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Magic and the Ball family circus

Roar Guru
15th February, 2018
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Young Lonzo Ball is watching his career be destroyed by his dad. (Image: WikiCommons. By TonyTheTiger, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Roar Guru
15th February, 2018
9

LaVar Ball is the culmination of all bad parents on a Saturday morning.

His previous antics were amusing and silly, such as claiming his eldest son, Lonzo, is already better than two-time champion and two-time MVP Steph Curry.

But his latest antics could actually threaten Lonzo’s NBA career, and may end his other two sons’ – LiAngelo and LaMelo – careers before they even start.

Recently, he said Lonzo would not re-sign with LA Lakers unless they signed his other two sons when they were eligible for the NBA draft.

Lakers President Magic Johnson has done a masterful job of creating two max-salary spots for guys like LeBron James or Paul George – or, if he waits, Klay Thompson or Kawhi Leonard – but would any of these players seriously consider LA with LaVar constantly creating negative headlines and getting stuck into coach Luke Walton?

Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James

LeBron (Source: Wiki Commons)

Does Magic trade Lonzo to get rid of the drama and hope to attract LeBron? Signing the other two brothers seems a no-go. Many say LiAngelo, the middle brother, has no future in the NBA.

If a trade is the answer, what team would take the challenge of the Ball family on? While Lonzo is a solid rookie, he is not in the organisation-changing class of the likes of Kyle Kuzma, Ben Simmons or Donovan Mitchell. Lonzo could – at best – be a poor man’s Rajon Rondo.

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So with tensions rising for the Lakers and their biggest offseason in quite some time looming, they have to act.

Do they trade Lonzo, somehow ask his dad to shut up – an impossible task, it seems – or watch the likes of Paul George say, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

If LaVar is determined to ensure Lonzo will not re-sign without his other sons getting a gig, I cannot see another team dealing with the Ball family drama.

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