Fresh off a season-high 27 points and a career-best seven three-pointers, Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball showed a glimpse of the potential that made him a second overall pick and part of the package New Orleans acquired for Anthony Davis.
The performance on Friday comes on the heels of reports that the Pelicans are getting calls on both Ball and J.J. Redick. Per the report, the Pelicans have shown a willingness to move both players, but Ball says he’s not letting the “noise” get to him.
“I just stay the course. I’ve been playing basketball for a long time. I put a lot of work in and just try to play my game,” Ball said after New Orleans defeated the Bucks, per ESPN’s Andrew Lopez. “That’s how I play. I just try to stay away from all the noise and just go out there and try to help my team win games.”
Ball’s performance with the Pelicans since he was acquired prior to last season has been inconsistent. In 63 games last season, the 23-year-old averaged 11.8 PPG and 7.0 APG for the Pelicans and is posting similar numbers this season with a decrease in assists (4.9 APG).
Pelicans should never have changed coaches. Less talent last year but a better team.
Pelicans are not willing to give Ball huge contract
It makes perfect sense to trade him and ask for a solid return
All Ball trade ideas make zero sense
There is no such a thing as make sense for both side
Reporters trade idea
Coby White for Ball
Reason
Bulls don’t overpay Ball
I myself guess that Ball wants $100 million contract
Ball walks for nothing this summer
Walks where? There aren’t too many, if any, teams where Ball can just walk in and start. If he was traded for White, he would be the starter for sure in Chicago.
Let’s say Raptors offer Ball 4-year $80 million contract and 12 million trade kicker
Starting salary at $16 million
Bulls won’t match the offer
Raptors need some top picks like Ball
Replace Lowry
Lowry is 34
Nobody is offering Lonzo Ball $20 million per year. He has done nothing but lead losing teams every year in the league. He is a 30% 3-point shooter. He doesn’t elevate the play of his teammates. Why give up assets for a player who you can sign on the free agent market in the offseason in the $5 million per year range? The Raptors know what player it is that they need. The question is whether or not they are going to pony up to meet Cleveland’s demands for Andre Drummond. If Toronto adds Drummond …… look out! Siakam gets a lot of pressure taken off of him. Drummond replaces the Ibaka/Gasol dynamic that is currently missing. Lonzo = Losses!
Ball walks for nothing this summer??? If Lonzo Ball doesn’t start playing better for New Orleans, they are going to send him walking for nothing by cutting him and moving on since they know that they will not be offering him another contract when this one ends at the end of the year.
Lonzo is gone-zo! That’s a quote from a guy who has one foot out the door already!
Lonzo close to being a Blinp but not enough past success. But he’s definitely on the line…if you know what I mean.
Reporters trade idea
Patrick Beverley for Ball
Clippers have no pick to attach
My concern
When Zion is 25 years old, Beverley is 38
Makes zero sense for Zion
Zion is a part of the Pelicans, but he is not the entirety of the organization. It doesn’t matter if a trade makes sense for him or not. He is just a cog. An important cog, but still just a cog.
Ben Simmons for Lonzo
Ben Simmons for anyone!
What’s the market for a back up PG
Pretty good, just like most years.
How the mighty have fallen. Lonzo now playing second fiddle to LaMelo. At least he’ll always be better than LiAngelo.
I was a big fan after his rookie year even though he couldn’t shoot. He has gotten worse every year he has been in the league. He doesn’t even play defense any more. He no longer elevates the game of his teammates. Not good enough to be a starter on a team that is .500 or better. I have no idea why New Orleans is letting him shoot 7 three-point shots per contest.
He is 14th in the NBA in +/-. I couldn’t disagree with that statement more.
Plus minus is such a hollow stat.. it’s a product of the rotation players he is playing with.. he isn’t a winning player..it shows with his record as a starting pg
There are several different +/- statistics in BB, but since Lonzo does not have good stats this year, it is hard to believe he is 14th. It’s not in Bas.Ref, though his on/off is good.
Plus/minus may or may not be “hollow” but it is hollow to say so without specifics or referencing a category in the associated Bas.Ref.— which is lacking in either post.
He only scored 7 points tonight against a real team.
My trade idea
Pelicans get LaVine good contract stats 27,5,5
Bulls get Oubre, Hayes, and 2021 Pelicans top 3 protected pick, Lakers 2022 and 2024 picks via Pelicans
Warriors get Lonzo
Salary filler if needed
Bulls tank for future
Funny but all the noise in LA got to him. 4th yr and he’s not close to what 2nd overall pick should be. Fultz is starting to gain on him if he didn’t get hurt lol. Always liked his potential as CP3 type guard. More D less scoring of course. But now it’s more just play for a contract. Reminds me more of his dad now.
According to Lavar, he’s a superstar.. hardly.. hasnt even led a team to a 500 record.. magic wanted to draft de Arron fox but ownership wanted lonzo for the star power. another Lavar smokescreen.. he is a marketing genius.. he doesn’t dedicate himself to his craft and will be the player he is.. 4 years in league and hasn’t improved.. that’s a product of being complacent.. too busy trying to be a rapper not an all star talent
Ball is big for a PG, he’s a good passer, his offense is probably never going to be better than avg, and his defense is very good. Worst case, he’s a backup PG for the rest of his career.
The Knicks desperately need someone who can run the offense, Thibs likes guys who defend, and Dolan loves to overpay big names. It’s a perfect match.
Orlando is another good fit, only they’d want to be careful not to rattle Fultz. Detroit could use Ball, especially if Rose asks for a buyout and/or trade. Toronto is a possibility, as Ball gives them some leverage over Lowry (assuming they want him back). Portland could use some bench PG help, but I don’t know that they have anything NOH want.
Desperately???? Loves to defend ????
Dolan loves to overpay????? This is a perfect match for you. Stop watching espn, stop accepting the narrative. Don’t believe the hype. If you don’t watch a franchise. How can you know them. Thibs has been here 20 gms. We are rebuilding and fixing the chaos of last 4 yrs. We don’t expect you to understand or care. If you really want to be critical. At least learn and get real facts.
Jimmy, is that you?
Real facts means whether or not Rose is interested, not whether anyone else is. Yesterday, maybe, a columnist was, or maybe Rose was leaking interest via media.
But Rose has been interested in a PG leader to establish a team profile, and has considered others… why not Lonzo. If he’s not that great, at lrast he will be cheaper. That he gets by with a big personality could be what a NY team needs.
I associate the Knicks with fragile-big-talent-guards like Strickland and Marbury and it seems wrong.
I said that earlier about signing Randle, but it took the right coach… Thibs is there now still… it could work.
Portland could offer Hood, Elleby, future 2nd. There will be better offers, and I’m not sure Portland would trade Hood. They seem to recognize Simons as their future point.
Is Coby White a better player than Lonzo?
I don’t watch enough Bulls game
Yes. But not a traditional PG
At the end of his career Lonzo Ball will be remembered for two things – he’s LaMelo Ball’s older brother and he was part of the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers