Lonzo Ball battle begins! Timberwolves lead the Lakers hesitate, health becomes a key variable

According to the latest news from well-known reporter Mike Scotto, the Minnesota Timberwolves have set their target on point guard Lonzo Ball, and plan to strive for the defender who has both talent and injuries this summer. What is even more noticeable is that the Timberwolves' interest in Ball was not a temporary intention - the two sides had initial contact as early as before the NBA trading deadline in February this year.

Timberwolves management obviously took a fancy to Ball's unique field vision, defensive resilience and organizational ability. If he can join, he will provide strong backcourt support for Edwards and Towns, improve the team's overall offensive fluency, and his defensive steals and defense awareness can also strengthen the Timberwolves' outside barrier.

However, Ball's future is not the only option for the Timberwolves. Jovan Buha, a team-mate of the Los Angeles Lakers, revealed that the Lakers have indeed discussed the possibility of "reunion" with the old player. But Buha stressed that the Lakers' interest is highly cautious and comes with strict conditions:

"Whether the Lakers take action depends largely on the asking price of Ball's team and, most importantly, whether his health can support high-intensity games." Buha analyzed, "Baol needs a careful 'load management' plan, and the goal is clear: to ensure that he is in the best shape when the playoffs start next April. This is a difficult problem that any team that signs him must solve."

Health is undoubtedly the cornerstone of Ball's next contract. Looking back on his performance in the Chicago Bulls this season, although there are occasional flashes, the shadow of injury lingers:

Attendance rate: Only 35 games

Data performance:

Indicator Average data time: 22.2 minutes, limited due to injury recovery and protection scores 7.6 points, rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.3 organizers, and still demonstrate the enthusiasm for steals, 1.3 defensive end. The performance is good among 0.5 guards. The shooting percentage of 36.6% is low. The three-point shooting percentage is 34.4% and the free throw shooting percentage is 81.5% relatively stable.

Although the data is not impressive, Ball's defensive pressure (steal) and pass control instinct shown in a limited time are still valued by many teams. In addition to the Timberwolves and the potential Lakers, league news shows that the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings have also expressed interest in the 2017 second-tier show.