The Cleveland Cavaliers were hyped up to be one of the league's best teams before the season started. They were coming off a superb regular season when they won 64 games that earned them the #1 seed.
Unfortunately, the 2025-26 season has not been a good one for the Cavaliers. They are currently in the eighth seed with a 20-17 record, a far cry from what they were a season ago. The Cavaliers have many new players on the roster, including Lonzo Ball, who has been disappointing.
Teague feels he could play better than Ball
When the Cavaliers traded Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls for Lonzo Ball, it was seen as a positive deal. The Cavs lost their primary sixth man, Ty Jerome, in the offseason, which meant they needed more depth behind Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell.
On paper, Ball was a great choice because he provided solid defense and reliable playmaking. That has not been the case this season because Ball has been struggling, especially on the offensive end. He is averaging five points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
More: Kenny Atkinson gives his reasoning behind benching Lonzo Ball in favor of Craig Porter Jr.
It is a decent stat line, but his 30.4% shooting from the field and abysmal 26.4% from three are what make him hard to play. Coach Kenny Atkinson would love it if he contributed better on the offensive end, but he is a liability.
This has led to people reacting to Ball's performances as of late, including former All-Star guard Jeff Teague. During the game against the Detroit Pistons, Ball had limited contributions, which Teague spotlighted.
"Lonzo is cooked, and I like Lonzo as a person; he's a funny dude, cool, good family, but he can't hoop no more. It's over. Boy, he had 0-2-2. I swear to God, I could do better than that right now," Teague said on Club 520 about Ball's performances.
Moving forward, it appears that Atkinson will likely choose Craig Porter Jr. Over Ball in the rotation. Considering that Porter is making an impact on both ends of the floor, it might be an easy decision for Atkinson.
It will be a bad look for Ball, considering he was an exciting player after the trade. Even the Cavaliers teammates loved the move because they respected Ball. Unfortunately, it might not be the best-case scenario if he does not prove himself to Atkinson.
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