Things that make you go "Hmmmm" dept | Look who's training together (Trae & Lonzo)

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

One of these are on the trading block, supposedly, not b/c he had a terrible 2019-2020, but pretty much b/c he had a terrible 2020 bubble.

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Imagine for a moment what a backcourt rotation of these two and Reddish might accomplish. Moreover, fwiw, there are independent observers in the RealGm universe who feel dealing the #6 straight-up would be an overpay on our part. Emphasis on "fwiw."

[Radioblacktive1]

I would love Lonzo. Only issues are:
1. He’s probably looking to get paid a lot more than we should be willing to give him.

2. If he’s having motor issues, that’s a red flag for me. Can’t have guys not giving it their all when they’re out there.

[myrak433]

I like how Trae was getting after it. He looks like he is not satisfied with just being good. He has already made it and he was going the hardest. I like, I like alot.

[jayu70]

Trae was training with LaMelo last year...maybe we are drafting him too

[shakes0]

As some of you know, Lonzo and then the next year Trae are the two reasons I started following the NBA again. I would love it if my two favorite NBA players were on the same team. I think they'd be a good match too. But like others have said Lonzo is due to be paid not sure ATL would want to go down that road.

Also, what would it cost to trade for him? He had a great season but is getting scapegoated for having a bad bubble on a team where everyone had a bad bubble.

[kg01]

As some of you know, Lonzo and then the next year Trae are the two reasons I started following the NBA again. I would love it if my two favorite NBA players were on the same team. I think they'd be a good match too. But like others have said Lonzo is due to be paid not sure ATL would want to go down that road.

Also, what would it cost to trade for him? He had a great season but is getting scapegoated for having a bad bubble on a team where everyone had a bad bubble.

Heh, he got Zion'd since nobody can blame Zion for anything bad that happens. I mean, this phrase should never be uttered about a professional athlete in any sport: "Man if he ever gets in shape, he'll be great."

Ball would be excellent here in a secondary role. Truth be told, he showed tremendous progress prior to the shutdown. If they can work out a team-friendly deal, this is a home run. Could be like a poor man's Jrue, who would also be great here.

Now lemme log out before my Zion comments draw the slings 'n arrows.

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

[Ball4life32]

Not that I think he’s a bad player like some do but I agree that #6 is an overpay. Very good passer/defender but gives you 10–12 ppg on pretty bad efficiency....he shot better this yr from 3 but I’m extremely skeptical he can consistently do that.

Definitely a useful player & I’d love him as first G off the bench type but not a fan of him as your starting SG.

[Radioblacktive1]

I know a guy.

[CP War Hawks]

Don't really want the Ball bloodline around the franchise I root for. Just seems more trouble than it's worth.

[King Ken]

Lonzo should be an option if New Orleans wants to give him away. But not a chance in hell for #6 overall

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

Definitely a useful player & I’d love him as first G off the bench type but not a fan of him as your starting SG.

I just feel there's a real amnesia that's settled over a lot of fans based on 7 games. (He played well in the win over MEM, so 7 instead of 8.)

That is, seven games where, on a team that sucked, he arguably sucked most.

Ordinarily, though, you'd see more people utter the words "small sample size."

Prior to that, enthusiasm was pretty stout for his future... to the point that the discussions some of us read among NOP fans was whether he should be offered a max contract or not. (Not making that up, and it wasn't that long ago.)

To the stock market part of me, that signals a serious value stock opportunity.

[Ball4life32]

Definitely a useful player & I’d love him as first G off the bench type but not a fan of him as your starting SG.

I just feel there's a real amnesia that's settled over a lot of fans based on 7 games. (He played well in the win over MEM, so 7 instead of 8.)

That is, seven games where, on a team that sucked, he arguably sucked most.

Ordinarily, though, you'd see more people utter the words "small sample size."

Prior to that, enthusiasm was pretty stout for his future... to the point that the discussions some of us read among NOP fans was whether he should be offered a max contract or not. (Not making that up, and it wasn't that long ago.)

To the stock market part of me, that signals a serious value stock opportunity.

Lonzo stats before bubble:
12.7 points, 7.0 assists, 6.7 rebounds on .529 TS%

Lonzo stats after bubble:
11.8 points, 7.0 assists, 6.1 rebounds on .517 TS%

Not too big a difference....he’s inconsistent so what he did in the bubble didn’t surprise nor did it really change his perception to me. Have never thought he’s worth close to the max.

[kg01]

Lonzo stats before bubble:
12.7 points, 7.0 assists, 6.7 rebounds on .529 TS%

Lonzo stats after bubble:
11.8 points, 7.0 assists, 6.1 rebounds on .517 TS%

Not too big a difference....he’s inconsistent so what he did in the bubble didn’t surprise nor did it really change his perception to me. Have never thought he’s worth close to the max.

Not to step into your fight ..... despite what the raw numbers say, there were multiple reports of Ball being "checked out" during the bubble.

As you suggest, the numbers don't seem to bare that out. And I don't see him as unusually inconsistent, necessarily. He tracks as a young player who just isn't the elite prospect he was billed as. That's perfectly fine. I'd love to have a 12pt, 6-7reb, 4-5 ast guard with size in our rotation.

And who said anything about 'max'? He ain't gettin' anywhere near that, which is perfect for us.

Dang, mane. Are you making a case for or against Ball for us?

Ok, back to your fight with stu ...

