The Cleveland Cavaliers’ decision to trade for Lonzo Ball was a controversial one.
On the one hand, Ball has struggled to stay on the court for most of his career.
On the other hand, he’s exactly the type of player this team needed.
That’s why it wasn’t much of a surprise to hear Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto say that the Cavs knew they needed to roll the dice on a player like Ball.
In his latest column, he argued that the Indiana Pacers’ pressure defense exposed the Cavs’ need to add a better ball-handler:
“The Cavs are gambling that Ball can stay relatively healthy, especially by playoff time. Jerome’s ball-handling problems were exposed by Indiana in the playoffs. FYI: Indiana’s relentless pressure defense made a lot of players look bad in the postseason. But that pressure defense is behind this trade. When healthy, Ball is exactly the kind of rugged, unselfish, 6-foot-6 ball-handling guard this team needs coming off the bench,” Pluto wrote.
When healthy, Ball is one of the best floor generals in the game.
He can pull the strings of the offense like the best of them, boasting one of the best court visions and playmaking skills in the league.
He’s also the kind of big-bodied and pesky defender who can hold his ground and guard multiple spots.
The Cavs lost Ty Jerome in free agency, but even if they kept him, they would still need someone to take playmaking duties off his hands and also play some defense.
On top of that, Ball will be a seamless fit for Kenny Atkinson’s pace-and-space offense, as he can also knock down shots from beyond the arc when needed.
Once again, it will all come down to whether Ball can stay healthy and on the floor this season.
The Cavs will most likely err on the side of caution with him to make sure he’s available when it matters most.
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