The Los Angeles Lakers had high hopes for the tandem of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in the NBA playoffs. However, their early exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves exposed a glaring issue: the lack of a dominant big man following the trade of Anthony Davis.
While the Lakers are actively exploring the free agency market for centers, a report from Jovan Buha of The Athletic revealed that the team may also be interested in bringing back former Laker Lonzo Ball, now with the Chicago Bulls.
“I do, I think they would be,” Buha said when asked about the Lakers’ interest in a reunion with Ball. “It’s just a matter of what his price is, and you have to factor in the health and the history there. You can’t even pencil him in for 60 games. So whatever you’re giving up for him, there has to be some level of a discount, or you’re factoring in, like, this dude might just play 40, 50 games”.
While Ball could complement James and Doncic as a key role player, his injury-prone history presents a challenge. “He’s a guy you have to load manage,” Buha added. “Like, how can we load manage him to get to mid-April in one piece?”
Lonzo Ball #2 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Though a potential Ball reunion remains on the table, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka has reportedly prioritized acquiring a dominant center to solidify the team’s title hopes for the upcoming season. Names like Clint Capela have surfaced as free-agent targets the Lakers are closely monitoring.
Ball’s injury-plagued seasons
Lonzo Ball’s recent NBA seasons have been marred by knee injuries and surgeries. After sitting out the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Ball returned for the current campaign, appearing in 35 games and starting in 14 of them.
In 22.2 minutes per game, Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 36.6% from the field. When healthy, he provides valuable two-way versatility and a favorable contract, making him an intriguing option for the Lakers despite the risks.
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