Los Angeles Lakers: Biggest storylines to watch after free agent frenzy

3. Potential Lonzo Ball trade rumors

Lonzo Ball was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to be the leader of the Lakers for years to come. While Ball may not be the flashiest player, he had an obvious day one impact on the offense and the culture of moving the basketball. Ball has an impact in all aspects of the game, however, questions regarding his health and fitness have been presented.

With the Lakers signing a ball distributor in LeBron James, the door to trade Lonzo Ball and his outspoken father along with him has opened. Some fans are torn on this reality but James is known for causing teams to trade young assets, as the Cavaliers did with Andrew Wiggins to land LeBron James.

That trade ultimately worked out and the Lakers have enough of a young core to afford to trade one piece, hence why Ball’s name has been thrown into the mix.

Bill Simmons brought up a very good point in The Bill Simmons Podcast. Simmons was referring to an article written by Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated regarding LeBron’s decision to sign with the Lakers. Simmons read the following excerpt from the article and provided this commentary:

"“With Johnson and Rob Pelinka, With Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, they’ve crossed the threshold.” He mentions Kuzma over Lonzo Ball […] the way that was put, the was it was written, reminded me a lot about that piece in SI in 2014, remember, Wiggins wasn’t in it? And all of us were like ‘whoa, Wiggins isn’t in that, what does that mean?’"

This is a pretty minor thing to pick up on, but it is interesting to look at what the Lakers do with Lonzo Ball the rest of the summer. A trade for Damian Lillard would be the most likely usage of Ball on the trade market and is something we alluded to before the offseason.

Regardless, Lonzo Ball’s future with the Lakers is interesting? Will be he traded? Will his father learn to not say anything to piss off LeBron James? We shall see.