Redrafting the 2017 NBA Draft: Which teams fix their mistakes?

So! What’s going on with Lonzo Ball’s knee? That’s the primary question facing the eldest brother of the prodigal basketball family right now. Health has limited the former No. 2 pick since day one, to the point where injuries are becoming the narrative of his career so far. Which is wild when you consider the sheer volume of headline fodder that once circled around Ball.

When he’s healthy, Ball is the kind of star role player good teams yearn for. He’s excellent on the defensive end and one of the most brilliant passers in the sport. Ball can read the chess board several moves in advance. Whether he’s stationed off the ball or running point, Ball knows where he needs to be and where the ball needs to go.

There were several misconceptions about Ball’s game coming out of UCLA. He was never the Chris Paul-style Point God. He doesn’t need to dribble a lot to manipulate the defense. In fact, Ball is better in the off-guard position, moving fluidly about the court and making quick, decisive passes. He’s also one of the best in the business at turning rebounds into transition opportunities thanks to his knack for hit-ahead passes.

Ball is connective tissue, not the central nervous system. He won’t create a lot of points for himself, but he’s a knockdown 3-point shooter with deep range and the kind of preternatural I.Q. that just makes the game easier for everyone else. He’s the perfect 3-and-D guard for a team like Chicago built around two ball-dominant scorers like DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.