Rolling the dice on Lonzo Ball could pay off for the Kings
· Ian Goodwillie · 2026-08-16T00:20:00+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Before you start freaking out over this idea, take a few moments to read the argument for the Sacramento Kings signing Lonzo Ball. Yes, he is injury prone and his offensive production has dropped dramatically. But he would make a great backup and mentor to Darius Acuff Jr.
Like his brother LaMelo, Lonzo entered the NBA with a lot of fanfare. A healthy chunk of that was, of course, coming from their father, LaVar, who is both a shameless and talented promoter of his sons. If you get through his hype, you will find still two exceptionally talented players.
You'll also find two of the most injury-prone athletes in the modern NBA. Both of the Ball brothers have spent a significant amount of time on the bench due to injuries. So far, LaMelo has been able to bounce back to form when healthy, making him a highly desired point guard. Lonzo is different.
Years of injuries have taken their toll on both Lonzo's body and his game. His ninth season in the league was spent grossly underproducing on the Cleveland Cavaliers. They traded him to the Jazz, who subsequently waived him. That doesn't mean Lonzo still doesn't have a role to play on the Kings.
Lonzo could be the mentor Acuff needs
While Lonzo's game on the court has become middling at best, that doesn't change many of the qualities that brought him to the league in the first place. Lonzo's high basketball IQ combined with elite court-vision and strong instincts have always been his main calling card on the court.
All of that is what made him such a dangerous defender, someone who can lock down passing lanes and anticipate the offense's next move. Plus, Lonzo knows how to push a fast paced offense through quick and timely passing in transition. These are areas Acuff could certainly use development in.
The Kings could sign Lonzo to a veteran minimum contract for a year as an experiment. His purpose would be to back up Acuff on the court and provide mentorship in what it means to be true point guard. Even if Lonzo ends up injured, he can still continue being Acuff's mentor from the sidelines.
Even better, signing Lonzo would not prevent the Kings from also signing Victor Oladipo. The combination of their remaining cap space and DeMar DeRozan's stretched contract gives Sacramento the room to do that. It's certainly an option worth considering at this point.