Sixers: Lonzo Ball could be best trade deadline option

With Kyle Lowry, Bradley Beal, and Zach LaVine appearing more and more unreachable, the Philadelphia 76ers could be heading toward an unexpectedly quiet trade deadline. While Daryl Morey is notoriously aggressive, the pickings could get rather slim. The Sixers may end up a passive observer of the deadline, rather than a fervent participant.

That said, some intriguing names still populate the trade market. One such name is Lonzo Ball, who is by all indications available for the right price. While the Pelicans are not likely to sell low — Ball is quite good and fits well next to Zion Williamson — his name being on the market should intrigue the Sixers.

I have been against Ball in the past, but my tune has changed for several reasons. Chief among them, is the simple fact that Ball would improve the Sixers on both ends of the floor.

The Sixers should submit a trade offer for Lonzo Ball, especially if other big names are withheld from them.

At 6-foot-6, the 23-year-old Ball has great positional size. The former No. 2 pick has not lived up to his pre-draft status, but despite his well-documented shortcomings, Ball has grown into an impactful two-way player. He would benefit the Sixers across the board.

First and foremost is Ball’s basketball I.Q. He’s a snappy decision-maker who doesn’t dribble too much and who doesn’t need a high usage rate to drastically improve the flow of an offense. He has mastered the hockey assist, and he’s a dynamo in transition, and his entrance passes to Joel Embiid would be a breath of fresh air considering the team’s historic inability to safely deliver the ball inside.

Also, he is a noted process truster.

Ball is at his best free-wheeling in transition. The Sixers, even with Embiid at the core, like the run and gun when possible. Smaller lineups built around Simmons, Ball, and shooters would terrorize defenses in the open court. In the halfcourt, while Ball does not solve the Sixers’ ongoing shot-creation issues, he does improve ball movement and ratchet up the offense’s efficiency.

It is also important to debunk the biggest knock on Ball’s game — he’s a good shooter. This season, he’s downing 38.5 percent of his 3s, of which he is taking 7.8 per game. That’s a percentage well above the league average on a higher volume than any current Sixers starter.

Ball has now put together two seasons of good shooting, and the myth of him being a liability from beyond the arc has been fully dispelled. He has played the best basketball of his youth paired with other shot creators — from LaMelo in high school, to the likes of Aaron Holiday at UCLA, to LeBron James, Jrue Holiday, and Eric Bledsoe in the NBA. There’s no reason his trademark brand of unselfish basketball wouldn’t coalesce with Ben Simmons in the backcourt.

Again, Ball would not solve all the Sixers’ offensive problems. He’s not a great isolation scorer, and counting on him to consistently collapse the defense is a fool’s errand. Even so, he’s a much more lively ball handler than Danny Green, who the Sixers could feasibly keep on the bench while slotting Ball into the starting five.

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On defense, Ball is a rangy athlete who has proven his mettle against the league’s best guards. He can defend two or three positions, and placed next to Embiid and Simmons, would have the privilege of using his 6-foot-9 wingspan to roam passing lanes and hunt turnovers. He could also allow Simmons to do the same, chasing around smaller guards on the perimeter. A crunch-time group of Embiid — Harris — Thybulle — Ball — Simmons will not surrender many points.

Ball is on the final year of his rookie contract, making roughly $11 million. He’s in line for a hefty extension, the price of which is apparently spooking New Orleans. The Sixers, however, will not have money in free agency for a while and should have no problem spending something like $18-20 million a year to keep Ball around. He’d be a restricted free agent, giving Philadelphia the fast-track to keeping him if the team so desired.

The trade market for guards has become a bit warped in recent years, with James Harden and Jrue Holiday fetching what seemed like decades worth of picks. Ball is nowhere near that caliber, but he’s a talented young guard who will surely have suitors. The Sixers would need to be comfortable giving up draft capital — and possibly a young player, a la Tyrese Maxey — to facilitate the trade.

In the end, Philadelphia will need to have a line in the sand. Ball will have his limitations come playoff time and he’s not a direct solution to the Sixers’ gravest offensive issues. Even so, he’s a clear improvement to the starting five and a young player the Sixers would be able to keep and grow long-term. That’s worth a fair amount, and Philadelphia should issue a sizable offer.

If the Sixers are able to avoid the inclusion of Maxey, Thybulle, or another young prospect, the salaries of Mike Scott and Terrance Ferguson are enough to make a trade financially compatible. The Sixers would then, of course, need to add draft picks — likely starting with their 2023 first-round pick — to sweeten the pot. This year’s pick may not receive as much interest since the Sixers have such a strong record, but Philadelphia should willingly part with at least one first-rounder. Two is a big ask, but within the realm of reason. It will inevitably depend on how competitive the market is.

There’s a lot to like about a potential Lonzo Ball trade, and with other options appearing to dry up before the Sixers even have a chance, he could be the best option on the market. Morey should strongly consider the pros of such a move.