Lonzo Ball Calls Himself Cavaliers Scapegoat After Trade

Lonzo Ball called himself a "scapegoat" on his Ball In The Family podcast, saying "I know I'm the scapegoat right now" and "Can I play better? Yes." Cleveland traded him in a three team deal on Feb. 4 to Utah, which waived him, making him a free agent. He averaged 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 30.1 percent overall and 27.2 from three. His defense remained strong, but Cleveland's offensive rating fell from 118.2 without him to 111.0 with him on the floor. Merlin sees a player with clear strengths and a thin margin for error. Teams that need defense and playmaking might gamble on a change of scenery fixing his shot. If Ball rediscovers range he can be a valuable bench creator. If not, his path likely stays short term and transactional.