Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball being traded also means no more LaVar Ball
By Ronald Agers
With the Los Angeles Lakers agreeing to trade Lonzo Ball, they also get rid of his dad, LaVar Ball.
Okay Los Angeles Lakers fans…I got some good news and some bad news. The bad news to some Lakers fans is that Lonzo Ball was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster deal that landed Anthony Davis, which we are just waiting to become official. Now the good news to a lot of Lakers fans is that LaVar Ball basically was traded too. I’m just going to be real with everybody…
I am going to miss LaVar Ball. Guess what, you will too. Here’s why…
LaVar Ball basically told you everything you needed to know about what was going on in the Lakers organization. Most NBA pundits just blew off LaVar Ball as an overbearing father living vicariously through Lonzo Ball. Guess what…
Noted counselor…gavel slam! SUSTAINED!
But his last appearance on the Fox Sports 1 network, I knew something was amiss. LaVar was just too calm. He was too laid back. It seemed that he was trying to smooth over rough edges…
"The [Lakers young core] could be sourpusses & be like, 'They never liked me. I don't trust these guys.' Or be like, 'It's part of the business.' ... Lonzo can get along with the youngsters & can get along with LeBron."@Lavarbigballer on Lakers potential trade for Anthony Davis pic.twitter.com/aJ9LWcVoRk
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) June 4, 2019
I was really disappointed watching LaVar Ball on this day. No grandstanding, no boasting, no LeBron James cheap shots. Who is this guy? I’ll tell you who this is…a guy that knew deep down that Lonzo Ball’s time as a Laker was running out. Even his super powers of speaking things into existence ran out when he boldly stated that Lonzo Ball would not be traded…
.@Lavarbigballer: The Lakers won't trade Lonzo. He's marketable. You don't have to worry about him being in trouble. He doesn't do any drugs.
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) June 4, 2019
Skip: But you can't shoot 42% from the FT line
LaVar: It's very easy to fix FTs. It's a mindset. Every time you miss 3 FTs, I want $10K. pic.twitter.com/p0plzzCZfD
Based on his demeanor, LaVar really didn’t believe that himself. The constant marketing of getting all of his sons in the NBA is turning into a pipe dream. I mean even Seth Curry didn’t stick with the Golden State Warriors and they have Stephen Curry. If the Curry family don’t get preferential treatment….
Oh well…the Ball brothers playing on the same team just went out of the window. Going back six months, LaVar made it clear that Lonzo Ball did not want to go to the Pelicans. If traded, the preference was to go to Phoenix…
"“We want to be in L.A.,” LaVar Ball told ESPN. “But if he’s traded, I don’t want Lonzo in New Orleans. Phoenix is the best fit for him. And I am going to speak it into existence.”"
Lonzo ball being traded low-key has just as much to do with getting rid of LaVar Ball as acquiring a superstar like Anthony Davis. Sure the Pelicans wanted him and rightfully so, but LaVar’s antics basically helped his critics speak their beliefs into existence. That belief?
LaVar Ball was going to hype his son up to a level that he couldn’t play up to. After two years, the Lakers grew weary of the injuries, the bad free throw shooting and a lack of a 3-point shot from Lonzo.
The downfall for LaVar Ball was he broke one cardinal business rule…
You never never disparage a company. It never works out. The company never forgets and eventually it comes back to haunt you. it wasn’t like he wasn’t warned by Jason Whitlock…
Notice the difference in tone and confidence. In less than 15 minutes, LaVar had blasted Luke Walton, Magic Johnson and totally blew off Jason Whitlock’s statement about the NBA being political and how powerful Magic Johnson is in the NBA. Six months later, the Ball family is gone.
Let’s take a look back at the episodes of LaVar Ball…