Offseason Goal No. 3: Get some clarity on the Lonzo Ball situation
Piggybacking on the previous goal, the Bulls desperately need to get some clarity on the Lonzo Ball situation. If that’s not something they already have, they need to know what exactly is going wrong with his knee. And they need that information to figure out how to move forward with it. He’s still under contract for next season and then has a player option for the 2024-25 season. However, considering his injury history, I have a hard time believing he’ll decline it.
That means the Bulls will have his contract on their books for the next two seasons. And if the Bulls want to significantly improve their roster this offseason, they might have to find a way to trade him. Even if it costs them a future first-round pick. But that original clarity on his potential timeline will set them up for how to approach this offseason with regards to Ball.
The Bulls may not like the clarity they get on Ball but it’s something that has to happen. Chicago can’t continue to kick this situation down the road and not expect DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine to not get antsy if Chicago chooses to not make any substantial changes.
Chicago needs some clarity Ball to understand how to approach the offseason more effectively.