Los Angeles Lakers: 3 free agents that fit better than Dennis Schroder

3. Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball gets treated unfairly by Los Angeles Lakers fans. Yes, he was not as good as expected but he only played two seasons in LA, he had little time to blossom. Yes, the LaVar Ball situation became a distraction and a headache, but Ball has since distanced himself from his dad, and more notably, Big Baller Brand.

Yes, his jump shot was wonky coming into the league and he shot poorly as a result. He has fixed that and has actually turned into a really good shooter.

Lonzo Ball is a really valuable NBA player who is still young with his best years ahead of him. Anyone giving up on Ball this early in his career is giving up too soon. The hope is that the New Orleans Pelicans give up on him, as he is a restricted free agent and they can match any offer sheet.

While the Pelicans shouldn’t let him walk you never know with these things and if they truly do not like what Ball brings to the table they could even look to operate a sign-and-trade to get an asset in return. Is that asset Dennis Schroder? Probably not, but maybe the Lakers can flip Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker for Ball.

I know that just about every Laker fan would say no to that deal because of THT but I truly believe Lonzo Ball’s ceiling is higher than THT’s.

Ball is that perfect second playmaker that the Los Angeles Lakers need as he is not someone who needs the basketball a lot to facilitate. His head is always on a swivel and he is always looking to move the basketball to the next man. He can take the ball up the court and operate as an off-ball facilitator as well.

Ball is also a great defender at heart. His numbers took a dive in New Orleans, especially last season, but New Orleans’ team defense and schemes were not necessarily the best. In a better defensive scheme under Frank Vogel, Ball will refind that above-average defense.

And most importantly, he can shoot now! Ball shot 37.8% from beyond the arc this season and 78.1% from the free-throw line. There is still more room for growth and he likely will continue to grow as well as both were career highs.

His three-point percentage in New Orleans is 6.1% higher than it was in LA and his free-throw percentage is 22.7% higher. He is actively making big strides in the worst area of his game, and get this, he is only 23 years old!

Lonzo Ball is literally the perfect point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. A reunion would be sweet.