Lonzo Ball

[Cheesebeef]

I agree. In comparing the Ball family to SSOL and 3 lead Point Guards, I was referring to the 'gimmick' aspect of it.

As someone posted, the Ball goings on are the Kardashian's of basketball. And I hope the Suns don't lower themselves to that level in the draft.

No. The Kardashians literally have no talent.

The only reason Lavar Ball is even an issue is BECAUSE Lonzo has MAJOR talent.

You admitted to not watching much outside the suns years ago. Have you ever even watched Ball play to make such the above statement? There's literally NOTHING gimmicky about Lonzo. He's not just EXACTLY what you want out of a PG, he's MORE because he's exactly what you want while being 6'6 ADDING SIZE to the position, something someone who CONSISTENTLY ******* about size should probably be salivating over.

 

[TJ]

I'm just going to say this. I think LaVar is going to have much less of an impact, one way or another, on Lonzo in the pros than many of you are speculating. LaVar knows that his brand's value lies in Lonzo's play out of the gate. I would expect him to back off and let Lonzo do his thing on the court. LaVar never bothered Steve Alford while at UCLA, and Alford is one of the most pliable coaches in college basketball.

 

[TJ]

Yep. The dad is just an ultimate tool bag, and the fact that ESPN and all these other media outlets are giving him the podium to be an idiot on...he's relishing in the moment. He's just lucky we live in a world where idiots get far too much attention than they deserve.

The way you describe LaVar makes him a genius, not an idiot. He's getting so much free advertising from the TV networks, social media, and gossip, that despite the negative attention, it's still an inordinate amount of attention. Hell, LaVar had his shoes and flip flops trending more on May 4th than Star Wars "May the Fourth be with you."

 

[BC867]

No. The Kardashians literally have no talent.

The only reason Lavar Ball is even an issue is BECAUSE Lonzo has MAJOR talent.

You admitted to not watching much outside the suns years ago. Have you ever even watched Ball play to make such the above statement? There's literally NOTHING gimmicky about Lonzo. He's not just EXACTLY what you want out of a PG, he's MORE because he's exactly what you want while being 6'6 ADDING SIZE to the position, something someone who CONSISTENTLY ******* about size should probably be salivating over.

The gimmick I referred to is Lavar Ball. My feeling is that our Suns should not take the bait. Draft one of the other Point Guards who does not carry baggage. To any team who drafts and keeps his son (other than the Lakers), the baggage will be Lavar. He himself is a talentless distraction. That is my reference to the Kardashians.

Of course, I would love to have Lonzo, but as a long-term investment and without the circus atmosphere his father creates. I really would not enjoy seeing the Suns reduced to that identity. Phoenix is not LaLa Land.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

The way you describe LaVar makes him a genius, not an idiot. He's getting so much free advertising from the TV networks, social media, and gossip, that despite the negative attention, it's still an inordinate amount of attention. Hell, LaVar had his shoes and flip flops trending more on May 4th than Star Wars "May the Fourth be with you."

Well as they say...any publicity is good publicity. The fact that we're discussing it just goes to show. Food for thought; If anyone on here has a product line they'd like to market...just go on any social media platform and say the most outlandish things you can possibly think of and boom...instant attention.

 

[Ronin]

LaVar Ball Says More Than 495 People Have Bought Son Lonzo's ZO2 Shoe
LaVar Ball unveiled the Big Baller Brand's first shoe Thursday, the ZO2 Prime. Despite charging a hefty $495 per pair, he has reportedly made significant sales already.

Per TMZ, Ball said on FS1's Undisputed Monday that he has sold at least 495 pairs of shoes, although he wouldn't provide an exact number. He also said people have bought the $995 special edition version.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...um=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

 

[sunsfan88]

The way you describe LaVar makes him a genius, not an idiot. He's getting so much free advertising from the TV networks, social media, and gossip, that despite the negative attention, it's still an inordinate amount of attention. Hell, LaVar had his shoes and flip flops trending more on May 4th than Star Wars "May the Fourth be with you."

In that case, do you feel that Donald Trump is a genius too?

 

[Chaplin]

I half believe that all of this is part of Lavar's plan to get Lonzo to the Lakers. Convince the Suns and Boston to pass on him.

I bet he tones it down after the lottery if the Lakers fall out of the draft.

That speaks to his intelligence. The only thing that does is allows Boston and Phoenix to basically hold the Lakers hostage. Both teams certainly aren't going to broadcast before the draft that they are NOT taking Ball. If the Suns do get the #1 or #2, you better believe they will do everything possible to make the Lakers THINK they are taking Ball. We have all the leverage in that scenario. The only way it can backfire is if the Lakers decide they aren't going to take him.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...um=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

He said that at least 495 people have bought them, but that he wouldn't say exactly how many?

