re: Has Lonzo played himself out of trade talks?

No, usage rate is strictly how many possessions the player either makes a shot, misses a shot or turns the ball over. So considering Lonzo is turning the ball over less this year, his overall increased usage rate is due to having more shot attempts. Usage rate shouldn’t be used in a vacuum bc it is a limited stat, but it can be used as part of the story. For example, when you couple the fact that Lonzo’s shooting percentages have improved this year, while increasing his usage (an increase that was driven by shot attempts rather than turnovers), it’s safe to say our eye test of his development is also being reflected positively in a statistical manner.