[FONT="]The Los Angeles Lakers' potential pursuit of NBA superstars this summer-including, perhaps, LeBron James, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard-will require a careful consideration of the overall impact any addition would have on the team's young core, including Lonzo Ball. Though Zo's shooting woes as a rookie (36.0 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from three) were troubling, his shooting range and willingness to launch seemingly wherever and whenever from beyond the arc point to a player who could find success off the ball next to another great creator.
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[FONT="]As it happens, LaVar Ball might beg to differ. During his recent appearance on ESPN Radio in L.A., the Big Baller Brand CEO was asked to provide "scouting reports" on each of his three sons, including LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball. In doing so, he laid out a case for why his eldest is ill-suited to any position other than point guard on the offensive end.
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[FONT="]"Lonzo really can't play the two on the fact that he wants to get everybody involved," LaVar said. "So when the ball is passed to him, instead of just shooting it, he's going to look for a cutter, and that's too long. You shouldn't do that. You should be ready to just shoot."
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[FONT="]Indeed, hanging onto the ball didn't suit Zo whatsoever. According to NBA.com, his effective field goal percentage slipped from 49.6 percent when he touched the ball for fewer than two seconds, to 45.8 percent with two-to-six seconds of touch time, to just 43.4 percent with his hands on the ball for more than six seconds.
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[FONT="]The Lakers, though, will have to hope that Lonzo is able to adapt to off-ball duties, after spending just 16 percent of his time at any position other than point guard in 2017-18, per Basketball Reference. With or without an impact player joining the Purple and Gold this summer, the team would do well to put the ball in the hands of its other young playmakers-Brandon Ingram, chief among them-to maximize the talent on-hand and ensure that the entire roster is able to reach its full potential under head coach Luke Walton.
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[FONT="]That is, so long as the Laker don't mind opening themselves up to another of the Ballfather's infamous diatribes if things don't go smoothly.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]As it happens, LaVar Ball might beg to differ. During his recent appearance on ESPN Radio in L.A., the Big Baller Brand CEO was asked to provide "scouting reports" on each of his three sons, including LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball. In doing so, he laid out a case for why his eldest is ill-suited to any position other than point guard on the offensive end.
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[FONT="]"Lonzo really can't play the two on the fact that he wants to get everybody involved," LaVar said. "So when the ball is passed to him, instead of just shooting it, he's going to look for a cutter, and that's too long. You shouldn't do that. You should be ready to just shoot."
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[FONT="]Indeed, hanging onto the ball didn't suit Zo whatsoever. According to NBA.com, his effective field goal percentage slipped from 49.6 percent when he touched the ball for fewer than two seconds, to 45.8 percent with two-to-six seconds of touch time, to just 43.4 percent with his hands on the ball for more than six seconds.
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[FONT="]The Lakers, though, will have to hope that Lonzo is able to adapt to off-ball duties, after spending just 16 percent of his time at any position other than point guard in 2017-18, per Basketball Reference. With or without an impact player joining the Purple and Gold this summer, the team would do well to put the ball in the hands of its other young playmakers-Brandon Ingram, chief among them-to maximize the talent on-hand and ensure that the entire roster is able to reach its full potential under head coach Luke Walton.
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[FONT="]That is, so long as the Laker don't mind opening themselves up to another of the Ballfather's infamous diatribes if things don't go smoothly.[/FONT]
