Lonzo Ball’s days in New Orleans are ticking closer and closer to an end as more and more reports surface. On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the Pelicans were not expected to match a significant offer sheet to Ball as he enters restricted free agency and also noted the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers will have interest in him.
However, a different, far more intriguing team could insert itself into the equation in the coming weeks. Long-time NBA reporter Marc Stein’s latest newsletter on Tuesday morning noted the Los Angeles Lakers were in search of a playmaker that could allow LeBron James and Anthony Davis to play in the frontcourt. One very interesting name was mentioned:
“Word is that the Lakers, on top of their well-chronicled need for more shooting, covet one more difference-making playmaker who would allow James and Davis to spend more time at power forward and center.
Expect to eventually hear of them searching for potential pathways, however obstacle-strewn they would be, to reacquiring restricted free agent-to-be Lonzo Ball for that reason.”
Stein is certainly not offering much in the way of reporting on the matter, but even if it’s informed speculation, it’s a link that would be a fascinating plot to the offseason.
The Lakers would have to do some extreme jumping through hoops to reacquire Ball. As a team well over the salary cap, signing him outright would not be an option. A sign-and-trade would be their only avenue to acquire him.
Los Angeles has its own free-agent-to-be, Dennis Schroder, who is set to sign a contract in the same neighborhood of Ball’s, which would make a trade easier to facilitate. However, it’s unlikely the Pelicans would have interest in Schroder outright, meaning a third team would have to be brought into a deal.
Would a team like the Bulls or Knicks, both of whom have a need for a point guard, have interest in acquiring Schroder while sending assets to the Pelicans who would, in turn, send Ball to Los Angeles? Both Chicago and New York would likely need the pot sweetened in some regard to take part in a sign-and-trade when both franchises could simply outright sign Schroder.
It all adds complications to Ball returning to the purple and gold, but that it’s even an option provides intrigue to the offseason.
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