Lakers: 4 better trades LA should have made over Russell Westbrook trade
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers could have reunited with Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is having a really solid season for the Chicago Bulls this season and he would have been a much better point guard on the Lakers than Russell Westbrook. It might not have looked great at times in the one season he was with LeBron James but Lonzo has grown as a player and would fit much better now.
Most importantly, Ball has improved his three-point shooting immensely and is legitimately one of the best three-point shooting point guards in the entire NBA. Ball is shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc this season and since being traded from the Lakers he has shot 38% from beyond the arc on 7.2 threes per game.
That shooting would have fit nicely with LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the same floor spacing problem that the team has with Russell Westbrook would not have existed. Ball also helps in the same way that Westbrook does. Ball is not as good of a rebounder as Westbrook but he is probably the second-best rebounding guard in the league.
In fact, Ball ranks 12th in rebounding percentage among guards since being traded by LA (Westbrook ranks first). The only other “true” point guard ahead of Ball is Ben Simmons, who many might not even consider a point guard.
Ball would provide just as good of rebounding (you don’t need an elite rebounder at point guard), better floor spacing and a point guard who can keep the ball moving and isn’t ball-dominant! That is exactly what the team needs with LeBron.
Ball was traded to the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade for nothing. New Orleans got Garrett Temple, Tomas Satoransky and a future second-round pick. That’s a disgusting package for New Orleans that the Lakers easily could have beaten.