Lonzo Ball
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Lonzo Ball is open to playing point guard for the New York Knicks and he would be the team’s best option at the position in a long time.

LaVar Ball sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden. It’s either a cursed image or a beautiful one depending on who you ask.

Lonzo Ball is interested in landing with the New York Knicks should he be traded from the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, Ball prefers to be traded to a team in need of a point guard with New York near the top of his list. Ganguli writes:

“Although Lonzo Ball has no say in where he lands in a trade, his preference would be for the Lakers to find a third team such as Chicago or New York as a landing spot for the second-year point guard if he were part of a deal for New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, according to sources not authorized to speak publicly.”

As Ganguli states, Ball has no leverage in this situation. As a second-year player, he really has no say in the matter and furthermore, the New Orleans Pelicans like Ball and would allow him to play big minutes at the point.

The Anthony Davis situation is still fluid and there’s no guarantee that any trade is made before the Feb. 7 deadline.

That being said, if the Knicks can figure out a way to shimmy in between the Lakers and Pelicans, it might not be a bad idea.

Despite his (and his father’s) flaws, Ball would be the best point guard to put on a Knicks uniform since who?

Derrick Rose had a solid year in 2016-17, but he was in town for only one disappointing season. Jeremy Lin had an incredible run with the Knicks, but like Rose, he wasn’t long for the Garden. Raymond Felton was excellent in his first stint with the Knicks, but was later dealt in the blockbuster Carmelo Anthony deal.

When was the last time the Knicks had a franchise point guard? Stephon Marbury?

Frank Ntilikina still might develop into that coveted franchise point guard, but Ball’s ceiling is far higher than Ntilikina’s. Moreover, Ball is better offensively by a mile and he might be on Ntilikina’s level defensively as well.

Man, oh man. Ball has drawn his fair share of criticism during his NBA career, but he would be a welcome sight in the backcourt.

 
NY/NJ hoops reporter (NBA/NCAA) & sports betting writer for XL Media. Never had the makings of a varsity athlete.