Lonzo Ball recalls being traded by the Lakers: "To be fair, I would've traded myself for Anthony Davis"

Point guard Lonzo Ball has been in the NBA for only seven seasons. Yet the former UCLA standout has already been traded twice. Although he's stayed put in one city since 2021 (mainly due to his injury), Zo's name is back in trade rumors this offseason.

During the recent episode of his 'What an Experience' podcast, Ball's co-hosts asked him what it feels like to be in the trade rumor mill and to be actually traded to another team.

"Most of it is unknown," the guard explained. "There was never a time that I was traded or a move was made, and like I knew it was going to happen. You just got to expect it to come. If it come and come, if it don't, it don't. That's what I would say. Just try to stay positive, either way like in the NBA, regardless. So as long as I could play, that's all I really care about. Whoever I put the jersey on for, it's not going to be like I'm a change for them."

Zo failed to live up to expectations in L.A.

Ball was heavily hyped to be the next big thing in the NBA entering the 2017 NBA Draft. With his father Lavar acting as his mouthpiece, the Lakers were 'duped' into picking him second overall in the said Draft, bypassing current All-Stars Jayson Tatum, De'Aaron Fox, and Bam Adebayo.

As it turned out, Lonzo failed to live up to expectations. So, after only two seasons with Purple and Gold, they traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans along with Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and draft picks for 2012's top pick, Anthony Davis . While it wasn't a good look that the Lakers gave up on him too soon, Zo says he would have done the same if he were the Lakers GM.

"That's the first time that I realized like this is definitely a business," admitted Zo. "You know? At the same time, it was like it's Anthony Davis. To be fair, I would have traded myself for Anthony Davis."

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The Lakers won the 2020 NBA title with Anthony Davis

Davis was the big man that LeBron James needed to lead the Lakers to the promised land. AD immediately clicked with his new team, and the Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship in the Orlando bubble.

Although Bron and AD have not won since then, they still managed to bring home the first-ever in-season tournament trophy last season. Looking back, the 17th banner would not have been hung in the rafters if the Lakers decided to keep their young core in 2019.

Meanwhile, Lonzo saw his game improve with the Pelicans, but after another two years in New Orleans, he ended up getting shipped to Chicago. Ball had a fantastic start with the Bulls, but after only 35 games, he suffered a meniscus tear that led to one injury after another. Zo has not played since January 2022.

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