The Big Ball Theory

He was billed as a star before training camp started? Wow.

 

Is that really even debatable? He's the biggest star on that team by a wide margin.

 

And with these Lakers, you may be right.

 

Put it this way: the Lakers were one of the worst teams in the NBA last year, and three of their four top scorers are now gone.

The one who remains plays the same position as Lonzo.

This team blows. And next offseason is going to be fascinating -- Paul George may decide OKC looks pretty good, even if the Lakers land Lebron.

 

Yeah, nobody except LaVar seems excited or thrilled in that clip. Walking on eggshells?

 

In California, home schooled students are not allowed to play high school sports. Kids get around this by entering alternative study programs that aren't technically home schools. They either form their own teams or join a multi-school agreement with another high school program to play there. Odds are LaMelo is not going to play CIF high school basketball, he's going to focus on AAU and get ready for UCLA.

 

AAU doesn't have games with HS age players between November and March, does it? Seems like 98 percent of those guys go play for their schools even if they don't really give a crap about it.

 

I think you're right that everyone goes to play for high school teams. It's not to say they couldn't. The rule just is you can't be involved in outside competition during the season. I think AAU is content playing in the summer.

 

Maybe I'm underestimating LaVar's greatness, but can't see LaMelo sitting out his final two years. Would think a month into the season some of his AAU teammates or other buddies are asking him to play for their school.

 

Perhaps LaVar is gambling on the fact that the one-and-done rule is gone by the time LaMelo "graduates" from high school?

In the interim, LaMelo can play some AAU ball. (Oh, yeah, "Amateur" Athletic Union. Minor detail.) No pesky high school eligibility requirements to worry about. He can make some money with the reality show and the shoes and whatever else. Worse-case scenario, he pulls a Brandon Jennings in a couple years and waits a year to get drafted.

 

Bingo. He never sees the inside of a college.
Viva LaMelo.

 

California changed its rule last year to allow kids to transfer for athletic (or any other) reasons. There's a certain number of games you have to sit out, I think, but then you're eligible. Previously, a case like this one would be seen as obviously for athletic reasons and he would have been barred from playing.

It's entirely possible LaMelo is a high school free agent right now and surfaces somewhere in the next month or two.