Lonzo Ball is the point guard the Clippers need

The NBA Finals are set to get underway between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the rest of the 28 teams are already in off-season mode, which circles around the Los Angeles Clippers. There is a name that is under the radar that the Clippers should take a look at, and his name is Lonzo Ball.

Ball, a native of Chino Hills, California a suburb of the LA area is where he played all three levels of basketball. From high school to the NBA, he knows what it means to play in the "City of Angels". When the masses think of Ball they remember him when he came into the league at 19 years old. Curly Afro, minor acne, very little facial hair, and not a tattoo in sight this is his look coming in nothing wrong with that. 

More importantly, people recall how involved his father Lavar Ball was with him from high school until his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Coming into the NBA, certain players wanted to make an example out of Ball based on some of the things his father echoed. At UCLA, elder Ball went as far as to say his son was better than Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry. One can imagine the target he had on his son's back, but elder Ball knew the way to get the best out of his son, and that it would eventually pay off.

After his time with the Lakers, he branched off to the New Orleans Pelicans with star Zion Williamson and that's when he was able to show his true skill set. In the 2019-2020 season, Ball averaged 11.8 ppg, 7.0 apg, and 1.4 spg and the following season he averaged 14.6 ppg, 5.7 apg, and 1.5 spg. Now while his assists numbers went down his scoring average went up which is something that many spoke about how he needed to be more aggressive and look to score. His level of play landed him a 4-year/$80 million deal extension with the Pelicans. In the off-season of 2021, he did a sign and trade where he was moved to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls is where he would make his biggest mark. 

In the 2021-22 season, he teamed up with star Duo Demar Derozan and Zach Lavine two big-time scoring guards that need somebody to feed them the ball. Well, the move from Ball to the Bulls fits like a glove. During that season, Ball averaged 13.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, and a career high 1.8 spg. As well his shot improved dramatically shooting over 40% from the three-point line. However, that wasn't the most impressive thing. 

Going back to high school and college, there is one thing that mattered more than stats to Ball and that's simply winning while making his teammates better. As a senior for the Chino Hill Huskies, he led them to a high school state championship going 39-0. As a freshman with the UCLA Bruins as the starting point guard, he helped lead the team to a 31-5 record after losing in the Sweet Sixteen. In his first year with the Bulls, they were the number one seed, and unfortunately, his season was cut short after 35 games suffering from left knee issues. Derozan who was an MVP-like season, said this after losing Ball in 2022.

Ball returned to the court this season which is two years removed when he had the injury. This was a year for him where he was looking to feel what it was like playing basketball again. In 35 games of play, he averaged 7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, and 3.3 apg, but the context is he only averaged 22.2 minutes per game. The young back-court duo of Josh Giddy and Colby White had something to do with that. 

So how does this help the Clippers? Why would a franchise like the Clippers want to bring in Ball when he is just coming back from injury? It is true Ball has not played at his peak since 2021-22, but his coming back and playing some productive basketball opens up optimism. Besides, the Clippers are used to being patient with players' injury recovery mainly about their superstar Kawhi Leonard. In the 2023-24 season, the Clippers had Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook all on one team who are all from LA. Leonard and Harden are still on the team so the franchise seems very welcoming to hometown guys. Well, Ball fits right in that category of hometown-grown. 

Ball, is also 27 years old. The Clippers who are the oldest team in the league need to start looking at going younger. While Harden, did have a very good season he is about to be 36 years old, and for a high-usage player like him how much tread is left on those tires? If regular-season success is the standard then by all means stay pat, but if the Clippers want to be more than a first-round exit there is some retooling that needs to take place. In the regular season, Harden is one of the greatest scorers in modern-day history. However, Ball being 6'7, has a unique set of abilities that Harden just doesn't have height, rebounding, IQ, and most importantly defense. 

In the 2021-22 season with the Bulls, Derozan and Lavine were All-stars with Ball as their point guard. Now, what if you put him next to Leonard? How many more easy shots does Leonard get? How much load defensively does he take off of Leonard, whereas Harden many times served as a liability both rebounding and defensively? 

Now, of course, this means advocating for Ball to be on the Clippers as the starting point guard would mean Harden goes to the bench or leaves for another team. Which is still a possibility with Harden having a possibility of signing on to another team. However, even if Harden opts in the Clippers should think very hard about keeping a player who showed very good production in the regular season to only decline in the playoffs. Watching the Clippers vs Nuggets series shows that Leonard doesn't have a true second-scoring option in the postseason.

Will Ball be the second option to Leonard averaging 20+ppg? No, that is why the Clippers should be actively looking at other players on their roster to move and lure in a valuable second option next to Leonard, preferably a wing.  Look at the finals now, Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton doesn't stand out in the scoring aspect averaging 18.6 ppg as the Pacers' number two option, but his play-making, leadership, and winning tangibles are why he is in the finals. Ball has many of the same qualities. If Haliburton and the Pacers can win it all then there could be a shift at that position on what is valued the most. 

Ball signing a 2-year/$20 million deal back in February 2025 says the Bulls are going to stick it out with him, but how much does that change when you have a young back-court in Giddy and White who are on the same timeline age-wise? Ironically, Derozan and Lavine left the Bulls and found themselves back together on the Sacramento Kings. So with a rebuilding team like the Bulls, who lost their stars where does a player like Ball fit in? This is a prime opportunity for the Clippers to snatch a good quality piece that can really up their chances toward a deep playoff run at a low price.