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It is no secret that the Lonzo Ball experiment did not go according to plan with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He struggled to make shots, ranking nearly dead last in field-goal percentage in the association. The job he had to do running the offense just didn’t work out, and he was shipped out at the deadline.
After missing nearly three seasons with various injuries, it was big to see Ball back on the floor with the Chicago Bulls a year ago. He showed a few signs of being back, with his three-point success and defensive ability.
Ball’s first points in 1,006 days got a huge reaction from the crowd last October. Of course, he was sent to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro in the offseason. He now finds himself as a free agent.
Ball himself had some words about his time there. Let’s get into it.
Lonzo Ball Breaks Silence After Cavs Trade Him to Utah
Lonzo Ball was waived by the Utah Jazz after being acquired at the trade deadline with a pair of second-round picks. In all with the Cavs, he averaged 4.6 points on 30.1% FG, and 27.2% 3PT. He didn’t really get to the FT line, and could not make shots.
Ball did put up four rebounds, four assists, and 1.3 steals per game, but the lack of shooting and successful floor spacing made things hard on the guys around him. He lost his rotation spot to Craig Porter Jr. and was then of course, moved.
Lonzo weighed in on the Ball In the Family podcast, saying:
“I don’t feel like I’m playing as bad as people are saying, I’m the scapegoat right now.”
For what it’s worth, Cleveland, in the games including post-trade, has gone 15-5 with Ball not in their lineup. Getting back to the league after all that he dealt with is an incredible feat. Pre-injury, he had Chicago at the top of the Eastern Conference. The team floundered post-injury, and still has not reached the postseason since that campaign.
The fit wasn’t there with the Cavs, and of course a statement like this from Ball isn’t a shocker. He would prefer to continue playing and have some team give him a call. Any amount of good PR he can get, he would gladly take. Whether it comes from him, his father, or anybody else in the association.
Just because he’s not on a team now doesn’t necessarily mean his career is done. He is only 28 years of age, after all.
Next Steps for Lonzo Ball
Of course, it’s hard not to root for Lonzo Ball. He came into the league with a lot of pressure, and knocked down four threes, finishing with 29-11-9 in a victory over the Suns. He was wowing despite the additional pressure thrown onto him in the public eye by his father, LaVar.
This is a player that was a star at UCLA, and it came as no surprise when he was selected second overall. Ball has flashed potential in all of his stops that came after.
However much he’s struggled, his time hasn’t come yet. Ball could get a flier from another team.
It is worth noting though, that Ben Simmons hasn’t been scooped up this year after struggling with the Clippers down the stretch of last season.
The two have a similar shooting/confidence issue, while many other parts of their game still function at a decently high level. Will their basketball fates be the same?
Zach Weiss Zach Weiss is a sports reporter covering the NBA for Heavy. He also hosts a podcast about the Cleveland Cavaliers, “Across the Cavs,” and serves as a sports broadcaster for various institutions in the Greater NYC Area. He wrote for Knup Sports for six years. More about Zach Weiss
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