Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball will be one of the most intriguing free agents on the market next month.
He’ll be a restricted free agent, unless New Orleans fails to extend a $14.36MM qualifying offer. By giving him a QO, the Pelicans will be able to match an offer sheet for Ball. However, the team won’t be able to execute a sign-and-trade if Ball signs an offer sheet with a rival suitor.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the team is unlikely to match a significant offer sheet on Ball. The Bulls and Clippers, both of whom are seeking a long-term solution at point guard, are expected to make a push for Ball. The Knicks, who have tons of cap room, have also been mentioned in some circles as a possible suitor.
Agent Rich Paul told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports that he and his client are “open-minded” about free agency.
“The phone lines will definitely be open come free agency,” Paul said. “At the end of the day, we’ll look to make the best deal.”
Charania’s report suggests the Pelicans are lukewarm at best about retaining Ball. Though Ball averaged a career-high 14.6 PPG this season and improved his 3-point and free throw shooting, New Orleans is looking for ways to improve its mix around franchise player Zion Williamson. With Williamson becoming more of a playmaker, Ball’s skill set might be more suited for a team that puts greater value on his passing ability.
That brings us to our question of the day: Where do you think Pelicans free agent guard Lonzo Ball will wind up in free agency?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Didn’t know Rich signed Lonzo. Good for him.
Good for who? ……. Lonzo, Rich or LeBron ?
All parties. Rich is a great agent.
Still cant believe the idiot GSW front office turned down Ball for Oubre straight up earlier this year, ugh, worst, dumbest year in GSW history…
You clearly haven’t been a Warriors fan for long
He wasn’t around in 1980 when they traded with Boston to get Joe Barry Carroll.
The Celtics got the better end of the deal with Robert Parish and Kevin McHale.
Neither were you.
I’m almost 100% sure it was that they offered Oubre and it got declined.
Either way agreed on you not knowing about the old school GSW days.. they used to be a laughing stock of the league
The worst years were when Chris Mullin was the GM. He signed Mike Dunleavy to a major contract and he couldn’t shoot. He signed Troy Murphy to a major contract and the only thing he could do is rebound and shoot a little bit. And he drafted Ike diogu Patrick O’Bryant Michael pietrus juri Welsh Todd Fuller, and on top of that fired Eric Musselman who had two of the best seasons in a long long time at 36 and 38 wins and hired Mike Montgomery who brought the team back down to the 20-win level. Yep good times.
I’m sure I’m overlapping Mullin’s era with a couple other guys but you get the gist of it. Oh and he signed Derek Fisher for a 5 year 25 million dollar deal when that was huge dollars. 6-2 point guard that wasn’t a point guard but rather a 6-2 shooting guard LOL. Then the coach didn’t know how to use him and so they traded them to Utah and that’s when he torched the Warriors in game 2 of their playoff series LOL. The story goes on and on I tell you…
Until Step and New owners GSW was second only to the Clippers in worse Team in league. The Kings have it now!
Is theres a such thing as too many playmakers? Or teams that sign someone only to pass?
Imo he is a good fit in NO and has developed a good relationship with Zion. Overpaid, yes. Worth it? If the team was better, yes, but right now they seem to have zero plans aside from “surround Zion with more talent ” which is easier said than done.
Maybe start with keeping a head coach longer than a year…I’ll wait
“Surround Zion w/ more talent” yet they’re lukewarm about a young PG who can defend wings and shoot 3’s.
Problem of Pelicans is not enough talent
Knicks
best fit would be knicks. they can move on from their slow developing backcourt. is ball ready for new york, that’s the question.
Celtics finally get a PG with size and complimentary skills of distribution for the Jays.
It’s a great idea for Clippers to acquire Lonzo
15M would be good value. 20M or more and you’re unlikely to love that deal. If the avg was 18 I think both sides would be happy overall. But probably won’t be NO. Chicago- How much better is he than White on his rookie deal? NYK- Is this the best use of cap space? Would a CJ trade or a better offensive guard be a wiser choice to balance the team?
Have to think he only has a few locales on his list – Charlotte, NY, LA, Chicago or staying in NO.
