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?
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.
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.
Jerry
Guest
My point was there are certain distractions and extra curricular activities that a centerpiece can get away with. Ball isn't a centerpiece so if his father starts to be too much of a distraction to the team, he's not worth keeping.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
It's amusing watching people judge Lonzo based on their judgment of LaVar
Roger
Guest
"less athletic and a little taller" His 5 inches taller.... and twice the athlete Rondo ever will be, even at this stage of his development. How much of Ball have you actually watched?
Swampy
Guest
The Lakers don't need to build around him. He's one piece that is important. If they land a big name free agent like Paul George or Klay Thompson and with the other guys they have already, he is a perfectly good starting point guard. A guy who other players will want to play with. This is very important. Ball has a ceiling so much higher than Rondo it's not funny.
Marshall
Guest
To suggest Kuzma is franchise altering is absoutely laughable, cmon. He's been a pleaseant surprise scorer but is atrocious defensively, is not a playmaker - he's a one dimensional player. I see him capping out as a solid 6th man on a good team - nice value for where he picked - but not franchise altering. Lonzo is a 10-7-7-2-1 stat sheet filler who pushes the pace, makes his teamates better and changes the culture of a team.
Jacks
Guest
To me his less athletic and a little taller than Rondo was. Without the explosive ability to get into the paint like Rondo had I can see him struggling. His not a franchise cornerstone like the Simmons or Mitchell's. He has to be surrounded by shooters and in today's NBA the point has to be able to shoot or be explosive I don't think ball is either. A good starting point guard sure a great one I have alot of doubt.
Roger
Guest
"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." Utter rubbish. Lonzo has played a total of 36 NBA games... 36... and he is averaging 10/7/7. There is no doubt his shooting is an issue, is aggressiveness a concern... but his 20 and he has shown he is good enough. He is not a solid rookie, he is an amazingly talent NBA rookie who is if nothing else an NBA starter for 10 years. He will continue to improve, his ability to score will improve and I can see him comfortably averaging 18/10/7 in 3-5 years which would be more then enough when surrounded by elite talent and spot up shooters. Lonzo going nowhere.
Jerry
Guest
He's good, but unless he starts being a consistent scorer he's not a guy you can build a team around (especially these days). And a guy at that level may not be worth the distractions his father brings.
Swampy
Guest
Lonzo is pretty good actually - as much as I hate to admit it. And he seems to have been raised well and is quietly spoken but confident. All things any franchise would look for. The circus show that is his dad just needs to be ignored. I'm sure magic Johnson and Rob pelinka are grown up enough to do that. Lonzo won't be traded.