Lakers Looking to Bring Back a Familiar Face this Offseason

NBA insider Marc Stein reported today in his newsletter that he expects the Lakers to pursue shooting playmakers to help facilitate their offense in the upcoming season. One player of note that he mentioned: Former Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball. Ball was drafted by the Lakers with the second pick in the 2017 NBA draft and was later dealt to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis Trade.

Since the trade, Ball has remained in New Orleans and made massive strides in improving his offensive game. Entering the league, Lonzo garnered attention for his unique shot form, which involved shooting the basketball from the side of his face. It appears that the New Orleans shooting coaches were able to remove this habit, and have transformed Ball into one of the leagues leading three-point threats.

Ball's newfound shooting ability combined with his playmaking and defensive capabilities have turned him into a top-tier target for many teams this offseason. Ball will be a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning that the Pelicans will have the opportunity to match any offer given to Ball. It seems unlikely that the Lakers would be able to simply outbid any other team, making their path to acquiring Ball unclear. Furthermore, Lonzo would have to be amicable to a reunion with his former team in this situation, which seems unlikely given that the player he was traded for is still on the roster. If the Lakers do find a way to acquire Ball in the offseason, however, their offense stands to become significantly improved.