He’s a s**t ton better than White, that’s how much. I’d wlrather have Ball at 20mil then White at 2. White is a nice streaky shooter that can become a really good consistent shooter eventually, but he can’t play make worth a dang.
So Vucevic, Williams, LaVine White and Lonzo. Does that team go anywhere in the playoffs?
If Chicago does nothing this year, they have 1 max slots available the following season if they max LaVine and it’ll be the 4 mentioned above without Lonzo.
Kawhi, Harden, KD, Beal, Butler, Kyrie, Curry all potential FAs. If you were swinging for the fences that is… Otherwise you’re probably looking at only adding a 10-15M dude to the mix.
A sign and trade to get Simmons
Maybe other pieces would have to be involved, but it would work for me
I like free agent Korkmax
3 years $24 million?
3 more to sign
Danny Green
Scott
George Hill
Reach hard cap
Don’t want to give up too much, but Ball and Simmons gets done
Can’t do a S&T needs to be separate transactions to do multiple players and each trade has to work salary cap wise with matching
Okay, thanks
Didn’t know that, but still make it work somehow
Yea, unless they paid Lonzo near Ben’s 30M. Which would be so bad.
Simmons not a good fit with Zion tho – Zion should have the ball in his hands and have shooters around him.
Ball makes sense as a secondary playmaker + 3/D guy, so NO, Chicago, and New York all make sense. Question is the price. To his credit he’s improved his shot quite a bit so it’s not unreasonable to think if you sign him to a big offer that he’ll grow into it. Still a risk tho.
Wouldn’t mind him in NY but I’d be wary if the number creeps to 20+m per.
Ball on the Clippers is a HORRIBLE idea. Keep him and his old man out of LA. Dude don’t shoot, play D, or have any heart. As the players would say, he ain’t a dog
might literally be the best defensive PG in the West …..
Also have no clue what you mean by no heart? It’s very obvious the kid tries hard if you watch him play
Lonzo works his ass off, plays great D and had consistently improved every area of his game since he was a rookie. He’ll never live up to being “The nest Magic Johnson” but he’s a solid player.
The Kid literally shot thousands of 3s last summer to fix his shot and he hit like 40% on 3s last season to show the fruits of his hard work. You don’t watch basketball do you buddy?
the most obvious fit there’s ever been is back in LA…. on the Lakers.
Lakers thought they were getting a playmaker/defender in Schroeder.
They got neither and Schroeder had a horrible season. Instead of committing LT to denis they should just bring back the kid who’s gonna dime it bron and AD
My exact thoughts!!!
Zo & LAL are a match made in heaven that’s for sure!
Hopefully he ends up in New Orleans, there’s something to be said for continuity. Lonzo isn’t the problem. They need to somehow get rid of Bledsoe, give Adams a mentor role and let the kids (Zion, Ingram, Lonzo and Hayes) play!
He going back to the lakers duh
Ball should be the absolute first priority for the Bulls this year. This guy works hard and gets better would be perfect to run the offense and would be a really nice long terms piece in the Windy City.
If Ball is so solid, how many playoff games has he participated in? The best defender in the West? I guess crack is still a thriving self medication
& you are a living proof of its use as a self-medication, right?
Ball has regressed if you ask me. If your own team doesn’t want you. That should tell you something.
that he isn’t worth what he can get if they plan on Zion being the primary ball handler. It actually says that in print.
Actually it says Zion’s becoming more of a playmaker, not necessarily the primary ball handler. He averaged 3.7 APG last season which isn’t great for a starting PG/F.
I’d LOVE to see Ball on the point for the Knicks next year. But I doubt CHA is going to move LaMelo at this stage. In terms of Lonzo, that’s a hard NO. Although, if the choice were between Lonzo or Sexton, with a gun to my head have to chose, then I’m a Lonzo guy. At least he’ll defend and move the ball. Plus, LaVar will provide a few laughs.
what would happen if lonzo ended up in cha with lamelo? would egos become a factor? i think the these brothers together would succeed honestly. they would compliment each other really well, basketball wise.
CHA has guards already… I dont see the point there… besides being fam
Lonzo would work better with a small quick guy like Sexton… Hmm Knicks could afford both!
Post Graham life and a succession plan to not erupt Rozier is my guess.
Reup