Lonzo Ball could fill the Chicago Bulls point guard need, and more
If there’s a plan in place for the Bulls to try and get Dinwiddie from the Nets this coming offseason, then trying to get former UCLA Bruins two-way point guard Lonzo Ball either in a sign-and-trade deal or via restricted free agency has to be Plan A. Dinwiddie would be a solid addition for the Bulls, but wouldn’t bring the same versatile value to the table as Lonzo could.
Multiple teams are likely to look into matching some sort of offer sheet for Lonzo if he does hit the restricted free agent market this offseason. But two teams that stick out at the moment are the Bulls and New York Knicks. Landing back with a big market team after spending the last two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans seems somewhat of a certainty for Lonzo in the near future.
Lonzo spent the first two seasons of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. But he was dealt to the Pelicans in that big trade deal that got the Lakers superstar big man Anthony Davis from NOLA, and sent the likes of Lonzo, Josh Hart, and star Brandon Ingram, to the Pelicans.
Having another solid season with the Pelicans, Bulls fans would definitely be excited if there was a way that Karnisovas and Eversley could bring Lonzo to the Windy City. In 47 games played with the Pelicans so far this season, Lonzo averaged a career-high 14.1 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks. And he’s shot 42.2 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.0 percent from the free-throw line.
It feels like the Bulls were investing a lot to try and land Lonzo at the trade deadline, but things just didn’t work out in the end in discussions with the Pelicans. Maybe a sign-and-trade deal with the Pelicans could be on the horizon this offseason for the Bulls to get Lonzo.