Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers: Lonzo Ball is a perfect Doc Rivers point guard

By Matty Breisch

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Could Doc Rivers build a new and improved Lob City with the Philadelphia 76ers?

Though the 2019-20 NBA season is officially behind us, that doesn’t mean players are necessarily packing it in for their typical summer – well, in this case, fall – vacation.

Some Philadelphia 76ers players, like Joel Embiid, are becoming fathers, while others, like Tobias Harris, are speaking with vice presidential candidates about the ‘power of voting‘. And as for Ben Simmons, the league’s reigning steal king fresh off his first appearance on both the All-NBA and All-Defense team? Well, he’s putting in work with some of his fellow Klutch Sports athletes.

Taking part in an official unofficial workout with fellow Klutch clients like Darius Garland,  Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Lecque, and Ben McLemore, photos of Simmons and this fellow 2017 top-2 pick Lonzo Ball surfaced online from the scrimmage, and needless to say, the comments section was full on loaded with jokes ranging from cringy to borderline laughable. Need proof? Read on below:

More from Section 215

‘Brick City’. ‘Is a cement truck catering?’ A weird, potentially cursed picture of ‘fat Russell Westbrook‘.

Needless to say, fans of basketball in general don’t seem to appreciate what Simmons brings to the game… which is fine. I mean, hey, if you can’t get down with a 6-foot-10 point whatever who is already one of the best defenders in the NBA, one of the best passers in the NBA, and a certified speedster capable of scoring on even the best fast-break defenses.

But what about Lonzo? I mean sure, he hasn’t been formally honored for his play by the league since being named to the all-rookie team in 2018, but that doesn’t mean he’s bad, right?

You know what? I’d like to take things a step further. Not only do I appreciate Ball’s game more than most, but I fully believe he could be a perfect fit in new head coach Doc Rivers‘ scheme.

Yup, you read that correctly.

Since taking over as the Magic’s head coach midway through the 1999-2000 season, Rivers has prioritized playing a particular kind of point guard known affectionately in some circles as a ‘floor general’. From Daryl Armstrong to Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, and most recently Patrick Beverley, Rivers has never had a point guard lead his team in points scored, points per game, or shot attempts per game.

What Rivers does like in his point guards, however, is expect passers who can deliver the ball to the right spot and remain engaged both on and off the ball.

If you watched the Sixers play in the bubble this season, you know firsthand just how important it is to have a point guard capable of delivering a ball where it needs to go. For all of the love Shake Milton gets as a scorer, he delivered some of the ugliest passes, maybe in the history of the NBA playoffs.

While fans the world over can talk smack on Ball for his lack of outside shooting – warranted or not – he’s without a doubt one of the better backcourt defenders in the NBA and a top-tier passer well beyond his somehow only 22-years.

Man, if that guy became available, the Sixers would seriously have to consider trading for his services, right? Well, maybe they could.

With Stan Van Gundy officially in place on a four-year contract under ex-Cavs general manager David Griffin, it’s abundantly clear the new-look Pelicans will look a fair bit different from their 30-42 counterparts. Could the oldest Ball brother a part of that? Most definitely, but what if he isn’t? What if the Pelicans trade Jrue Holiday to the Nets for a package centered around Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert and suddenly don’t require a backup point guard set to count for $11-plus million against the cap?

The Sixers could very well be in play.

Okay, okay, I know what you are thinking. “Why on Earth would the Philadelphia 76ers want to add a tall, defensive-focused point guard who can’t shoot when they already have a tall, defensive-focused point guard who can’t shoot?”

Well, I’m glad you asked.

Sure, Ball isn’t going to make anyone forget about James Harden anytime soon. Still, when you compare his stats to Josh Richardson, who is arguably the team’s best trade piece, it’s clear the UCLA product could serve as an intriguing upgrade in a few areas of need.

This Ball is a bad outside shooter? He actually shot 3.4 percent better than Richardson (37.5 versus 34.1) from beyond the arc on 1.8 more attempts per game. Ball is also (obviously) a better passer and even a surprisingly better rebounder too, averaging a line of 11.8-7-6.1 versus Richardson’s 13.7-2.9-3.2. Factor in Ball’s legitimate ability to make plays as a lead guard, a role the Sixers unsuccessfully attempted to shoehorn Richardson into last season, and the idea of playing Zo in the role initially imagined for Markelle Fultz is actually pretty intriguing.

Ball would also give the Sixers a third player who averaged over a steal a game – joining Simmons and 2019-20 rookie steal king Matisse Thybule.

Assuming the Pelicans want to take things in a different direction and pair Zion Williamson and company up with a proven veteran floor general, maybe even their former draftee Chris Paul, it’s not only possible, but legitimately intriguing to imagine Ball, Simmons, and Embiid forming a new-aged version of Lob City with the trio each taking up a modified version of the Chris Paul, Blake Griffen, and DeAndre Jordan roles.

Embiid has Griffen’s shot and ability to be a full-court threat in the pick-and-roll game mixed with Jordan’s posting abilities and rebounding prowess. Simmons has Griffen’s abilities to score at will in a full court fast break and his ability to initiate the offense in the half court, in addition to Jordan’s propensity for slamming down a well-placed pass around the rim. Pair those two up with a combo guard equally effective both on and off the ball, and you have a really intriguing trio from which you can supplement with shooters like Tobias Harris and… Buddy Hield?

Remember, Ball did turn in a pair of successful seasons paired up with ball-dominant players like Holiday and some guy named LeBron James, so it’s not like he isn’t used to playing well with others.

Doc Rivers and Chris Paul aren’t exactly best friends. dark. Next

Ultimately, whether Lonzo Ball is an exceptional fit with the Philadelphia 76ers is irrelevant if he’s not on the market. While Googling ‘Lonzo Ball trade‘ brings up scores of potential options, it’s possible he’ll play out the final year of his rookie contract this season, have his qualifying offer picked up for the 2021-22 season, or maybe even earn a lucrative extension to stay in New Orleans indefinitely, even after his disastrous showing in Orlando. But if the Pelicans have their sights set elsewhere and would rather move on from the 22-year-old D’Angelo Russell, there are way worse reclamation plans the Sixers could undertake in an attempt to fill out their roster with higher upside players.