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#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.
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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.
