5 NBA players who need to start playing better after Christmas

5. Lonzo Ball

Remember when a trade to the New Orleans Pelicans was supposed to unlock the potential Lonzo Ball simply couldn’t unleash under the bright lights of the Los Angeles Lakers brand?

More than 30 games into the season and both Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart are embracing their new surroundings with several career-high marks. Ball, on the other hand, continues to fade into the background on a nightly basis with a specific skill set that hasn’t materialized at the pro level.

His rebounds, assists and steals per game are all at career-low marks. Ball’s improved stroke has bumped up his 3-point percentage to 33.3, but his sub-40 field goal percentage and laughable lack of free-throws — less than two per game — continue to stand out in the worst of ways.

Ball’s IQ and unselfishness are noticeable, but he’s unable to run the show in the halfcourt setting, as many floor generals are expected to do, to the point where he’s seen time running the second unit.

This says nothing of his reoccurring injury issues, to the tune of eight missed games already this season.

At 9-23, the Pelicans have dug themselves into a hole not even Zion Williamson can dig them out of. On a personal level, though, Lonzo is on the clock, as he will be due up for an extension on his rookie contract this summer.

Failure to improve wouldn’t just force Ball to play out his rookie deal before hitting restricted free agency in 2021.

With Ingram and Jrue Holiday controlling the ball and Zion likely to get his share of touches upon debuting, New Orleans could test the trade market on the former No. 2 pick if he continues to remain on the outside looking in of a bright young nucleus he was supposed to be part of.