2) Chicago Bulls 2021 FA targets ahead of 20-21 season
In terms of the younger potential free agent guard targets for Karnisovas and the Bulls for next offseason, a good place to look could be the former UCLA Bruin and 23-year-old New Orleans Pelicans floor general Lonzo Ball. The lengthy two-way 6-foot-6 and 190 pound point guard made a very public decision not to sign an extension from his rookie contract with the Pelicans entering this regular season.
Maybe next offseason will be the time that Lonzo wants to take his talents out of the shadow of the likes of small forward Brandon Ingram and forward Zion Williamson and join a building bigger market team. Teams like the New York Knicks and Bulls have been mentioned frequently in the past as potential landing spots for Ball if he were to ever be traded by the Pelicans.
There’s a lot of promise that Lonzo showed in the direction of his game last season. He did a lot to fix his shooting stroke and become more efficient in a smaller role at times on both ends of the floor.
During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Lonzo played in 63 games with the Pelicans (54 of which he started in). And he averaged 11.8 points per game, 6.1 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks. Ball shot 40.3 percent from the field, a much improved 37.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 56.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Basketball-Reference projects Lonzo to average 13.1 points per 36 minutes, 6.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks, during the 2020-21 season. And he’s projected to shoot 41.3 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 56.3 percent from the free-throw line.
If Ball’s game continues to trend up this season, and his free agency keeps falling under the radar, then the Bulls should definitely reach out to him come next offseason.