Pelicans: How does Lonzo Ball stack up vs. other “3rd-best” players?

New Orleans Pelicans: Comparing Lonzo Ball to the “3rd-best” wings

Tobias Harris

Tobias Harris is the 3rd-best player on the 76ers, who are eyeing the Finals this season behind MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, who might be the best all-around defensive player in the NBA.

Harris is having a fantastic season, averaging 19.7 points, seven rebounds and 3.7 assists for one of the best teams in the NBA.

Lonzo Ball has been playing more off the ball this season, so it is fair to compare him to wing-type players.

Right now, Harris is a much better all-around offensive player than Ball and even shoots a higher percentage from 3-point range, though Lonzo takes way more attempts.

Lonzo would have to improve his all-around offensive game to be in this league, especially when it comes to the mid-range, getting to the rim and getting to the free-throw line, which he rarely does.

Lonzo also has to be more consistent, as Harris is pretty much money for 18-20 points per night while Lonzo might score 30 one night and five the next.

Harris is one of the best third options in basketball and Lonzo Ball is not there yet.

Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. is a guy who I hoped the Pelicans might make a play for at the deadline, and he has shown why, as he has evolved into one of the best all-around forwards in the game and is a nice third option behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Porter Jr. is already a better all-around scorer than Lonzo Ball, as he can get it done from all three levels and is shooting 44 percent from long range on a pretty high volume.

He is averaging 18.9 points to Lonzo’s 14.4 and also grabs 7.6 rebounds per game, but Porter Jr. is not much of a playmaker, so Lonzo is much better in that department, especially in the open floor.

Porter Jr. has made the kind of leap that the New Orleans Pelicans hoped Lonzo Ball would make as a scorer and right now he is the better and younger player.