Why the Lakers should pursue Lonzo Ball over re-signing Dennis Schroder

1. It makes more sense for the Los Angeles Lakers to pay Lonzo Ball $20 million+

The Los Angeles Lakers would have to pay a pretty penny for Ball. This is not the case of the Lakers saving money in signing him over Schroder. However, the Lakers might be able to save $2-4 million per season on Ball based on Schroder rejecting the Lakers’ offer.

Personally, and this is not a report, just theory, I think that Schroder is aiming to cross the nine-figure mark. If he turned down $21 million for four years then that tells me he is trying to get $25 million for four years to get that lucrative $100 million contract.

That is an overpay for Schroder, however, you could make the case for why the Lakers would agree to that contract. In theory, the Lakers could agree to that deal and in the future have Schroder and Kyle Kuzma as the centerpieces of a trade for a superstar to make the salaries work.

Every team needs that in-between contract to make those trades possible.

The only problem with Schroder is that he is not good enough for any team to view him as an asset for $100 million. He is currently in his prime so he is not going to get better and would simply become a distressed asset wherever he goes.

Lonzo Ball is much younger and thus has more value. Not only would he have more value in a trade, though, but he is much more likely to get better as his contract goes along, whereas Schroder is going to remain constant if not get worse.

So not only is Ball going to be worth the money down the line but he is someone who the Lakers could package with Kuzma for a third star if needed. Let’s say the Washington Wizards finally shop Bradley Beal. Would they be more likely to say yes to a deal that is centered around Ball and Kuzma or Schroder and Kuzma?

The answer is obvious.