Tag: Lonzo Ball

The top 24 rookie ratings in NBA 2K since NBA 2K10, with Victor Wembanyama at No. 1 overall

Wembanyama is already making history in the video game world.

It isn’t easy to determine a rating for a rookie who hasn’t played in the NBA, but rookie superstar Victor Wembanyama is already breaking the mold.

We took a look at how Wembanyama compares to every other rookie in the video game for the past decade or so. We chose the top-24 players because it’s NBA 2K24 and Kobe Bryant, who wore No. 24, is on the cover.

Using the HoopsHype database, we were able to sort through every rookie rating in NBA 2K since NBA 2K10. These were the rankings for each player as they first entered the game.

It is worth noting that due to the lockout, NBA 2K12 did not include any of the rookie class (e.g. Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard) when the game was first released. Even once they were added to the game, however, none had a high enough rating to make this list.

Some honorable mentions whose debut ratings just barely missed the cut for our list and were rated a 77 include Anthony Edwards (2K21), Trae Young (2K19), Jayson Tatum (2K18) and Andrew Wiggins (2K15).

Meanwhile, some players who did not come close but have had tremendous professional careers include Nikola Jokic (68), Pascal Siakam (67), Giannis Antetkounmpo (60) and Rudy Gobert (52). So an original NBA 2K rating is not always the best indicator for future success in the NBA.

For what it is worth, the mean/median/mode for a rookie in NBA 2K since 2009 is between 71 and 72. So the following players who began their pro careers with a 77 or higher deserve some quick praise:

Bulls staffer: Working around Lonzo Ball injury makes life ‘harder’

The injury to Lonzo Ball has made life difficult for the Chicago Bulls.

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In 2021, the Chicago Bulls decided they were sick of rebuilding their roster and made a charge forward, completing a series of moves in an attempt to push for the postseason. At the deadline, they traded for Nikola Vucevic, and the following summer, they signed DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso.

Unfortunately, the Bulls have only won a single playoff game since they made their major changes, and a big part of that has been the injury to Ball. The point guard went down just 35 games into his tenure with the team, and he has yet to return to the court. Now, he’s expected to miss all of next season, too.

Keith Smith of Spotrac spoke with members of multiple team staffs while in Las Vegas for Summer League. One Bulls staff member noted how difficult it has been to build around the injury to Ball.

“Working around Lonzo Ball’s injury makes everything a little harder,” they told Smith. “We were a good team before he went down. You build a roster designed to play a certain way, around expensive players, and it becomes very hard when you lose one of those key guys. But we’re figuring it out.”

At face value, Ball’s injury leaves the Bulls without a starting point guard and one of their best three-point shooters. But a deeper look reveals that it also leaves them with over $20 million in dead cap on their books, restricting their ability to build their roster.

Should the Bulls look to dump Ball’s contract in an attempt to clear their books? Or should they simply hope he eventually returns to the court?

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Bulls granted $10.2 million DPE for Lonzo Ball injury

The Chicago Bulls have been granted a $10.2 million DPE due to Lonzo Ball’s injury.

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Two years ago, the Chicago Bulls decided they were done rebuilding the roster and pushed their chips on the table in an attempt to be competitive. They traded for Nikola Vucevic at the 2021 trade deadline and signed DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball the following summer.

Unfortunately for Chicago, they have won just a single playoff game since, and a big reason has been the absence of Ball. Just 35 games into his Bulls tenure, Ball was injured, and he has not returned to the court. Now, it’s looking like he’s going to miss all of next season, too.

However, the Bulls applied for a $10.2 million Designated Player Exception due to Ball’s injury, and they were granted it.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the news on Twitter.

“The NBA has granted the Bulls a $10.2 million Disabled Player Exception for the season-ending loss of Lonzo Ball, sources say,” Charania tweeted.

With the exception, the Bulls have wiggle room heading into the rest of the summer and the season.

The DPE allows them to sign or trade for a player using the money. Should they sign a player, however, it could only be a one-year deal.

