The Los Angeles Lakers are still mulling over who they will take No. 2 overall, while keeping their trade options open with players like D’Angelo Russell receiving interest.
We recently learned that Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell may not be a fan of Lonzo Ball, after a tweet he liked surfaced.
That might throw some cold water on the idea of pairing Russell and Ball in the same backcourt at the Staples Center, but the Lakers–who own the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft–might want to consider doing so anyway.
Russell was the No. 2 overall pick in 2015 and there continues to be chatter that Ball, who shocked no one in declaring for the draft after one season at UCLA, could be taken in that spot this time around.
Watching D'Angelo Russell highlights from this year makes me think there is no way in hell they should draft Lonzo. They stupid if they do
— Beck (@Beck_Jordan11) May 24, 2017
The like has since been removed, but if the tweet reveals Russell’s true sentiments about Ball, he may want to reconsider.
Ball joining the Lakers would actually make Russell’s job a lot easier. Russell came out of Ohio State with the reputation of having great passing skills, but at UCLA Lonzo earned a reputation of making his teammates better and making the game come easier for everyone who played with him.
Russell’s reluctance for L.A. to draft Ball may stem from the fact that there can only be one starting point guard, meaning he feels threatened, but in actuality, Ball’s presence will be good for Russell in the long run.
Here are three reasons Lonzo Ball and D’Angelo Russell make a good combo.
1. Lonzo Ball a Playmaker
One of the biggest upsides to Lonzo Ball is his unselfish, pass-first mentality. He is a natural-born playmaker who makes his teammates better.
At UCLA, Ball averaged 7.6 assists per game the highest of any freshman in the nation and had a player efficiency rating of 24.7.
He single-handedly helped bring UCLA basketball back to the forefront of college hoops. It’s hard to believe that a skillset of that nature would not transfer to the NBA.
D’Angelo Russell is undoubtedly worried about his starting spot at the point guard position if he is against the Lakers drafting Lonzo, but he should actually be excited because Ball is a player that makes everyone around him better, and that will include Russell.
Ball can be compared to the likes of Jason Kidd, and if Kidd were still in the league, Dlo would be lucky to be able to call him his teammate.
2. D’Angelo Russell is good off the ball
Although it was a short sample size, D’Angelo Russell showed promise at the 2 playing alongside Jordan Clarkson as the point guard. Late in the season, Luke Walton played with L.A.’s lineup moving Jordan to the 1 and D’Angelo to the 2 and the results were positive.
Russell proved he could play off the ball without his production dropping, but more so, he was willing to play the role Walton wanted him to without complaint.
That’s cause to believe Russell would be willing to do the same in the event Lonzo becomes the Lakers’ starting point guard of the future.
Considering L.A. was in the running for another lottery pick, Walton may have been testing his lineup for this exact scenario.
And since we saw Russell become more aggressive at the end of the season, which is undoubtedly the best version of him, having Lonzo Ball at the 1 and Russell at the 2 would give D’Angelo free reign to be an attack-first player.
Therefore, adding Ball to the mix is one way the Lakers get to use of all the ice coming out of D-lo’s veins.
3. D’Angelo Russell would not have to facilitate the offense
As previously mentioned, in a short sample size D’Angelo Russell has proved not only to be efficient at the 2, but aggressive. Even though Russell was only in his second year in the NBA, at times he made foolish mistakes that gave his haters ammo to call him a bust.
If Lonzo Ball joins the Lakers and plays the point, Russell won’t have to worry about facilitating the offense and can just think, or not think, about scoring.
Facilitating seems to come so naturally to Ball that he doesn’t have to overthink anything, meaning his learning curve in the NBA might be smoother than Russell’s, making him the better option at point. In turn, that will unleash an entirely new offensive-minded Russell next season.
Magic Johnson recently told ESPNLA radio that Lonzo Ball reminded him of himself. That certainly is high praise coming from one of the best point guards in the history of the game, and arguably the best ever.
Not to mention the fact that Lakers head coach Luke Walton also gave Ball high praise in an interview with TMZ Sports.
"“I’m a big fan of [Lonzo’s] game,” he added. “I went and watched him play at Pauley [Pavilion]. He plays the right way, he’s unselfish and whatever team he ends up on, he’s gonna make that team a lot better.”"
With Ball receiving that kind of acknowledgment and regard from L.A.’s leaders, it seems Lonzo to the Lakers is as inevitable as the third-straight Finals matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers was.
With that being said, it may be time for Russell to permanently switch his position on Ball when the Lakers draft Lonzo. There are more than enough reasons for Russell to work with Ball than to see him as an adversary.
Next: Too Soon To Trade D'Angelo Russell
Do you think L.A. will be better keeping D’Angelo Russell at point guard, or do you think the combination of Lonzo Ball and Russell is better for the franchise long term? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.