Lakerholics

A Lakers Fan Community

New Orleans Pelicans, Next Head Coach Must Agree On Lonzo Ball

by October 8, 2020 3 Comments

Now the question is will Ball get to grow with the new coaching staff and the questions go beyond playing style for the front office. Make no mistake, Griffin does not want to sell-low on Ball. Ball is likely the player that swayed New Orleans to take the offer from Los Angeles instead of dealing with Boston for Anthony Davis. However, Lonzo Ball recently signed with Klutch Sports and is eligible to sign a huge contract extension this offseason. That is a different level of commitment to Ball and the front office needs to know how the coach will mesh with the core of the team. Any new coach will want to be heard in the front office and the locker room. Being a part of the roster construction process is a big step to a coach feeling valued by both sides and the perception of Ball among the coaching candidates is more of a mixed bag than anticipated.

The biggest question unanswered in the New Orleans Pelicans head coach interview process is: What would you do as Lonzo Ball’s coach? A candidate like Jordi Fernandez might anwser with a dissertation, while a veteran coach might double back with questions of if Ball could be traded. How the Pelicans respond to that answer will chart the course of several careers, and give fans a clearer view of Griffin’s vision for the sustainable championship culture he introduced in his opening press conference.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Interesting article on Lonzo Ball and the proposition that the Pelicans are looking for a coach who can optimize his potential because he was the reason New Orleans took the Lakers’ offer for AD instead of the Celtics offer.

    I forgot that Lonzo signed with Klutch Sports. He is owed $11M this season and has a qualifying offer of $14M the following year. I wonder if LeBron James might be interested in reuniting with Lonzo and if his signing with Rich Paul could portend a possible return to the Lakers.

    I’ve always loved Lonzo Ball’s potential and how he is a terrific fit on the Lakers in some ways and a terrible fit in others. I love his playmaking and defense but worry about his free throw shooting and ability to finish, although I think both of those should be able to be fixed with good coaching and growth.

    At any rate, wishing the best for Lonzo and, if the Pelicans aren’t willing to give him a new contract, he could be someone the Lakers might turn to. He has potential to be an All-Star point guard in this league, which the Laker need.

Leave a Reply