NBA free agency has been stripped thin, but at the very least, the Bulls have another tool in their toolbox to work with moving forward, and it could potentially help them down the road.

Obviously, the Bulls would rather have Ball back healthy, but in the meantime, they’ll have to settle for the DPE.

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1 Bulls trade idea for Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Lonzo Ball

As the offseason drags on, here is one Chicago Bulls trade idea for Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Lonzo Ball.

Two years ago, the Chicago Bulls made a group of moves to push themselves closer to playoff contention. They ended their rebuild with a trade for Nikola Vucevic and followed that up by signing DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso. Since then, they’ve only won a single playoff game.

However, after getting bounced in the Play-In Tournament this past year, Arturas Karnisovas didn’t even consider a rebuild. The goal was for Chicago to push forward and attempt to get back in the playoffs, but that could come back to bite them, as the future outlook of the franchise doesn’t look ideal.

In turn, a major shake-up could be needed. So, with that in mind, here are three trades to improve the future of the Bulls franchise.

Alex Caruso shares thoughts on Bulls star Lonzo Ball’s injury

During a recent podcast appearance, Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso shared his thoughts on Lonzo Ball’s injury and road to recovery.

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Two years ago, the Chicago Bulls decided they were done rebuilding. They pushed their chips on the table, trading for Nikola Vucevic at the deadline. The following summer, Chicago signed DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball, forming a new core group.

For 35 games, that group looked amazing. Then, Ball went down with a knee injury, and two years later, he has not returned to the court. Reports indicate  he will miss the entire 2023-24 season, too. It has been a long, brutal road for the former second pick, especially considering how well he played in his 35 games in a Bulls uniform.

During a recent appearance on “The Ryen Russillo Podcast,” Caruso shared his thoughts on Ball’s injury and his road to recovery. (H/t Basketball Network)

“He’s been great when I’ve seen him, as far as spirit and going to work,” Caruso said. “That’s kind of all you can do in that position. You can’t really force anything when it comes to injuries, right? The body has to heal, and then you can get back out there and play. This is one of those things where it’s been healing, and then I think there’s been setbacks. He’s trying to get back to healing again. For his sake, I hope he can just play basketball again.”

With Ball in the fold, Chicago was one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and they haven’t been the same since he went down.

And while they can’t count on him coming back anytime soon, Ball will undoubtedly continue his journey toward recovery, and, hopefully, he’ll do so while receiving full support from the team and his teammates.

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Bulls star Lonzo Ball goes viral on TikTok with girlfriend Ally Rossel

Chicago Bulls star point guard Lonzo Ball recently went viral on TikTok with girlfriend Ally Rossel.

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Two years ago, the Chicago Bulls made a flurry of moves in an attempt to push for the playoffs. They ended their rebuild by trading for Nikola Vucevic at the 2021 trade deadline. Then, they signed DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Lonzo Ball in free agency, creating a new core.

That plan worked for 35 games. Then Ball injured his knee, and he has not set foot on the court since. Now, reports indicate he will miss the entire 2023-24 season. Despite that, he’s seemingly in good spirits.

Ball recently went viral on TikTok when his girlfriend, model Ally Rossel, posted a video of their outfits when on vacation in Bora Bora.

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She and Ball completed a viral TikTok trend, high-fiving whilst showing off each of their outfits. In the video, Ball can be seen smiling and enjoying his time on vacation.

Obviously, Bulls fans would love to see Ball out on the court, but the fact he’s in a good space mentally should at least be a good sign. That’s not to say he’ll be back sooner rather than later, just that he’s in a good headspace as he continues his road to recovery.

And for the inevitable people who comment on the video, hating on Ball for going on vacation, you’re missing the plot.

Just because Ball is taking some time for himself on vacation doesn’t mean he’s not focused on getting back on the court.

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Mock trade sees Bulls flip Lonzo Ball for 2-time All-Star

This Chicago Bulls mock trade sees them ditch Lonzo Ball in exchange for a two-time All-Star.

The Chicago Bulls have made solid moves so far this summer. They re-signed both Nikola Vucevic and Coby White to three-year deals, and they inked free agents Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig to contracts that greatly improved their depth. Is it enough?

