LeBron James signing with the Lakers might have been a predictable conclusion to “The Decision 3,” but inside the wave of excitement in Los Angeles, there remains one major question: What happens to Lonzo Ball?
What happens to Lonzo Ball now that LeBron James is a Laker?
Ball is an awkward on-court fit, and James doesn’t get along with his dad. So now what?
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James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
The Lakers are in the midst of trying to sign and trade for more talent to build a contender around LeBron. Whether that involves landing Kawhi Leonard, signing DeMarcus Cousins, or anyone else, it’s suddenly unclear where Ball fits in. Can he play with James, or is he one of the Lakers’ most-attractive trade chips?
Ball can absolutely play with James, but it’ll be a little awkward.
The issue isn’t Ball, it’s the fact he’s inescapably linked to his dad. Lavar Ball interjects himself into his sons’ careers wherever possible. Just last year, LaVar got into it publicly with James by talking about his kids.
Lavar followed by saying he doesn’t have any ill feelings towards James, but it’s unclear if that feeling is mutual. Obviously James is a pro and he’ll play with anyone, but why would it be worth the drama to a newly-forged Lakers team hoping to play for a championship?
Lonzo Ball remains the Lakers’ most likely trade chip
Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart are all young, talented players who took major strides in 2017-18, but Lonzo Ball represents an attractive trade piece for a team looking for a point guard — especially one who could help facilitate a trade with the Spurs to get Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles.
It’s unclear whether Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich wants the headache that comes with Ball, but he would be the kind of player Popovich could mold. He could potentially form the Spurs’ future back court with DeJounte Murray and Lonnie Walker IV, giving the Spurs a succession plan to move on from Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
However, the far more likely scenario is that Ball becomes the piece that brings in a third team. The Suns, Magic, Knicks, or even Clippers (if he wants to stay in LA) all need help at point guard and are in positions where they are looking to build around a young core. Pulling Ball out of Los Angeles would be a whole thing in-and-of itself, and that could be a hiccup too.
It leaves the Lakers in a weird position.
It wasn’t long ago that Magic Johnson called Ball “the new face of the Lakers.” Thirteen months later, the team got a face lift. This is James’ team now, and if Leonard joins him in Los Angeles, he’ll be the team’s No. 2 star. Depending who else the Lakers trade for or sign, Ball could be pushed down to the sixth or even seventh-most important member of the Lakers.
That’s not a position Ball wants for his career, or his brand. Normally teams wouldn’t care, plugging in players as needed, but unless Ball gets precisely what Lavar Ball wants for him, then things are going to get ugly in public.
The last time James was on a team that had backbiting in the locker room, the entire thing was blown up and he still managed to take an island of misfit toys to the NBA Finals. Now it’s on Lonzo Ball to get along and go along with the Lakers’ plans, even if he isn’t the face of the franchise any more.
If he and Lavar can’t handle that on the Lakers, then another team will be more than willing to try.
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