The Chicago Bulls have zigged while the Dallas Mavericks have zagged. Not only is the Mavericks roster-building philosophy wildly different from that of Artūras Karnišovas and the Bulls, but good fortune is also on Dallas' side following an unbelievable jump from 11th to first in draft order.
Meanwhile, Chicago, of course, remained in 12th from pre- to post-draft lottery—a slot only obtained in the aftermath of a tiebreaker with the Mavericks held in April to decide the pre-lottery draft order. All in all, Chicago was 0.1 percent from landing a generational talent, Cooper Flagg, now on his way to Dallas despite the organization trading away arguably its most talented player in its 44-year history. That's some pretty good luck.
Heading into June, the inter-conference foes continue to be linked despite a lack of historical connection. According to Marc Stein, via The Stein Line, the Mavericks are keen on adding a point guard in the wake of Kyrie Irving's ACL injury. Among a litany of targets is Bulls' Lonzo Ball.
The Mavericks are reportedly interested in Bulls' Lonzo Ball
Following Stein's blurb on Dallas' interest in Boston Celtics' guard Jrue Holiday, he wrote that Nico Harrison and the Mavs are "maintaining an interest in a far more reasonable trade target as we've discussed on the DLLS Mavs podcast: Lonzo Ball."
Stein used "far more reasonable" to allude to Ball's inexpensive contract compared to Holiday's. The 34-year-old Celtic is slated to earn $104 million over the next three seasons, while Ball is only on the books for $20 million over the next two campaigns. The team friendliness of Lonzo's contract goes beyond its salary cap figure. Ball has a team option prior to 2026-27.
Sure, Holiday's sky-high salary cap figure is a consequence of his importance on the hardwood. He's made an All-Defensive Team in six of the past eight seasons. Yet, paying a soon-to-be 35-year-old who averaged 11.1 points and shot 44.3 percent from the floor $32.4 million is egregious regardless of his defensive impact.
Ball's injury concerns are, and will forever be, prevalent. He missed two consecutive seasons with a debilitating knee condition and only appeared in 35 contests this past season. Yet at merely $10 million, he's worth it, and unlike Holiday, he's a much easier player to acquire.
The Mavericks could theoretically send P.J. Washington, Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, Max Christie, Jaden Hardy, or Olivier-Maxence Prosper straight up for Ball. While Washington and Marshall may not be on the trade block, it's telling just how easy Ball's salary is to absorb for the Mavs.
On the other hand, the Bulls may not want to jettison Ball despite fielding a loaded guard rotation. The 6-foot-6 combo guard is versatile and a valuable locker room presence. He's worth every penny, and his production will easily exceed his $10 million contract if he's capable of suiting up for more games than a season ago.
Expect Harrison and the Mavs not to be Ball's only suitors. In the present-day NBA, where trades are the most fruitful avenue for acquiring talent, the 27-year-old's contract will surely attract numerous suitors from this offseason and onward.