Ball hasn’t been great this season, but he’s starting to pick things up. Over his last 10 (active) games, the Big Baller is averaging 13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists while shooting a much-improved 38 percent from deep. The instincts and vision were always there, it’s the shot that had most people concerned.
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I was pretty low on Ball heading into the draft, but he hasn’t given the Lakers enough reason to avoid him in a re-draft. His rebounding is an underrated plus, while he’s starting to become more comfortable in his current role — a role that’s far different, and far more complex, than the role he had at UCLA.
The Lakers essentially threw Ball into the fire, giving him lead guard duties in a system that’s more reliant on the pick-and-roll. That, when paired with his early shooting woes, played a big part in his extended struggles.
Now that the offense is coming around and Ball’s defense continues to impress, the Lakers stick with him at No. 2 and continue to bet on his ceiling as a generational playmaker.