DarealJuice Draft Series Part 6: Lonzo Ball

[Jarlaxle0204]

I can't seem to get a handle on who I want in this draft. I think if we land the first pick we should take Fultz but after that I wouldn't be unhappy with either Jackson or Ball.

I have no idea who I'd want if we happen to pick 4 or 5. I don't even want to think about that.

[Bogyo]

I see the potential, but I want no part of him. If he busts he will bust "out of the league after the rookie contract" style, and I see a chance of that happening. With the other top 5 guys you'll be getting a pretty sure legit NBA starter at least. Maybe not transformational talent as in Lonzo's case, but I see too many flaws in his game for that. I think a bit better Rubio/ really poor man's Kidd is the top for him, and might not reach that as well, maybe only a Rubio-like presence overall, with different strenghts and weaknesses. Do not want.

[Damkac]

I don't think he could be a total bust. He do too many things good to not be at least a decent starter imo. Some people think he will be another Kendall Marshall but he is better than Marshall in everything.

[LukasBMW]

If we get the #1 pick and take Ball I will slit my wrists and bleed out.

[kennydorglas]

I'll trust in McD decision on this one. He proved me wrong almost every time.

[sunskerr]

His shooting mechanics worry me (they're awful). But if Kawhi can come to the NBA and start shooting 40% from 3 after a year or two then it's possible for Ball who already is a better shooter than Kawhi was in college.

[lilfishi22]

I'll trust in McD decision on this one. He proved me wrong almost every time.

Even Len?

[kennydorglas]

I'll trust in McD decision on this one. He proved me wrong almost every time.

Even Len?

Len fits in the 'almost' part. I dont think he was a total failure tho (really wanted Noel)

[STEV13]

First thing that has to happen, I think, is for the Lakers to officially drop out of the Top 3 so he can stop talking about LA as his dream destination. Man it'd be crazy if hypothetically we want him at 2 and he forces his way to drop to 3, like by intentionally skipping a workout here or Lavar says something crazy about us.

I like JJ too but, I'm pretty high on Ball and I also think that he fits in this team like a glove. Him and Book would be a nice (offensive) back court duo, both are marketable so that could mean extra cash for you, Bob.

[rsavaj]

First thing that has to happen, I think, is for the Lakers to officially drop out of the Top 3 so he can stop talking about LA as his dream destination. Man it'd be crazy if hypothetically we want him at 2 and he forces his way to drop to 3, like by intentionally skipping a workout here or Lavar says something crazy about us.

I like JJ too but, I'm pretty high on Ball and I also think that he fits in this team like a glove. Him and Book would be a nice (offensive) back court duo, both are marketable so that could mean extra cash for you, Bob.

If LA really wants him and they fall to 3, I see that as an opportunity to trade down and get an additional asset from them in the process. Not sure if they'd do D'Lo + 3 for 2 but that's the kind of deal that would make me really happy. I'd take D'Lo and Josh Jackson over just Ball any day.

[bwgood77]

First thing that has to happen, I think, is for the Lakers to officially drop out of the Top 3 so he can stop talking about LA as his dream destination. Man it'd be crazy if hypothetically we want him at 2 and he forces his way to drop to 3, like by intentionally skipping a workout here or Lavar says something crazy about us.

I like JJ too but, I'm pretty high on Ball and I also think that he fits in this team like a glove. Him and Book would be a nice (offensive) back court duo, both are marketable so that could mean extra cash for you, Bob.

If LA really wants him and they fall to 3, I see that as an opportunity to trade down and get an additional asset from them in the process. Not sure if they'd do D'Lo + 3 for 2 but that's the kind of deal that would make me really happy. I'd take D'Lo and Josh Jackson over just Ball any day.

Just because Ball wants the Lakers so bad doesn't necessarily mean they want him that bad. It is just as rumored that we have Ball #1. But even if they were 3rd, trading DLo and JJ for Ball would be insane. I can't imagine any rational human being even considering it. I mean maybe if they wanted thim that bad they throw in Clarkson or someone...maybe.

The only POSSIBLE reason would be because it's Magic and Ball might remind Magic of himself. But if we for any reason in that scenario have Jackson rated ahead of Ball and take Ball to try and pry an extra asset (they could always pull out of a deal and screw us) and the deal falls through I'd be pissed. We just need to take the guy on top of our board. Now if we rate Fultz, Ball and Jackson all exactly equally, there would be no downside in taking one in order to work a deal because we'd be just as happy anyway, but that's the only way I'd risk it.

[itlnsunsfan]

I think a Ball-Booker backcourt would be more dynamic than a Fultz-Booker backcourt. I envision Ball passing to Booker on cuts to the hoop. I see Booker throwing lobs to Ball. I see both penetrating and kicking passes out to each other at the 3 pt line. It would be glorious.

[Bogyo]

Also - has anyone thought of the very real and "scary" situation of Lonzo and daddy Ball (grade A a**hole) trying to pressure the team to pick the lesser brothers as well next year and after? Pouting after we don't? That would be real joy to watch on the Suns... The lesser brother saga continues, which whiffs of the MoBro fiasco. Barf. Say no to Ball (and his whackjob family).