[jayu70]

Lonzo stats before bubble:
12.7 points, 7.0 assists, 6.7 rebounds on .529 TS%

Lonzo stats after bubble:
11.8 points, 7.0 assists, 6.1 rebounds on .517 TS%

Not too big a difference....he’s inconsistent so what he did in the bubble didn’t surprise nor did it really change his perception to me. Have never thought he’s worth close to the max.

Not to step into your fight ..... despite what the raw numbers say, there were multiple reports of Ball being "checked out" during the bubble.

As you suggest, the numbers don't seem to bare that out. And I don't see him as unusually inconsistent, necessarily. He tracks as a young player who just isn't the elite prospect he was billed as. That's perfectly fine. I'd love to have a 12pt, 6-7reb, 4-5 ast guard with size in our rotation.

And who said anything about 'max'? He ain't gettin' anywhere near that, which is perfect for us.

Dang, mane. Are you making a case for or against Ball for us?

Ok, back to your fight with stu ...

I think this sums of Lonzo. Like you said, wouldn't mind having him, just not for the #6 pick.

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

Lonzo stats before bubble:
12.7 points, 7.0 assists, 6.7 rebounds on .529 TS%

Lonzo stats after bubble:
11.8 points, 7.0 assists, 6.1 rebounds on .517 TS%

Not too big a difference....he’s inconsistent so what he did in the bubble didn’t surprise nor did it really change his perception to me. Have never thought he’s worth close to the max.

I'm not sure the math of 7 games is going to severely impact the overall math of the other 56 games regardless... 11% of the total games he played.

I would counter that it's as simple as going back to what was published online about him prior to the bubble, and comparing that with what's been getting said about him since... not that GMs actually would pay attention to what us fans think anyhow, of course... but in a debate about perceptions versus reality, one would have to make the case that the pre-bubble perceptions were well off the mark, imo.

https://pelicandebrief.com/2020/07/18/new-orleans-pelicans-extend-lonzo-ball/

[Ball4life32]

Lonzo stats before bubble:
12.7 points, 7.0 assists, 6.7 rebounds on .529 TS%

Lonzo stats after bubble:
11.8 points, 7.0 assists, 6.1 rebounds on .517 TS%

Not too big a difference....he’s inconsistent so what he did in the bubble didn’t surprise nor did it really change his perception to me. Have never thought he’s worth close to the max.

Not to step into your fight ..... despite what the raw numbers say, there were multiple reports of Ball being "checked out" during the bubble.

As you suggest, the numbers don't seem to bare that out. And I don't see him as unusually inconsistent, necessarily. He tracks as a young player who just isn't the elite prospect he was billed as. That's perfectly fine. I'd love to have a 12pt, 6-7reb, 4-5 ast guard with size in our rotation.

And who said anything about 'max'? He ain't gettin' anywhere near that, which is perfect for us.

Dang, mane. Are you making a case for or against Ball for us?

Ok, back to your fight with stu ...

From this

Prior to that, enthusiasm was pretty stout for his future... to the point that the discussions some of us read among NOP fans was whether he should be offered a max contract or not. (Not making that up, and it wasn't that long ago.)

I like Lonzo just not for #6 or my starting SG of the future.

[kg01]

Lonzo stats before bubble:
12.7 points, 7.0 assists, 6.7 rebounds on .529 TS%

Lonzo stats after bubble:
11.8 points, 7.0 assists, 6.1 rebounds on .517 TS%

Not too big a difference....he’s inconsistent so what he did in the bubble didn’t surprise nor did it really change his perception to me. Have never thought he’s worth close to the max.

Not to step into your fight ..... despite what the raw numbers say, there were multiple reports of Ball being "checked out" during the bubble.

As you suggest, the numbers don't seem to bare that out. And I don't see him as unusually inconsistent, necessarily. He tracks as a young player who just isn't the elite prospect he was billed as. That's perfectly fine. I'd love to have a 12pt, 6-7reb, 4-5 ast guard with size in our rotation.

And who said anything about 'max'? He ain't gettin' anywhere near that, which is perfect for us.

Dang, mane. Are you making a case for or against Ball for us?

Ok, back to your fight with stu ...

From this

Prior to that, enthusiasm was pretty stout for his future... to the point that the discussions some of us read among NOP fans was whether he should be offered a max contract or not. (Not making that up, and it wasn't that long ago.)

I like Lonzo just not for #6 or my starting SG of the future.

Ah, thanks for clarifying. Anyone thinking he's worth a max or near-max ... yikes. He's also not nearly worth a top 10 pick even in this week draft. I'm thinking of him as a guard in the rotation, not a lock-starter necessarily. I think we generally agree.

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

I like Lonzo just not for #6 or my starting SG of the future.

Not that we should take bloggers' opinions to be any more meaningful than any of ours, but just to justify/support what I said... this was said just before the re-start...

[Ball4life32]

I like Lonzo just not for #6 or my starting SG of the future.

Not that we should take bloggers' opinions to be any more meaningful than any of ours, but just to justify/support what I said... this was said just before the re-start...

But I’m confused here....you’re saying people are harping too much on the poor 7 games during the bubble (which I don’t disagree)...but should we be taking the even shorter sample (5 games) more seriously?

Problem is Lonzo can’t get to the line....yes he needs to improve his shoot FT % but how does that blogger expect him to add 4-5 more ppg by just improving the %? He only shoots 1.2 FT per game this past yr & for his career (Huerter is at 1.1 in 2 less min for example)...Like I was saying before I’m already skeptical on his shot but I see nothing to suggest he can up his FT volume to even potentially add those 4-5 ppg ...