given that they're all 19, no, i don't really expect anyone to come in and set the league on fire in any way. but i thought the argument was that ball had an elite quality (and others didn't). i think you can go down the list of the projected top 8-9 players and list one thing they already do really well--well enough to suspect that it will translate.
I feel Ball has 4 elite qualities: 1. Height - elite for a PG at 6'6" 2. PG skills - elite, led the nation in assists 3. Finishing in the paint - elite, 99th percentile among guards 4. 3pt shooting - excellent to elite among top prospects
OMG. Can you imagine? Lakers take Fox instead and he's happily cashing the checks from Nike that LaVar turned down for Lonzo who instead gets sent to purgatory with the Sixers to join the "process" with Embiid hurt again next year and meanwhile this kind of s*** forever over Pops's miscalculations and uber annoying personality. DBIh24fUMAA4ry_.jpg
I want Ball though. Fox seems like a nice player, but he's playing on Kentucky with a bunch of top level talent. Ball made UCLA work. Take Ball of of UCLA, you can question whether or not they even make the tournament.
There's the draft rumor going around that the Lakers like BOTH De'Aaron Fox and Josh Jackson. I think if the Lakers really do like both prospects, they have the assets to obtain another top 4 pick to get both of them. The one that makes sense for both teams would be if the Lakers trade D'Angelo and Deng (salary dump) to the 76ers for #3. 76ers should be intrigued by that offer because they were high on D'Angelo during the 2015 draft, he was high school teammates with Ben Simmons, and most of all, are extremely weak at the guard positions and could use the upgrade. The 76ers also have the cap space to absorb Dengs contract and may value some veteran locker room presence. What I don't understand about these reports are more in regards to why the Lakers would be intrigued by Josh Jackson if they are confident they can get Paul George next summer. You end up creating a logjam at SF.....
All these reports are b*******. Lakers are drafting Lonzo, barring some disastrous workout. There are a lot of agents, scouts, teams, gms that have their own interests, who may be spreading these and other rumors. Don't pay attention to them, at least not until the workouts are done.
Yeah okay, D'Angelo and Deng is already overpaying for Paul George, and we're going to trade it for an unproven draft pick?