Lakers decide one Ball is enough
LiAngelo Ball was hoping he would be a part of the Lakers Summer League team, but the LA front office has decided one Ball is enough.
LaVar Ball’s grand plan of having his sons take over the Los Angeles Lakers has taken a cruel blow. Despite reportedly having a positive pre-draft workout with his brother’s franchise, LiAngelo Ball will not be joining the Lakers Summer League team in Las Vegas.
It’s unclear whether or not LiAngelo Ball could have made the team if not for the media circus that typically surrounds his family. While he certainly isn’t the sort of talent that his brother, Lonzo, provides the team, there’s a reasonable argument to be made that he could develop into an NBA player in time. Specifically, some NBA executives really appreciate his ability to shoot the ball from three.
What isn’t up for debate is the fact that the Lakers brass is clearly put off by all of LaVar Ball’s antics. Dealing with all of the extracurricular activities for a potentially transcendent talent like Lonzo is one thing. Going through something similar for a player who is unlikely to make an NBA roster this season is quite another.
Lakers officially informed LiAngelo Ball he will not be on their Summer League team last night. They were determined to make this a basketball decision but as one source put it, “obviously there’s more to it than basketball.” In other words— the LaVar effect was real.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 22, 2018
The question now becomes whether or not LiAngelo can find a franchise willing to let him join them for Summer League. He faces an uphill climb to make any team, but it’s going to be an impossible task without the ability to show off his wares in a competitive environment this summer.
The best move for LiAngelo would be to try to distance himself from his family for the time being. He may not be strong enough to pull away from his father at this point in his life, but it would be the right move if he wants to earn an NBA roster spot in the near future.
It would probably be even better for him to try to find his way onto a roster other than the Lakers. That seems to be his only option at the moment, but it’s likely a blessing in disguise. He needs to focus on making his own name in the world of professional basketball. He’s never going to be able to do that with the Lakers.
Next: NBA Draft 2018: 5 players who went to the wrong team
For the time being, the Lakers will be content to move forward with just one Ball. It might be a long time before they decide two Balls is the way to go.