is evident in the numbers, putting up 14.6 points, 7.6 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game at UCLA. His 41 percent three-point shooting is a good sign of what's to come in the NBA, but his 67.3 percent at the free throw line remains a worry.
For better or for worse, the Ball name has been in the spotlight more than most NBA prospects in recent memory. Lonzo's father, LaVar Ball, has undoubtedly used his son's rise to fame for personal gain. Spouting his outlandish opinions to anyone that will listen, LaVar will ride the wave as long as he can.
With talent and off-court distractions; it's like Lonzo Ball was made for the lights of La La Land.
Los Angeles Lakers
Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Pro No. 1: Ball is an exceptional passer and playmaker
Ball's addition to the current Lakers roster would open up a whole new style of play for head coach Luke Walton.
With the D'Angelo Russell experience not quite living up to expectations, Walton had him spend some time at shooting guard to end the season — perhaps in preparation for Ball.
A Ball/Russell backcourt would be a dream for Walton, who regularly preaches the idea of the extra pass and even set the desired minimum of 300 passes per game.
With his vision, instinct and willingness to make the pass, Ball is considered the best playmaking prospect in the draft. He ran 75 percent of his pick-and-roll plays as a passer, accumulating 7.6 assists per game in the process.
ESPN's Chad Ford described Ball's passing as "otherworldly," adding:
"His ability to make plays for others stands out as his strongest attribute for scouts."
Ball's addition to the young Lakers roster would instantly make them better. If the likes of Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle can get to the right places on the floor to score, Ball will find them.
Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Con No. 1: With Lonzo comes his father, LaVar
As a professional sports franchise, you would expect them to ignore the family influence and get on with the job. This isn't high school – a player's mother or father can't call the coach and demand their child gets more playing time.
Without question though, LaVar Ball would have the gumption to try if he's unhappy with Lonzo's position in the rotation. This is, after all, the guy that told USA Today:
"Back in my heyday, I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one. He cannot stop me one-on-one. He better make every shot 'cause he can't go around me. He's not fast enough. And he can only make so many shots outside before I make every bucket under the rim."
They say ignorance is bliss, but it won't be for the fans of the team that drafts his son.
Drafting Lonzo, and in turn, LaVar, will have no bearing on how the team operates, but the fans will wear the brunt of his desperation for fame and recognition.
In an attempt to benefit from his son's impending fame and fortune, LaVar declined a reported $10 million shoe deal with any one of Nike, Adidas and Under Armour. Instead, he opted to create his own Big Baller Brand that, of course, would directly benefit his bank account as well as Lonzo's.
Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Pro No. 2: It might look strange, but Ball can bury it from anywhere
Superstardom relies on the ability to shoot from beyond the arc in today's NBA.
It's no surprise your Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns are all in the bottom five in the league in three-point percentage. A team that can't connect on regular three-point shots usually finds itself at the bottom of the standings.
The addition of Ball into the Lakers' lineup would instantly improve their 34.6 percent of 2016-17. With many of his 194 three-point attempts at UCLA from beyond NBA range, Ball still buried 41.2 percent of his shots.
The numbers surprise people when they see the mechanics and "hitch" in Ball's shot, but his coach at UCLA, Steve Alford, was never worried about how he looked when shooting the basketball:
"I don't care where he brings it; he gets it to the right spot at the right time. That's just in the release. Ultimately putting the ball in the basket is the right spot at the end of the whole thing, and he's doing a very good job of doing that."
His unusual shooting mechanics defy all the odds, with Mike Schmitz and Derek Bodner of DraftExpress.com noting his catch-and-shoot numbers despite so many of his shots being contested:
"He was fairly consistent as a catch and shoot player, connecting on 44.6 percent of his catch and shoot shots, per Synergy, despite the fact that a majority of them came from three-point range and the fact that over 68 percent of them were contested."
The Lakers are looking to become a long-range threat with Julius Randle being the latest player working on his three-point shot throughout the offseason. If Ball doesn't find him with his playmaking ability as mentioned earlier, he can hit the shot himself.
Con No. 2: Ball can create shots for others but struggles to create his own
Ball's shooting numbers are nothing to scoff at, but how he's accumulating those numbers have some people questioning shot creation.
The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor is particularly unconvinced by Ball's ability to create his own shot, telling Chris Ryan, Joe House, and Bill Simmons on the Bill Simmons Podcast:
"My concern, and this is kind of where I have my hangup with him, is I don't think he can't create his shot off the dribble with those weird mechanics. As he stops his dribble he adjusts the ball in his hands and he doesn't go straight up in his shot. And that's what separates the Steve Nashes and the Stephen Currys of the world"
His lack of shot creation won't be so much of a concern for the Lakers and coach Walton if he's creating shots for others.
D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram can already create shots themselves with another creator in Ball an unlikely luxury.
A shooting coach could teach him a new stroke, but why change a winning formula?
With Ball, the Lakers might have to give up shot creation in return for his long-range shooting and "otherworldly" passing.
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