New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball (2) brings the ball upcourt against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half at Spectrum Center. The New Orleans Pelicans won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
The Pelicans won’t match an expensive offer sheet for Lonzo Ball and the Bulls and Clippers are emerging as the favorites to sign him.
Lonzo Ball may be the most intriguing free agent this offseason. The former No. 2 pick out of UCLA is unlikely to remain in New Orleans while the Pelicans remake their roster under a new head coach to best maximize the immense talent they have in Zion Williamson.
That could leave Ball as a coveted commodity on the free agent market and two teams are emerging as favorites to sign him.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the favorites to land the talented point guard who is coming off a career year.
Lonzo Ball rumors: Bulls, Clippers emerging as favorites for Pelicans point guard
Ball averaged 14.6 points and made 37.8 percent of his 3-point attempts while showing great chemistry with Williamson. However, a change of scenery could see Ball take his game to another level.
The Bulls have been considered a potential destination for more than a year with trade rumors circulating before the trade deadline. With the Bulls having a glaring weakness at point guard and Coby White recovering from offseason surgery that could sideline him into the season, the Bulls have to make a move at the position. White may not even be ideally suited to run the point anyway, so Ball makes a lot of sense to complement Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
NBA free agency rumors: Bulls or Clippers the best fit for Lonzo Ball?
The Clippers have a little more uncertainty with Kawhi Leonard potentially hitting free agency. Paul George will be back, but if Leonard doesn’t, signing Ball may not make as much sense. With Leonard and George, Ball could be viewed as a piece to maximize their talents, but with Leonard gone, the Clippers may want to invest in someone with more dynamic scoring ability.
After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers out of UCLA, the Clippers may be the preferred destination because of geographic reasons. The Bulls may be the best fit for Ball if the Clippers lose Leonard if he opts into free agency.