Chicago Bulls: Projecting the 21-22 starting 5 if they trade for Lonzo Ball

Chicago Bulls 2021-22 starting five if they traded for Lonzo Ball

Starting Point Guard: Lonzo Ball

This is an easy one. If Karnisovas and the Bulls were set to pull off a trade this summer, or top his offer sheet, to land Lonzo then they could round out their starting five quite nicely. That would form an intriguing pairing in the starting backcourt, and the Bulls would be able to bolster their defensive depth on the perimeter immediately.

Not only is Lonzo one of the lengthier and more capable perimeter defenders, but he could also give this starting backcourt a new playmaker that has a dynamic that the Bulls don’t have on the current roster. Lonzo is a known playmaker at the one, and he is actually shooting the ball more efficiently from deep than either Coby White or Tomas Satoransky during the 2020-21 campaign.

There are likely to be other suitors for Ball this summer, including teams like the Pelicans (if they top his offer sheet), New York Knicks, and Atlanta Hawks, among others. But Karnisovas and the Bulls should remain at the forefront of his pursuit, and there is a realistic shot that he lands in Chicago ahead of next season.

If the Bulls were to land Lonzo this summer, then it would likely mean the end of the road for one of White, Sato, or Ryan Arcidiacono. And it could very well be two of those three that aren’t with the Bulls entering next season in a world where Lonzo is with the team.

Keeping around Coby or Sato as the backup point guard next season would be the best move for the Bulls. The idea of Coby would have more potential over the long term.