Lakers Rumors: Why LiAngelo Ball may actually be a risk worth taking

LiAngelo Ball has been tied to Los Angeles in the latest Lakers rumors. While Ball has been criticized, the risk of signing him may actually be worth it.

The Los Angeles Lakers already have one Ball brother on the roster. Starting point guard Lonzo Ball has done a great job in changing the culture and pace of play of the Lakers. However, his father, LaVar, stirs up quite a bit in the media. The latest Lakers rumors could find another Ball brother in LA as well.

Per Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll, Laker scouts were reportedly spotted at a Lithuanian basketball game with LiAngelo Ball being the biggest rumored target.

The news first broke from Lithuanian basketball journalist, Donatas Urbonas, who tweeted that there was indeed scouts at the Nevezis-Vytautas game on April 12.

Los Angeles Lakers scout was in the stands watching Nevezis-Vytautas game in Kedainiai. NBA Draft prospects LiAngelo Ball and Tadas Sedekerskis performed well. Gelo contributed to Vytautas W 96:79 with 12pts (3/3 threes) in 18 mins. Sedekerskis had season highs in pts 17 & EFF 23
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) April 12, 2018

LiAngelo Ball is the middle of three Ball brothers. It has become a widespread opinion by many that LiAngelo Ball is the least NBA caliber of the trio. After being arrested in China for shoplifting, his future was in question.

Now LiAngelo Ball stars on a last place Lithuanian team with his brother, LaMelo, after being pulled from UCLA. The chances of LiAngelo Ball getting drafted in the 2018 NBA Draft are slim to none. Yet he declared for the draft anyway.

More from LA Sports Hub

And while it is probably foolish for the Lakers to use a second-round pick on Ball, you can still make the case for him being a Laker. Especially with the latest Lakers rumors, it should at least be considered as a possibility.

The bottom line is that LiAngelo Ball will have his problems transitioning to the NBA. His defense is bad and he cannot create his own shots off the dribble. He is effectively limited to be a catch-and-shoot guy and a decent one at that.

However, as an undrafted free agent, the Lakers can bring LiAngelo in to play in the G League. In the G League, he will undoubtedly get far better competition than in Lithuania.

Not only that, he gets to be back in the states and probably will take in half a million or so.

The best-case scenario is that Ball finds his way to the roster as a two-way player at some point in the season and catches fire alongside his brother. Even if he is only good for one or two clutch threes in crunch time, it is a relatively cheap risk.

The worst-case scenario is that Ball does not have what it takes and can move into some sort of role in the organization; keeping the Ball roots deep in purple and gold to keep Lonzo there as long as possible.

The Lakers truly have a self-marketing machine at their hands. The Ball brothers were huge in high school, just imagine how big they would be on the grandest stage. And while Big Baller Brand may still be at ground zero, the profit from this endeavor would far outweigh the cost.

Next: Possible replacements for Brook Lopez

These Lakers rumors should not be taken lightly, at all. The Lakers know exactly what they are getting into with LiAngelo Ball.

More from LA Sports Hub

Home/Los Angeles Lakers