Boston Celtics: The perfect 3-step plan to getting Cs season back on track
The Boston Celtics need a better fit at the point: Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is having a career year this year in New Orleans. A career-high points per game, field goal percentage, as well as three-point percentage. His assists are sitting at a modest five per game, a career-low. However, this is in large part to the playmaking development of Pelicans stars, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.
Lonzo’s development as a shooter has been very impressive and has largely increased his trade value. In his first two years in the league, he attempted five 3-pointers per game, and hit them at a 31% clip…not exactly efficient shooting.
But, to the surprise of many, he has drastically improved. Over the last two seasons, he is taking 7 threes per game, and hitting them at a 38% rate, becoming one of the better shooters in the NBA.
Shooting is not even the main strength of Lonzo’s game, his bread and butter is defense and playmaking. As a passer, having some of the best vision, and court IQ in the game. And in terms of defense, he has become one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. This is mostly due to being taken under the wing of ex-Pelican, Jrue Holiday, during his time in the Big Easy. Holiday has amassed 2 All-Defensive selections in his career and is regarded as the best defensive guard by his peers.
Holiday has had high praise for Ball, adding:
"“He’s more like a traditional (point guard), but mixed with a new era. The passes he makes are tough passes. The way he plays is like a quarterback, but he can also score, get into the paint. He does a little bit of everything.”"
Ball is the perfect point guard for the Cs. An exceptional playmaker, an adept defender, and newly improved as a deadly three-point shooter, he has all the makings to be a championship point guard.
The return price could be steep, however, a deal needs to be made, lets break it down:
The Boston Celtics as stated before, get Ball, a greatly improved, pass-first point guard. They also get veteran shooter and role player JJ Reddick, who is largely having a down year, but still a good player at that.
The Pelicans receive 4x All-Star, Kemba Walker, and a 2022 second-round pick. Many may say Kemba has little to no trade value due to his early struggles this season. However, I don’t think teams get as caught up as easily in media hype, and they know Walker still has value. Even with a rough start, the former All-NBA guard has shown glimpses of his old self.
As detailed in previous articles, Walker has done his best work after he rests the second night of a back-to-back. In these games, he is posting averages of 23 points, four rebounds, four assists on 50% from the field, and 51% from beyond-the-arc. Clearly, there is still a lot left in the tank for Walker, and with enough time and rest, he can go back to his former All-Star form.
New Orleans can use some veteran leadership which is what Walker can offer them. Kemba has been through the wringer, spending nine years with the Hornets, one of the league’s worst teams.
He never complained, he takes what is dealt and makes the most out of it. He would be leaving Boston to play with possibly the next best young duo in the NBA, and the Pelicans would benefit from it, no doubt about it.