Los Angeles Lakers: How missing the playoffs would affect the offseason
By Jason Reed
2. The Los Angeles Lakers cannot trade Lonzo Ball now
Lonzo Ball has been involved in nearly every trade discussion this season and it appears as if the Lakers were willing to trade the young point guard in a massive package for Anthony Davis. If the team misses the playoffs, even if Ball makes his return, it is going to be impossible to part ways with him.
It is not going to be impossible from a value sense. Ball has a lot of value and every NBA team would be foolish to simply pass on him in trade talks. That is not the issue, the issue is that the Los Angeles Lakers need Lonzo Ball to be successful.
The Lakers have been awful without Lonzo Ball because of his help defense and his all-around proficiency over Rajon Rondo. Including Ball in a package for Anthony Davis is just going to lead to an extremely thin backcourt with no real point guard.
Ball’s defense is elite and even if his jump shot is ugly and does not hit often he is a huge impact to this team. Having Ball instead of a replacement-level point guard is a huge difference for the Lakers.
There is one road that the Lakers can take to trade Lonzo Ball, however, it appears unlikely. The only way it would make sense would be if the Lakers also signed Kyrie Irving. The Lakers could get Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving is Irving took a $5 million pay cut but the team would be alarmingly thin.
Unless the Lakers somehow hit that grand slam, and the front office has not given any signs that they are capable of doing so, the team cannot trade Lonzo Ball.