The Bulls and Hawks are among the teams interested in Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, but skepticism remains that New Orleans will deal the 23-year-old ahead of the March 25 trade deadline, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
Chicago has offered a package that features Tomas Satoransky and second-round picks, per O’Connor, but the Pelicans are hoping to acquire at least one first-round pick or a young player.
Trade discussions with the Hawks have mostly revolved around second-year wing Cam Reddish, O’Connor adds. Atlanta signed two point guards (Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn) last offseason to a roster that already features Trae Young as a starter, but Dunn has yet to make his debut to an ankle injury and Rondo’s play has been up and down.
By offloading a guard, the Pelicans would have a clearer pathway toward playing some of their younger backcourt players, though it’s probably safe to assume the team would rather move Eric Bledsoe than Ball.
Ball is set to become a restricted free agent at season’s end. Similar to the Kyle Lowry situation with any interested teams, both the Bulls and Hawks will have enough cap space to potentially sign Ball this offseason, but New Orleans would have the ability to match any offer. The former No. 2 overall pick averaged a career-high 14.2 points and 5.6 assists in 31.7 minutes per game on the year.
Interesting fit with the Hawks but they have played some 3 guard lineups this year. He’s a much better shooter now and can be a secondary ball handler as well as defend pretty well.
I think he’ll end up with the Knicks
Something around Lonzo and Markannen could make some sense. Bulls maybe add a 2nd or a sweetener
I tend to lean towards him going to Chicago for Markkanen too. White either becomes 6th man or plays the 2 and LaVine to the 3 and Williams to the 4. I think Lonzo would b good with that group. They need to defend better
Pelicans aren’t signing Ball and markannen is also a restricted free agent, I don’t think that really makes sense, something with Coby white for Lonzo makes more sense
The fact they’re both RFAs is exactly why it makes sense. Swap my guy I don’t really wanna pay for your guy you don’t really want to pay. Bulls are not gonna give up 2 additional years of Coby for Lonzo who they have to pay immediately. Lonzo probably has more value which is why there needs to be some filler pieces involved, but Lauri could be a good fit for them and I don’t think they’re sold on Lonzo on being part of their future.
There is zero chance the Bulls would trade Lauri for Ball. The Bulls best offer will be two #2’s and Valentin.
That’s nonsense. Lauri is overrated and they would be blessed if they got Lonzo for him and a couple 2’s
Lol they’re not getting anything of value for Denzel. Lonzo would fit the Bulls a lot better than Lauri. Lauri and Wendell have been atrocious together. Lauri is a good scorer but he literally does nothing else. For a team that struggles with defense and rebounding that’s a problem. But Lauri might work for the Pels, who struggle with spacing. He would fit well next to Adams or Zion imo and plus they have Kira Lewis and Nikiel Alexander Walker who they probly hope will be their backcourt of the future.
I’d jump all over a deal for Cam Reddish, depending on that Achillies assessment.
Ball and second for Reddish would be an absolute steal for the Pelicans
I would LOVE to have Lonzo on the Hawks but im extremely hesitant to give up Cam
It has to be something like this
Reddish
Kris Dunn
2021 First
For Ball
Reddish 3 pt
26.2 %
Lol that would never happen
Kris Dunn is my favorite player in the league. I have had season tickets for Providence college for years. He is a likable guy with a nice story and for a school like PC that doesn’t produce many guys that stay in the league, he becomes even more likeable.
With that said, he has no trade value. He hasn’t even played a minute this season! And this isn’t a one time thing. he has dealt with one injury or another for a decade. If kris is healthy and performing (like he usually does, before an injury always makes him miss time and take him out of a groove), this would make sense, but right now, he would be a filler in any deal.
The Hawks deal is the best of the 2 mentioned. The Bulls offer wasn’t even worth mentioning by comparison. Pelicans have better offers by far than Satoransky and a 2nd. L.Mark and a 2nd wouldn’t do it either.
Why would Hawks pair Lonzo with Trae. They have Bogdanovic and Huerter. Then there is Rondo n Dunn. This says the whole backcourt has to get redone. If they do this then I would sure like to look into Bogdanovic to Knicks. Not buying Lonzo to Hawks. The Bulls definitely could use him. Fits the Bulls much better. I’m sure Dad would rather he go to Chicago.
What is the point of trading Ball unless you’re bending someone over? He’s playing great and has real chemistry with Zion. Are you getting a guard in return who can start, from a team looking for a guard? Makes no sense.
Just pay him this offseason. If he’s really that valuable he’ll be even moreso with the contract in place that whoever trades for him will have to pay anyway.
The Ball talk is 100% filler while we wait for real trades to happen.
Agree. The Pels are not having a good season but Ball isn’t the reason why. The Pels should just not panic and stay the course.
This is just idiotic. Who is O’Connor’s source, LaVar Ball? There is a greater chance that Bill Simmons will perform nude at next year’s Super Bowl halftime show than there is of Atlanta pursuing Lonzo Ball. What are they going to do, acquire Ball so he can play the 14 minutes Young doesn’t play? Get outta here.
Perfect trade hawks trade Cam Reddish and rajon Rondo for Lonzo ball and Josh hart from New Orleans.
Pels obviously have people working around the clock suggesting reasons why they’re looking to trade Ball (or might not match an offer sheet), other than the quality of his game.
Bottom line is there is no reason that a young team like the Pels with young stars locked up at PF (RSC) and SF (baby max) wouldn’t look forward to locking up their 23 year old PG on a long term market deal, other than they don’t think he’ll be a worthy 3rd star. Other teams shouldn’t price him at a higher level than his current team.
Makes sense. Those 2 teams were on my list for who might make sense trying to add Ball of New Orleans were to move him
Portland, Denver, GS, Washington off the top of my head would make a lot of sense for Ball if New Orleans moves him. I guess it depends on what he is looking for in free agency b/c the argument is there for them not moving him. I dont think they can afford to lose Josh Hart defensively, so that likely is a big thing to consider.
Personally I just think it might be that Ball and Bledsoe probably shouldnt start next to each other, at least not while they have a big like Steven Adams next to Zion. Their spacing is poor at times, and they could use at least another defender on the wing, and probably a defender that can backup at the 4
I feel like its financially a little weird to match salaries for all of those teams, but the fit is there…that being said there are still a couple of FAs that would help those teams similarly, so not sure how that weighs next to a trade for Ball
Heat could actually also make sense, if you added a piece or 2…Atlanta, Chicago, Minnesota, and Milwaukee also arguably make a little bit of sense in some way