Carmelo Anthony cites Cavaliers' new addition as team's X-factor

Earlier this summer, the Cleveland Cavaliers replaced Sixth Man of the Year contender Ty Jerome with Lonzo Ball. The decision was partly driven by the franchise's cap situation, with Jerome commanding a sizable pay rise after a stellar season under Kenny Atkinson's tutelage. 

The decision to add Ball is certainly a dice roll. The playmaking guard has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. He missed the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons due to a persistent knee injury. Then, after being cleared to play, he suited up in just 35 games for the Chicago Bulls in the 2024-25 campaign. 

Carmelo Anthony believes Lonzo Ball is an X-factor 

Despite his injury history, Hall of Fame forward Carmelo Anthony believes Ball could emerge as an X-factor for the Cavaliers. Anthony made his comments via a recent episode of his "7 PM in Brooklyn" podcast.

"I think Lonzo Ball is the key that helps them a lot. He is the key that helps their success,” Anthony said. “He's not going to play back-to-backs, we know that, Lonzo Ball can play 20-something minutes a game ... The reason I’m saying Lonzo is because of what he brings to the game. He can defend; he’s a 6-foot-6 point guard. His IQ is up there with the best of them in the NBA. He sees everything, he’s a floor general, he can score the basketball if he has to. If we get 60-70 percent of Lonzo Ball, of what we know he can do, his capabilities, that Cleveland team is dangerous. On top of (Evan) Mobley taking that leap." 

When healthy, Ball is an elite perimeter defender and one of the best playmaking guards in the NBA. He will unlock the Cavaliers offense when they're getting bogged down in the halfcourt. Furthermore, his defense could help unlock Donovan Mitchell in a similar way to what Dyson Daniels did for Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks last season.