Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons to add Lonzo Ball with a sign-and-trade
Lonzo Ball has improved his 3-point shooting
There was a significant amount of expectation surrounding Lonzo Ball upon being drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers 2nd overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Magic Johnson upon drafting Lonzo outlined expectations that he expected to see Lonzo’s name in the rafters in Staples Center by the end of his career. A huge ask for a very young player right off the bat.
While Lonzo never had the chance to work towards these goals set by Johnson the first time around, maybe this time he would have the opportunity to reach the lofty goals.
One area in which Lonzo has improved hugely has been his 3-point shot.
For fans of the purple and gold, they will remember how clunky and partially broken Lonzo’s shot actually was. A sidewinder missile that started at the side of his head and straightened up partially upon release.
This reflected in his 3-point percentage with the Lakers, Lonzo in his rookie season shot a terrible 30.5% from the 3-point line. Things got better in his 2nd year, but not that much better, improving to 32.9%.
In the summer before being traded to the Pelicans, Lonzo made it a point of emphasis to fix his broken shot in order to maximize his effectiveness on the floor. This paid dividend’s for the Chino Hills product as his 3-point percentage shot up to a healthy and respectable 37.5%.
This past season Lonzo proved that it wasn’t a one-season fluke as he had a slight increase from 37.5% to 37.8% from the 3-point line.
Lonzo’s new shot is more fluid, less mechanical, and consistent.
Consistent is a word head coach Frank Vogel and general manager Rob Pelinka would love to hear.
Consistent shooting from the 3-point line is something that escaped the Lakers last season. The purple and gold-finished 21st in the league 3-point shooting 35.5% from 3.
The addition of Lonzo Ball and his now consistent 3-point shot would allow for the Lakers to climb up the 3-point shooting league board and get to a place that would make them significantly more feared from the 3-point land.
This in turn gives the Lakers better floor spacing, more room for the big men to work down low, and more space for LeBron James and Anthony Davis to work in and be more effective.