Knicks Trade Rumors: 3 reasons Lonzo Ball is a perfect fit
By Adam Kester
Knicks Rumors: Lonzo Ball is a dream fit for the Knicks
The Knicks already made a move to improve their backcourt when they traded for Derrick Rose. While Rose has undoubtedly had a positive impact on the team, New York still has some issues with the amount of playmaking from their guards, specifically the first unit.
The Knicks’ starters have trouble getting fluid ball-movement. They lack someone who can consistently create an easy bucket out of nothing with a precise pass. I’m not talking about a drive and kick, I’m talking about the ability to find an open man by executing a highly skilled pass outside of the playbook – Something Lonzo Ball does every game.
Lonzo already at a season-high 10 assists to go along with 12 points on the lob to Zion! pic.twitter.com/YESfIeQU4Y
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 20, 2021
With the ball in his hands, Lonzo Ball can create offense for others. Ball’s 1.05 assist-to-usage rate, a statistic that shows how often a player recorded an assist given how often they had the ball, ranks 12th in the NBA (75th percentile) among all guards (Point guards and combo guards). For reference, the Knicks’ current starter Elfrid Payton’s assist to usage rate ranks 4th worst among all guards, in the 5th percentile.
Not only would Lonzo Ball’s playmaking be important for the team, but his ability to be a threat off-the-ball is something New York doesn’t have with their current starting point guard, and it’s something that will open of the offense for others. There’s a dated misconception that Lonzo Ball isn’t a good 3-point shooter – He’s currently shooting just over 38% from 3 on over 7 attempts per game. He can let it fly.
Clearly, Ball’s offensive game adds a whole new dimension to the starting group. His defense would also fit right in on the perimeter. When Lonzo Ball is on the court as a point guard, opposing teams have just a 50.1% effective field goal percentage. His size (6’6) and quickness have always made him a tough perimeter defender, so adding Ball to the Knicks rotation would only elevate the defense even more.
It’s hard to find reasons as to how Ball would somehow disrupt the Knicks’ chemistry. His player profile is not only a perfect fit for the roster today, but he could be a key component of the team’s future.