What a strange statement. Why pick 495 for that announcement? Because of the price?

 

[Russ Smith]

He said that at least 495 people have bought them, but that he wouldn't say exactly how many?

What a strange statement. Why pick 495 for that announcement? Because of the price?

Yeah apparently that was why. It was in response to someone saying they thought it was probably picked at $495 for the old standby reason, so you can say "less than 500" and so he responded by saying well we've sold at least 495 of them at that price so someones' buying them.

Or maybe he is like me and he finds the fascination with "round" numbers and likes to poke fun at people.

I doubt we're going to know what the actual total is, people are trying to do it from stuff they're finding on the site but so far no luck.

I'm just waiting for Lavar to hook up with Master P, can't believe it hasn't already occurred to him.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Judging from what my friends have said, they wanted these because they thought they would be collectable. Like he would only sell like 20 of them and they would be ultra rare.

Which I thought was just completely missing the mark. You can buy a set of signed Steph Curry All Star sneakers for $900 online and he is a MVP.

So now he has sold enough that they really won't even be that rare.

 

[TJ]

In that case, do you feel that Donald Trump is a genius too?

Yes. The way he was able to manipulate his way into becoming elected president is nothing short of genius. His business acumen can't be discounted, either. However, when it comes to his knowledge of running a country, he is not very smart.

 

[sunsfan88]

Judging from what my friends have said, they wanted these because they thought they would be collectable. Like he would only sell like 20 of them and they would be ultra rare.

Which I thought was just completely missing the mark. You can buy a set of signed Steph Curry All Star sneakers for $900 online and he is a MVP.

So now he has sold enough that they really won't even be that rare.

Even if their rare, for them to be worth anything he would have to be a superstar type player. If he's just a regular average NBA player then nobody's gonna care about them as a collector's item. For example, I doubt anyone would want Jeff Teague's collectible shoes.

 

[Russ Smith]

Judging from what my friends have said, they wanted these because they thought they would be collectable. Like he would only sell like 20 of them and they would be ultra rare.

Which I thought was just completely missing the mark. You can buy a set of signed Steph Curry All Star sneakers for $900 online and he is a MVP.

So now he has sold enough that they really won't even be that rare.

Several people on BRO were talking about doign that for that exact reason, won't sell many they'll become valuable.

 

[Mainstreet]

That speaks to his intelligence. The only thing that does is allows Boston and Phoenix to basically hold the Lakers hostage. Both teams certainly aren't going to broadcast before the draft that they are NOT taking Ball. If the Suns do get the #1 or #2, you better believe they will do everything possible to make the Lakers THINK they are taking Ball. We have all the leverage in that scenario. The only way it can backfire is if the Lakers decide they aren't going to take him.

Or the Suns are working a trade with some other teams trying to move up to draft him.

 

[Ronin]

After folks on social media settled down about the eye-popping $495 price tag on Lonzo Ball's first Big Baller Brand sneaker, the ZO2, the question became: how many pairs are they actually going to sell?

Well, according to a report from NiceKicks.com, who did some sleuthing, the answer (for the first day, at least) is 263. Of those, 210 were the "regular" $495 version, and 53 were the special, autographed version that came in at $995. If you're doing the math at home, that's over $150,000. Via NiceKicks.com:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/h...kers-lavar-lonzo-ball-reportedly-sold-so-far/

 

[PDXChris]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/h...kers-lavar-lonzo-ball-reportedly-sold-so-far/

WOW, so as of right now they are operating at a loss. They have barley hit production minimums and the cost to set up the mold for production will pretty much cover what they have made so far. They will need to sell quite a few to cover materials, labor and production to ship. That is known as FOB pricing. Then they will have to cover freight costs too. My high level estimates is they will need to hit 500K in revenue for the shoes to start to turn a profit.

 

[Russ Smith]

WOW, so as of right now they are operating at a loss. They have barley hit production minimums and the cost to set up the mold for production will pretty much cover what they have made so far. They will need to sell quite a few to cover materials, labor and production to ship. That is known as FOB pricing. Then they will have to cover freight costs too. My high level estimates is they will need to hit 500K in revenue for the shoes to start to turn a profit.

This is where I get confused since I have no knowledge of the industry. People on UCLA sites(BRO mainly) are insisting that's not true at all, that you can effectively do this using a website and a Chinese company and have very little of the costs you're talking about because that's what these companies are already set up to do, make shoes. People are talking as if it's some online tshirt company where you upload your logo and they send you the shirts, but in this case it's the shoes.

