Cats helping dogs. Yankees helping the Red Sox. Dodgers helping the Giants. Lakers helping the Celtics. Why would rivals or enemies help each other? Get this: We could have a situation in next season’s NBA in which UCLA Bruins help USC Trojans on the road to a possible NBA Finals appearance and maybe more. Lonzo Ball, the former UCLA star, just got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers:
“Now, with the trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lonzo Ball is landing on a team which actually does have a legitimate chance of making the NBA Finals. Cleveland was the No. 1 seed in the East last season, and has most of its roster coming back for next season. The Cavs have more depth than most teams in the East and in the NBA at large. Lonzo Ball will not have to be Superman in Cleveland, just a really good player who will play 25 or so minutes per game and contribute with a deep roster helping him out. Ball won’t have to play maximum minutes and won’t have to overextend his body. This could be the perfect landing spot for him as he tries to revive his career.”
Guess who else is on the Cavs? That’s right: Evan Mobley. Lonzo Ball and Evan Mobley could create a UCLA-USC basketball alliance which helps Cleveland return to the NBA Finals in 2026. If the Cavs pull it off, it would mark the first time the Cavs make the Finals since 2018, when LeBron James was still with the franchise in his last season before going to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bruins helping Trojans? Cleveland hopes the formula works next season.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lonzo Ball and Evan Mobley is the Cavs’ UCLA-USC basketball axis of power
Reporting by Matt Zemek / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
