Bulls deadline misses No. 1: Lonzo Ball
Another option that Karnisovas and the Bulls had to upgrade the point guard position at the deadline was with the former UCLA Bruin and the New Orleans Pelicans 6-foot-6 versatile two-way point guard Lonzo Ball. The 23-year-old California native floor general is having a solid season with the Pelicans thus far.
The improvement that Ball showed in his game since landing with the Pelicans over the course of the last two years is what likely drew the attention of teams like the Bulls to go after him at the deadline this year. Ball has turned into a real threat from beyond the arc, and a more effective distributor that turns the ball over less frequently unforced.
But Ball only has one year left on his rookie contract, which means that he is set to hit the restricted free agent market next offseason. With the Bulls potentially seeing off fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen to the restricted free agent market too next offseason, there could be something in the works for Ball to land in the Windy City still before too long.
Ball would be able to fill a plethora of needs for the Bulls, but they likely just ran out of resources at the deadline to make a deal happen with the Pelicans to bring him to Chicago. It’s not out of the question that the Bulls still get him either via a sign-and-trade deal next offseason, or bumping up his salary on his offer sheet in restricted free agency.