Los Angeles Lakers: 3 goals for Lonzo Ball in 2018-19

2. Improve significantly as a shooter

Prior to and after the 2017 NBA Draft, we heard all about Ball’s unorthodox shooting style. The Lakers community as a whole seemed unconcerned, though. Well, as it turns out, his shooting was a serious crutch during his rookie season.

With that said, I don’t necessarily think Ball needs to fix his release. We’ve seen plenty of strange shots over the years — there’s no perfect way to shoot a basketball. If it works for you, then it works. In my opinion, it came down to confidence (or a lack thereof) for Ball.

There were games in which shooting wasn’t an issue. Ball knew how to make that wonky release work for him. It was just inconsistent. However, as a 20-year-old rookie, it’s understandable that not every aspect of his game is perfect. That’s what coaches are for.

So how bad was his shooting in 2017-18? From 3-point range, Ball managed to sink a measly 30.5 percent of his shots. Even just from the field, the former No. 2 overall pick made only 36 percent of his attempts. The real sore thumb, though, was his effort from the charity stripe. Ball’s 45.1 free throw percentage was among the worst in the league.

As great as he is in other departments, Ball will always be seen as an incomplete talent if he can’t get his shooting figured out. That’s why it’ll be one of his primary focuses in 2018-19 to get his shot through the net on a more regular basis. Otherwise, it could end up costing the Lakers big in the long run.