NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks have hopes of landing Lonzo Ball ahead of the deadline.
It’s NBA Trade Deadline week, and the rumor mill is starting to pick up. Whether we see the big trades that many fans are hoping to see this week remains to be seen. But there appears to be, at the very least, the possibility of some big deals.
One player that is gaining some traction in the rumor mill is Lonzo Ball, who the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly open to moving ahead of the trade deadline. Ball is a restricted free agent after this season and there’s no guarantee that the Pelicans will match any offer he gets on the open market.
According to The Ringer, two teams that have shown interest in Ball are the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls. There could be others, too.
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"League sources say the Bulls and Hawks are both in pursuit. Chicago has offered Tomas Satoransky and second-round picks, but New Orleans is asking for at least one good first-round pick or a young player. Talks with Atlanta have revolved around Cam Reddish."
Both the Hawks and Bulls would be great fits for Ball and could also be teams that pursue him in free agency during the offseason if the Pelicans decide not to trade him at the deadline.
That will certainly add an interesting wrench into their negotiations and has to be in the back of the Pelican’s mind.
Ball is averaging 14 points, six assists, and four rebounds per game during his second full season with the Pelicans. He’s also shooting 43 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range – both career highs for the young guard.
Though, in his fourth season, Ball still doesn’t look like a player that has found comfort in the league. Considering that he’s potentially eyeing his third different team in five seasons, it’s no surprise that Ball hasn’t blossomed in his full potential.
Lonzo Ball is one of the bigger names that could be moved ahead of this week’s NBA Trade Deadline, but a team will have to come with a strong offer. It remains to be seen if any will appear over the next few days.