[m1chal]

Btw, has anyone added A LESSER BROTHER to the Suns synonyms in the other thread yet? It should definitely be there

[sunsbum]

Liangelo will be at UCLA for 4 years. I doubt he gets drafted.

[Bogyo]

Liangelo will be at UCLA for 4 years. I doubt he gets drafted.

Just wait 'till the other Balls pressure Lonzo's team to take the kid... LaVar will claim that the 3 together will be better than the 96 bulls and last years warriors, and anyone not seeing that is a fool, including Lonzo's team owners, gm, coaches, etc... it will be so much fun

*Edit: just ran across this:
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/stephan-gilling-relieved-lavar-ball-fired-chino-hills-coach-lamelo-lonzo-liangelo-ucla-high-school

Colour me surprised. Although the "refusing to leave the teams locker room" was even new to me. I would have his dumb a** kicked out by security, and would have happily lent a hand for them to do it. What a f ing moron. Good luck to anyone drafting his kid - who seems to be OK with his dad, although it's not his fault, he doesn't know any better. Poor kid

[neno]

[quote="darealjuice"]
Ball Handling

I feel that Ball needs to improve his ball handling before he can be a primary ball handler in the NBA. He’s fine pushing the ball in transition and bringing the ball up, but his dribble is a bit high for my liking right now, he struggled against defensive pressure, doesn’t have a lot of craftiness or shake to his 1-on-1 game, and he needs a lot of work as a pick and roll ball handler. In pick and roll scenarios he wouldn’t come off the screen tight enough to turn the corner and get into the paint before the help could get to him, leading to an ineffective pick and roll where the big man helps until Lonzo’s defender recovers through the screen and he can take away the roll man. For a guy that’s compared to Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, I don’t see a lot of craftiness or shake to his crossovers, and he doesn’t get the defender moving side to side to create angles to the paint very well. He’s very rigid when he’s going one-on-one, while guys like Nash use a lot of hesitation and body and head feints with their crossovers to sell it better. I think that he might be very predictable once an NBA scouting report is put together on him. He very visibly shies away from going right if he isn’t getting to the basket because he knows he can’t pull up going right, and if you can stay in front of him when he’s going left then he’ll inevitably go to his step back jump shot or pass the ball. The fact that he averaged just under 2 non-transition attempts at the rim, compared to his competition Markelle Fultz averaging 5.8 non-transition attempts at the rim a game makes me think that he's not able to beat the defense to the rim off the dribble in the half court."


That could be a big problem, most would consider that a requirement

[Waylay13]

There is no one in this draft that scares me as bad a Lonzo Ball. He maybe the second coming of Magic but I see two really issues with his game that scares me and his father is even worst.
-Speed while in the open court he is very quick but I dont really see him blowing by people in the NBA level in the half count.
-Post up game the reason to draft a large point is have the ability to see over the top of the defense but when a player can't post up you really half to worry about his ability to operate in the half court.

to top this off his father may be the worst then Rich Paul as far as messing up a team.

[MathiasPW]

There is no one in this draft that scares me as bad a Lonzo Ball. He maybe the second coming of Magic but I see two really issues with his game that scares me and his father is even worst.
-Speed while in the open court he is very quick but I dont really see him blowing by people in the NBA level in the half count.
-Post up game the reason to draft a large point is have the ability to see over the top of the defense but when a player can't post up you really half to worry about his ability to operate in the half court.

to top this off his father may be the worst then Rich Paul as far as messing up a team.

There are way better reasons to he scared of him, honestly.

He's not ultra fast but the ball moves fast when I'm his hands. Watch all the NFL throws he makes with deadly precision and you'll see he doesn't need to be that fast to get the ball in transition faster than the defense can set up.

And post-up moves by guards are becoming less frequent as the games moves more and more away from the paint. Booker is the exception to that, I guess

[MrMiyagi]

There is no one in this draft that scares me as bad a Lonzo Ball. He maybe the second coming of Magic but I see two really issues with his game that scares me and his father is even worst.
-Speed while in the open court he is very quick but I dont really see him blowing by people in the NBA level in the half count.
-Post up game the reason to draft a large point is have the ability to see over the top of the defense but when a player can't post up you really half to worry about his ability to operate in the half court.

to top this off his father may be the worst then Rich Paul as far as messing up a team.

There are way better reasons to he scared of him, honestly.

He's not ultra fast but the ball moves fast when I'm his hands. Watch all the NFL throws he makes with deadly precision and you'll see he doesn't need to be that fast to get the ball in transition faster than the defense can set up.

And post-up moves by guards are becoming less frequent as the games moves more and more away from the paint. Booker is the exception to that, I guess

I think we have the talent for Lonzo to utilize and to mask most of his deficiencies. I think if we have Lonzo, he gets the outlet and pushes the break. His biggest concern is the half-court game - can he get around defenders and can he get his shot off when contested? Booker is developing into a great half-court isolation player. Unless opposing teams are going to let Booker work one-on-one, Lonzo and others should be getting some open looks, not to mention Lonzo moves incredibly well off-ball. To me, they compliment each other incredibly well offensively. However, I still think defense is our biggest area of concern. Both Booker and Lonzo could be committed to becoming better defenders and follow through on that, but I won't hold my breath.