CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs’ acquisition of Lonzo Ball this offseason is the definition of high-risk, high-reward.
His elite playmaking, defensive versatility and basketball IQ could be the missing piece that elevates Cleveland into legitimate championship contention. But his troubling injury history looms over everything.
Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com columnist, didn’t hold back when discussing Ball’s durability on the latest episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast: “The guy has played 70 games over the last four NBA seasons. That’s a lot of time missed.
“I don’t mean to be glib about this stuff, but I’m not over the knee [injury] yet.”
That knee nearly ended his career. Even after returning last season, Ball managed just 35 games before a wrist injury sidelined him again. His time in the NBA has been defined as much by long stretches in street clothes as by his best nights on the floor.
Yet when he’s available, Ball transforms a team in ways few players can. His vision, defensive instincts and improved shooting make him an ideal complement to Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
“He can be everything, and he can help the Cavs win a championship. Seriously! His health can be the difference between them winning a championship and not this year,” Watkins said. “But that’s the whole thing because the dude’s never healthy. … And even if you do trust the knee, it seems like the dude’s made of glass everywhere else.”
For Cleveland, though, this gamble goes beyond injuries.
“The decision [to acquire] Lonzo Ball made a whole lot of sense because of what he can do on the court offensively and defensively,” Sands said, “but also understanding that it was a cultural fit. That’s the direction that the Cleveland Cavaliers organization has continuously gone when it comes to players and acquisitions over the last few seasons.”
That cultural fit matters in Cleveland, where character has been as important as talent in roster decisions. Ball’s reputation as a fun, easy-going teammate fits that mold.
The upcoming season will reveal whether the gamble pays off.
Will his knee survive the grind of an 82-game schedule? Can the Cavs’ medical staff manage his workload with enough caution, perhaps by limiting back-to-backs?
If the answer is yes, Cleveland has a clear path to title contention. If not, they risk joining the long list of “what could have been” teams derailed by injuries.
“The best way to counteract all of the negativity surrounding him about his knee … winning a championship, that shuts everybody up,” Sands concluded.
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There’s also something unique about Ball’s place in this locker room.
In a league where stars and role players often live in separate worlds, the Cavs may have found a supporting piece with the perspective of a superstar.
“He’s the rare role player who can actually relate to a star player’s level of fame,” Watkins said. “Lonzo Ball and Donovan Mitchell understand things about each other’s world that even most NBA players don’t understand. They think they do, but it’s a different level when you’re as famous as those guys.”
Ball has lived under the spotlight since his teens — from an undefeated high school season to a reality show to his father LaVar’s headline-grabbing presence to his own stardom at UCLA. He entered the league carrying a level of fame that outpaced his résumé.
That experience, combined with his basketball IQ, makes him uniquely equipped to connect with Mitchell and fit the environment Cleveland has built.
In today’s NBA, chemistry can be as critical as talent. Ball’s rare status as a “celebrity role player” could give the Cavs an intangible edge in their championship chase.
For both Ball and Cleveland, the stakes couldn’t be higher. This season is either the vindication of his career or confirmation of the doubts that have long followed him. The Cavaliers are betting their title hopes that Lonzo Ball can finally stay on the court when it matters most.
Here’s the podcast for this week: