'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball has been the subject of various NBA rumors lately, as the former LA Lakers star is a free agent this summer. Ball had an impressive 2020-21 campaign with the Pelicans and is expected to be part of a bidding war this summer.
NBA Rumors: 3 teams best suited to Lonzo Ball's talents
Lonzo Ball is a traditional point guard, whose vision and pass-first approach make him one of the best young facilitators in the league. His feel for the game and mature outlook make him an invaluable player, and here are 3 teams who can get the best out of him:
#3 Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have been strongly linked with Lonzo Ball in the last few months and for good reason. The Bulls are in desperate need of a point guard, as youngster Coby White hasn't been able to meet expectations. White is a serviceable point guard who is adept at scoring, but his playmaking is still suspect.
However, the potential addition of Lonzo Ball in the 2021 NBA offseason could help the six-time NBA champions solve the playmaking problem. Superstar shooting guard Zach LaVine is currently entrusted with shouldering the responsibility of being the team's primary scorer and playmaker. But Ball can come in and ease the load on him by assuming the role of the starting point guard.
It will be a mutually beneficial deal in all likelihood, considering Lonzo Ball will also get to do a chunk of ball handling. With the Pelicans, Ball had to share the ball with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.
If Lonzo Ball does end up joining the Chicago Bulls, it won't be a surprise if head coach Billy Donovan hands him the keys to the offense, considering both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are primarily scorers.
#2 Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics traded their starting point guard Kemba Walker to the OKC Thunder, and there is major speculation around who their primary ball-handler will be on the opening day of the 2021-22 season. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are two ball-dominant players the Celtics already have, but playmaking is certainly not their strong suit.
Marcus Smart is an option, but the gritty guard is better known for his defensive plays. The Celtics can swoop on Lonzo Ball, who could prove to be a brilliant addition. The Boston Celtics pride themselves on being a defensive-minded team, and Ball will fit right into that kind of culture.
Apart from being a solid passer and an average scorer, Ball is a menace on the perimeter defensively. If the Boston Celtics pair him up with Marcus Smart in the backcourt, the 17-time champions will become a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end for years to come.
#1 New York Knicks
A major reason behind the New York Knicks' unceremonious exit at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 NBA Playoffs was that they were devoid of options at the point guard position. Elfrid Payton struggled in the first two games of the series, following which Tom Thibodeau had to start sixth man Derrick Rose at the 1.
Signing a point guard will be the utmost priority for the New York Knicks front office this summer, and Lonzo Ball should be at the top of their list. Thibodeau likes two-way players who can contribute on both ends of the floor, and Ball fits the bills perfectly.
As for Lonzo Ball, he will get to play for a big-market team and a coach who is known to get the best out of young players. Thibodeau's development of Julius Randle and Canadian sensation RJ Barrett has been commendable, and Lonzo Ball's game could take the proverbial next step if he joins the Knicks in the coming months.
