Lonzo Ball Calls Himself Cleveland Cavaliers Scapegoat After Being Waived

Lonzo Ball called himself a "scapegoat" on his Ball In The Family podcast, admitting "Can I play better? Yes" and that he has "been shooting bad." Cleveland traded him in a three-team deal on Feb. 4, Utah waived him, and he is now a free agent. Ball arrived in Cleveland expected to help the backcourt but posted just 4.6 points while shooting 30.1 percent from the floor and 27.2 percent from three, and the Cavs' offensive rating fell from 118.2 with him off the court to 111.0 with him on it. After trading Darius Garland for James Harden, Cleveland has climbed the standings. Merlin sees a simple truth. Lonzo’s defense and playmaking still hold value, so a contender in need of depth could take a low risk flier if he shows any shot recovery. His path forward depends on a short audition and a team willing to trust process over recent results.