Top 3 Lonzo Ball destinations after the Cavs traded him to the Jazz to be waived

Coming out of UCLA, Lonzo Ball was one of the highlighted prospects for the NBA draft in recent memory. He was a highlight waiting to happen at Chino Hills High School, leading him to become an amateur basketball sensation. Ball would go on to become the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The guard was a quick success on the court, but injuries dogged him from the start. Ball missed all of the 2023-23 and 2023-24 seasons and was limited to just 35 games last season with the Chicago Bulls.

Then, the The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Ball in the offseason. It was a somewhat shocking move at the time, and hindsight has shown that it was a mistake. Ball hit a career low this year, and it culminated in him being traded to the Utah Jazz at the NBA trade deadline. Ball was immediately waived by Utah, and despite his struggles this year, he remains one of the top players available on the open market. So what are the best Ball destinations?

ClutchPoints’ own Brett Siegel reported it the first two suitors for The ball is the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors. After converting Spencer Jones to a standard contract, the Nuggets still have one open roster spot. The team entered the season with a point guard as arguably their biggest need.

Jamaal Murray and Jalen Pickett were the only two main running backs on the roster. Murray has had his best season yet and earned his first All-Star nod, and Pickett has been a solid contributor, even starting 18 games for the team so far. While point guard isn’t as big of a concern as it once was, adding a player like Ball would still be smart.

The Nuggets have been plagued by injuries this year. They survived the long absences of Nikola Jokic, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Christian Brown, Jonas Valanciunas and Peyton Watson admirably, but the newfound depth they created in the offseason was certainly tested. Adding another body makes sense, but especially a player who has the size to play multiple positions and fill in wherever help is needed.

While Ball is a point guard by trade, he is a jumbo facilitator who can guard both twos and threes. Denver’s bench has been much improved this year, but non-Jokic minutes have usually been a disaster. Ball’s play could ensure that Denver’s bench doesn’t fall back into old habits.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors’ trade deadline plans and championship aspirations were likely thwarted when Jimmy Butler went down with a season-ending injury. Regardless, the Warriors moved up the trade deadline which brings balance to their roster. The team traded Hield for Cristas.

Kuminga had one foot out the door for quite some time, and Hield was expendable because Golden State already had plenty of guards in the form of Stephen Curry. Porzingis fills a hole for the Warriors as the team has been desperate for a center. There was a great need for an inside presence on both ends of the floor. Rim protection, in particular, was a huge need. Porzingis provides enough shooting to fit into the Warriors’ offensive schemes as well.

Still, a solid player is needed because of Butler’s injury. Ball is not the defender or guy he once was due to various lower body injuries throughout his career. At his best, however, he could do many of the things Butler provided the Warriors.

There are a few solid players who have been dropped or are on the buyout market, but teams rarely get true game-changers in free agency after the trade deadline. The Warriors only have so many years left to fight, and Ball could certainly help them try to pull off a surprise run this season.

LaVar Ball’s dream scenario could be closer to reality than ever before. The Charlotte Hornets are led by LaMelo Ball, and he could team up with older brother Lonzo now that he’s on the open market. The patriarch of the Ball family and founder of Big Baller Brand has long wanted his sons to play together.

LiAngelo Ball’s window for NBA life has closed, but it makes sense to make sure LaMelo is happy by pairing him with one of his former Chino Hills teammates. It wasn’t that long ago that LaMelo heard his name in trade rumors. The Hornets have played great since then, and Ball is now cemented as one of their longtime franchise players, but bringing in Lontz would prove Charlotte’s loyalty to their former third pick.

Both Ball brothers have somewhat similar skill sets, so Lonzo could back up his brother quite well and allow the Hornets to run the same offense even when the reserves are in play. Both are tall defenders who are at their best when creating for their teammates. Both also have unorthodox but sometimes effective shooting forms, although both players can be streaked. Lonzo’s presence would also help LaMelo be at his best, as he likes to compete against his brothers.

Lonzo’s athleticism has regressed, and with it came worse perimeter defense and less offensive creation ability. His 3-point shooting has also been ineffective this year. However, Lonzo has a high basketball IQ and makes too much sense for the Hornets.