Feb 27, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball (2) passes in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Per his agent, New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball’s dream is to play for the Chicago Bulls.
The NBA trade deadline came and went last week without New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball being moved. Ball had reportedly garnered interest from the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks before ultimately staying put.
The Chicago Bulls were also a team that had expressed interest in Ball, and now his agent is reporting that the interest is indeed mutual.
Ball will be a restricted free agency this summer, and while the Pelicans could match any offer he receives on the open market, it probably isn’t likely. They’ll want to prioritize building around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, and Ball just might not be worth committing big money to. The Pelicans have not won enough to justify keeping this core together, so Ball could likely be on the move.
How does Lonzo Ball fit in with the new-look Chicago Bulls?
Despite his rough start to the 2020-21 season, Ball has emerged as one of the best young facilitators in the league. With his shooting averages starting to correct themselves, Ball’s defense and passing ability make him an attractive prospect for many teams.
The Chicago Bulls though, have been busy making moves. They unveiled their new starting lineup that included Nikola Vuvevic and Thaddeus Young on Monday against the Golden State Warriors.
Ball is averaging 14.2 points per game on .425/.385/.767 shooting splits. With 4.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per night, Ball doesn’t have the greatest trade value but could obviously come in and take some of the ball dominance away from Zach LaVine and help build depth at the point guard spot with Coby White.
Can you see Ball in the Windy City soon?