WS Chronicle

Here we go again with LaVar Ball making more ludicrous comments about himself and his sons.  We all know of the antics he has displayed over the years, but this latest one could affect the futures of all three Ball sons.

Unbelievably, Ball recently made an ultimatum to the Los Angeles Lakers regarding Lonzo Ball, stating that he wants all three of his sons to be signed by them, and if not, then he will find a team that will.

“I want all three boys to play for the Lakers,” LaVar said to a Lithuanian journalist.  “But if that does not happen, I’m telling you the story what’s gonna happen first.  If they don’t take Gelo [LiAngelo] this year, I bring back Gelo here to play with Melo [LaMelo] for two years.  Lonzo will be on his third year, and I let every NBA team know that Lonzo is not going to re-sign with the Lakers but will go to any team that will take all three of my boys. That’s my plan.”

Are we really at a place where an NBA player’s father can attempt to not only dictate where his son plays but also what a franchise does with his siblings? 

Let us not forget the other recent comments LaVar Ball made last month about Laker head coach Luke Walton.  Ball recently said, “That’s a good team.  Nobody wants to play for him. I can see it.  No high-fives when they come out of the game. People don’t know why they’re in the game. He’s too young.  He’s too young, he ain’t connecting with them anymore.  You can look at every player he’s not connecting with, not one player.”

I am not surprised by anything the elder Ball says at this point, but a bigger question is where is he getting this information from?  If I were a Laker teammate of Lonzo, I would begin to wonder if he is going back to his father to vent knowing he will air all the dirty laundry.  That is not a good look for him.

Or maybe all of that is speculation and his father is just speaking to just be speaking.  For his career, I think Lonzo would be better suited to speak out on some of the things his father says because he is the one who will have to cash the checks his father writes so to speak.

There are those out there who will say that LaVar is a genius for the way he has handles his kids’ career along with the Big Baller Brand of athletic shoes.  I agree he has done well in promoting the brand of his sons and the company.  I just think there was a way to do both without alienating himself and his sons from others.

Many look to the high dollar amount Ball has been able to generate from his antics, but does anyone consider the money he has lost out on because of said antics?  There is no way to calculate what his potential losses are, but I bet they are more then he has generated.

There has to be a point in time where Lonzo has to speak out and distance himself from his father.  He is a very marketable kid with a lot of potential on the court as well as enormous earning potential off the court.  I think many companies will stay away from Lonzo due to the potential backlash they may receive because of something his father may say or do.

The younger Ball brothers may pay for the sins of their father, so to speak.  It is yet to be seen how taking the two younger Ball brothers overseas to play basketball will play out.  I cannot foresee a positive outcome for them being used as pawns in LaVar’s diabolical grand scheme.

Last week, Lonzo offered up somewhat of a response about his father’s comments when speaking with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, saying, “No reaction. I always just play.  He always talks.  It’s always been the same way.”

Lonzo normally stays quiet following a comment his father makes.  In this, case it may not be totally wrong to do so, especially when you look at Lonzo’s contract.

He will be under contract until the end of the 2020-21 season, assuming the Lakers pick up both of the team options on his rookie deal.  In 2021 he will be a restricted free agent, which allows the Lakers to match any offer another team gives Lonzo.

LiAngelo will be eligible for this year’s NBA draft and LaMelo will have his turn come 2020.  So what LaVar is advocating for is very unlikely to happen, which makes me question his motives for even saying such a thing.

LaVar has and will continue to be very unpredictable.  Will this benefit or hurt his sons in the long run is what I wonder.  I just cannot imagine the negative noise he is making will be in the best interest of his boys.  I am all for attracting attention to your brand.  Sometimes the end doesn’t justify the means, though.