At the end of this past season, Arturas Karnisovas stated the Bulls had no intention of rebuilding the roster. But if that’s the case, Carter and Craig aren’t enough. If they want to be a lock to make the playoffs, the Bulls need to make a massive splash on the trade market.

During a stream for Bleacher Report, NBA YouTuber Sixringsofsteel suggested a trade that would see Chicago do just that.

3 NBA free agency targets for Chicago Bulls with Lonzo Ball DPE

The Chicago Bulls have applied for a $10.2 million DPE due to Lonzo Ball’s injury, so who should they target in NBA free agency?

The Chicago Bulls made sure to stay active on the first night of free agency, bringing back 23-year-old Coby White on a new contract and signing veteran point guard Jevon Carter to a three-year deal, too. Plus, a few days before the beginning of free agency, they inked Nikola Vucevic to a three-year contract extension.

That being said, there are still plenty of solid players left available in free agency, and Chicago has a lot of work to do. But now, they could have an extra tool in their belt to use. The Bulls have applied for a $10.2 million DPE due to Lonzo Ball’s injury, giving them a pathway to add a solid player in free agency.

With that in mind, here are three players they should target with the $10.2 million DPE they might be receiving.

Report: Bulls apply for $10.2 million DPE due to Lonzo Ball injury

The Chicago Bulls have applied for a $10.2 million Disabled Player Exception due to Lonzo Ball’s injury.

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The Chicago Bulls have applied for the Disabled Player Exception, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. With Lonzo Ball set to miss the entire 2023-24 season, the value of Chicago’s DPE would be $10.2 million, opening some potential free agency and trade opportunities for the Bulls.

For a Chicago team looking to compete for a playoff spot this season, the exception is extremely valuable. It would open a number of doors for it, allowing it to add talent in an attempt to replace Ball, who was a crucial part of the team’s hot start in the 2021-22 season.

The DPE can be used to sign players, accept players via trade (such as a Traded Player Exception) or claim a player off waivers, as explained by Keith Smith of Spotrac.

“The DPE is unique in that it can be used to sign a player, trade for a player or to claim a player off waivers. However, there are restrictions with the DPE that do not exist for the other exceptions,” Smith wrote.

The restrictions on a DPE are that the contract can only be for the remainder of the season (or in the Bulls’ case, a one-year deal for the 2023-24 season), and it can only be used to sign or trade for a single player.

With NBA free agency ongoing, if the Bulls were granted the exception, it could allow them to sign a higher-tier player than they would have been previously able to.

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The last time the Pac-12 produced two top-5 NBA draft picks, Lonzo Ball was involved

#USC’s Isaiah Collier and Cody Williams of @BuffaloesWire might know that Lonzo Ball and Markelle Fultz made #Pac12 history.

The USC Trojans and Colorado Buffaloes could create a special Pac-12 draft night next year. We’re not talking about the NFL. We’re referring to the NBA.

We noted on Saturday that USC’s Isaiah Collier and Colorado’s Cody Williams are both projected top-five picks in the 2024 NBA draft. It invites the question, “When was the last time the Pac-12 placed two players in the top five of the NBA draft?”

The answer: 2017.

Washington’s Markelle Fultz went at No. 1 to the Philadelphia 76ers. UCLA’s Lonzo Ball went at No. 2 to the Los Angeles Lakers. So, this wasn’t just a top-five pair; these were the top two picks in the NBA draft. That’s the only time the Pac-12 has ever produced the top two picks in the NBA draft.

It might take some heavy lifting for Collier and Williams to become the top two picks in the 2024 draft, but they’re in very good position to give the Pac-12 the same place of prominence it had in 2017 with Lonzo and Fultz.

As an added note about the 2017 Pac-12 NBA draft class, Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen went at No. 7 to the Chicago Bulls via the Minnesota Timberwolves, so the Pac-12 had three of the top seven picks that year. The last time that happened was 2008, when USC’s O.J. Mayo went at No. 3.

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