Lonzo Ball was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 29. He was acquired to replace Ty Jerome, who entered the summer as an unrestricted free agent and has since signed a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.
During an appearance on the “What an Experience” podcast, Ball shared his thoughts on the opportunity to play for Kenny Atkinson and the Cavaliers.
“Just playing, competing for a ring. I feel like that should be the goal, I feel like that is the goal,” Ball said. “So, happy to get over there and get started. To meet everybody, get familiar with everything, and take it as far as we can.
If Ball can stay healthy, he will be a major part of the Cavaliers’ second unit. He is an elite point-of-attack defender and playmaker. Furthermore, he can knock down threes off the dribble or off the catch. Of course, the concern is that he’s rarely been healthy over the last three years. As such, Ball could prove to be a swing factor in the Cavaliers’ upcoming season.
Still, Koby Altman was in a tough spot. Retaining Jerome was unrealistic due to the luxury tax penalties that would have been associated with a contract extension. Ball provides significant upside at a controlled price point.
He signed a two-year $20 million contract extension with Chicago last season. The second year of that extension is a team option, giving the Cavaliers an easy out if things don’t go according to plan.
LaVar Ball Breaks Silence on Cavaliers Trade
During an appearance on ESPN Cleveland, LaVar Ball shared his thoughts regarding his son’s trade to the Cavaliers.
“Lonzo’s always been that piece you need for a championship – they’ve got to make everyone better,” LaVar said.. “So, Cleveland just moved up to being the No. 1 team for the East.”
However, LaVar did acknowledge that Lonzo’s injury history is a concern.
“Yeah, he’s had some problems in the past,” LaVar said. “You’re always going to have problems when you’re trying to carry everybody on your back! When you’ve got all of this help now, I don’t see why they can’t win the championship.”
Ball will now have a chance to prove his injury issues are behind him. The motivation of challenging for a championship could be exactly what he needs to finally get back to his best.
Darius Garland is Cavaliers’ Weak Link
In a recent episode of “Mind The Game” with LeBron James and Steve Nash, superstar forward Kevin Durant pinpointed Darius Garland as the Cavaliers’ weak link.
“If you want to beat the Cleveland Cavs, you go at [Darius] Garland, most of the time,” Durant said.
Garland is likely to miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on a toe injury. If Ball is healthy, he could stake a claim for a role in the starting lineup. His defense and playmaking is arguably a better fit next to Donovan Mitchell.
As such, Garland could find himself embracing a bench role next season if he’s unable to prove himself as a viable defender within the Cavaliers’ system.
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