The claim is Lavar isn't really out ANY money, he's holding orders until he gets a certain amount, then he places the orders gets the shoes made and then ships to customers, the 6 months quoted when you order is apparently due to that.

People are insistent that what you're saying is completely incorrect.

I have no expertise in the area so I don't know who's right but obviously it makes a huge difference is he over 300K in the hole, or not?

 

[gmabel830]

This is where I get confused since I have no knowledge of the industry. People on UCLA sites(BRO mainly) are insisting that's not true at all, that you can effectively do this using a website and a Chinese company and have very little of the costs you're talking about because that's what these companies are already set up to do, make shoes. People are talking as if it's some online tshirt company where you upload your logo and they send you the shirts, but in this case it's the shoes.

The claim is Lavar isn't really out ANY money, he's holding orders until he gets a certain amount, then he places the orders gets the shoes made and then ships to customers, the 6 months quoted when you order is apparently due to that.

People are insistent that what you're saying is completely incorrect.

I have no expertise in the area so I don't know who's right but obviously it makes a huge difference is he over 300K in the hole, or not?

Seeing as it is Lavar Ball, this situation sounds pretty reasonable. I'm sure the quality will be on par with your typical Payless tennis shoe.

 

[PDXChris]

This is where I get confused since I have no knowledge of the industry. People on UCLA sites(BRO mainly) are insisting that's not true at all, that you can effectively do this using a website and a Chinese company and have very little of the costs you're talking about because that's what these companies are already set up to do, make shoes. People are talking as if it's some online tshirt company where you upload your logo and they send you the shirts, but in this case it's the shoes.

The claim is Lavar isn't really out ANY money, he's holding orders until he gets a certain amount, then he places the orders gets the shoes made and then ships to customers, the 6 months quoted when you order is apparently due to that.

People are insistent that what you're saying is completely incorrect.

I have no expertise in the area so I don't know who's right but obviously it makes a huge difference is he over 300K in the hole, or not?

The factories charge crazy molding fees to ensure they make money. Comparing a shirt and shoes are apples and oranges. You can get a screen set up for a shirt at a local company for a one time $20-$50 fee. Shoes have several pieces that need to be molded and the problem is that is prototypes were hang made. He is creating the capital to get the molds made which is the expensive part. I think he will make money out of this, but not what he would have by signing a deal with a big brand.

 

[Ronin]

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN
Magic Johnson told me that Lavar Ball will not have any impact whatsoever on whether he would select Lonzo. (link: http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0654418232286910826-4) espn.com/espn/now?nowId…2:24 PM · May 11,

 

[Folster]

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN
Magic Johnson told me that Lavar Ball will not have any impact whatsoever on whether he would select Lonzo. (link: http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0654418232286910826-4) espn.com/espn/now?nowId…2:24 PM · May 11,

I want so badly for their pick to convey to Philly. I hope Magic is at the lottery so I can see his face when they come up #4.

But I'd bet the farm they keep the pick.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I want so badly for their pick to convey to Philly. I hope Magic is at the lottery so I can see his face when they come up #4.

But I'd bet the farm they keep the pick.

I'm so torn. I want their pick to convey to Philly, the last thing I want is for them to grab a star. But I also want them to select Ball and for two reasons. One, if they take him, we can't. And two, if he does destroy a team I can think of no other club I'd like to see that happen to.

 

[Errntknght]

I'm so torn. I want their pick to convey to Philly, the last thing I want is for them to grab a star. But I also want them to select Ball and for two reasons. One, if they take him, we can't. And two, if he does destroy a team I can think of no other club I'd like to see that happen to.

I think we should try to help the Lakers get Ball, if it works out that we have the opportunity. Even if their pick conveys we might be able to do it - the price goes up of course. If Ball is available we pick him and trade him, along with Brandon Knight, to LA for Zubac and Larry Nance, Jr - or Zubac and Ingram. If they keep the pick, we trade Ball to them for their pick plus Zubac, like I mentioned before.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think we should try to help the Lakers get Ball, if it works out that we have the opportunity. Even if their pick conveys we might be able to do it - the price goes up of course. If Ball is available we pick him and trade him, along with Brandon Knight, to LA for Zubac and Larry Nance, Jr - or Zubac and Ingram. If they keep the pick, we trade Ball to them for their pick plus Zubac, like I mentioned before.

I like the idea of trading down with them, not sure I like the idea of trading out though unless it gets us a shot in next year's lottery.