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A few minutes after breaking information that Rajon Rondo had signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, I had 12 text messages all saying essentially the same thing: Lonzo Ball's days in Los Angeles are accounts. I could not disagree anymore.
Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka were incredibly smart and patient in building their list, the Ball trade would be monumentally stupid. I just do not see what's going on.
What intrigues me is why so many people are convinced that Ball is gone. A friend said, "Ball better start packing his sh * t." It was declarative. In the mind of my friend, Lonzo was done with the Lakers. And he was not the only one. What proof do we have for this? Because they gave a one year contract to a guy who will turn 33 next season and played only 26.7 minutes per game this year? Let's go …
For those who have not paid attention, LeBron James spent last year relentlessly renting Lonzo and his game. And during his meeting with Magic Johnson, James has reiterated that he was excited to play with the 20-year-old leader
All that said, LeBron told the Lakers on Saturday night that he loves Lonzo's play and is delighted to play with him.
– Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 2, 2018
James wants to play with Lonzo, and after this last season in Cleveland, he is probably ready to play off-the-ball for once. Both are really good together on the floor.
While Ball sometimes struggled sometimes as a rookie, he showed flashes of being a phenomenal NBA leader. In 52 games, he finished the season averaging 10.2 points, 7.2 badists and 6.9 rebounds in 34.2 minutes per game. It's a heavy burden for a 20-year-old, and he has shone at times.
His best month came in December (he was injured again and again after) while he had an average of 12.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.8 badists, while reaching 37, 7 percent of the 3-point range. Obviously, Ball needs to repair his shot and become stronger, but after the work that he did this summer, it is clear that he took it seriously.
In addition, his father has suffered, no one with the Lakers seems to care anymore. When was the last time someone really listened to what LaVar Ball has to say?
Lonzo's teammates love it, they entertain each other on social networks, they push themselves to improve and it makes them better on the field. There is no reason to move it, even with Rondo in the fold.
The veteran leader was certainly pushed to push Ball. Will he start? Probably. Does it happen to be the team leader for the entire season? Almost certainly not.
Here's where Rondo's value comes from: he's going to practice rugby and work hard to toughen the kid. The competition will also force Lonzo to improve. And, to his credit, Ball is already meeting the challenge.
The Lakers have been patient with this rebuilding, and that will not change even with James on board. As an open free agency, the franchise was distributing one-year contracts to veterans. Why? Maintain an open salary cap for 2019.
Rondo, JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson are all role players who will be on a one-year contract. They will serve a goal and this is not to win a championship during the 2018-19 season. These are seasoned space fillers that will be removed from the books next summer. Throw Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in this mix too.
I believe that Rajon Rondo was brought to complete Lonzo Ball, not to replace him. If this is not the case, the Lakers will make a huge mistake.
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