Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball needs a change of scenery, and the Suns offer the best option

Halfway through his sophomore season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Lonzo Ball has struggled to live up to his true potential as a second overall pick. His father LaVar Ball has voiced that if his son was to be traded, he’d like if it was to the Phoenix Suns.

Lonzo Ball has been a very average NBA player to this point. The point guard is playing 30.3 minutes per night this year, averaging just 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on 40 percent shooting from the field.

There were very high expectations for Ball in the NBA, but he has failed to live up to the hype so far. Through two years in the league, he’s averaging just 10 points per contest and 6.2 assists. He has proven to be a very good playmaker, evident by his assist numbers. But the scoring numbers have struggled.

With LeBron now a Laker, the spotlight is on the king every night.

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There have been trade talks involving Anthony Davis coming to LA, with Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Ingram, Lance Stephenson, and draft picks heading to NOLA. Recent reports have surfaced that the Lakers aren’t willing to give more than that for Davis, with the Pelicans demanding more draft picks.

Enter LaVar Ball. He has, of course, added his two cents about where he’d like to see his son traded if it were to happen. The Phoenix Suns are the only team LaVar would like to see Lonzo traded to.

Trading Ball to the Suns could actually be a very good move for his career though, playing alongside two great young stars in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.

Ball to Phoenix could be the best move for his development

Lonzo is always on the big stage under LeBron in LA, and because of his dad, there has been so much hype on him during his professional career. The Suns are clearly a team that is rebuilding, with a solid young core in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. These two are both their leading scorers, with Booker averaging 24.9 per night while Ayton is averaging 16.3 a game in his rookie season. They also have Kelly Oubre Jr. now too, who is also an exciting young player.

Add Ball in at point guard, and he could gel very well with the Suns’ young core. There will be less pressure on him every night, and he can just play basketball and not worry about all the criticism that he’s been getting playing in his hometown. Ayton is a monster down low, so Ball could up his assist totals, even more, playing with the former first overall pick. Booker is an elite scorer who can also pass the ball extremely well, giving Lonzo more opportunities to score.

With the Lakers, there are too many expectations. He is simply not performing with LA. I believe the best move for his development would to be traded to a team on the come up like the Phoenix Suns.

He may not be scoring a lot, but he definitely makes his teammates better. He is an elite passer who is extremely talented at finding teammates for open looks.

His skills would play up well with Booker and Ayton in Phoenix, giving them a solid trio of young talent that could turn them into a contender in the coming years.