Los Angeles Lakers: Executive believes LeBron would stunt growth of Lonzo

With LeBron James being a potential free agent target for the Los Angeles Lakers, how would he fit with Lonzo Ball?

The Los Angeles Lakers will be major players in free agency this offseason, as they were able to pull off a big trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers in order to secure enough cap space to pursue two max free agents this offseason.

Ironically, the Lakers will certainly be trying to pry LeBron James from the team that gave the Lakers the ability to have the cap space to sign him. While recruiting James to leave his hometown team that is a contender every season in the Eastern Conference will be difficult, the Lakers will be attempting to do so.

One of the good selling points that the Lakers have is their young core. With Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart, the future is bright in Los Angeles. While the Lakers do have a strong young core, one Eastern Conference executive believes that James would stunt the growth of Ball. Here’s what he had to say via Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

"“I don’t think he’s the best fit with Lonzo [Ball],” one Eastern Conference executive said. “I think James would stunt his growth. Ball is talented enough to play off the ball and make it work, but he’s best with the ball in his hands. With him wanting to secure his first payday, I don’t think he’ll be too happy deferring to James. You know his pop won’t.”"

As two players that are at their best with the ball in the hand, there would certainly be a big learning curve if the two did play together. However, a lighter workload could be something that greatly benefits James at this stage in his career. Having Ball would take away a lot of the responsibilities that James has as the primary ball-handler in Cleveland.

When James is running the point forward, Ball has shown the ability to play off the ball with Isaiah Thomas. Since the start of the season, Ball has certainly improved as a 3-point shooter, and he is also excellent moving without the ball.

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While we won’t know how the two would play together unless it actually happened, they are two players with a high basketball IQ, and should be able to make it work. With the offseason quickly approaching in the NBA, we will have to wait and see if James and Lonzo do become teammates in the near future.