Lonzo Ball – New Orleans Pelicans*
Lonzo Ball is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2020-21 season
While he may not be considered a “star” player just yet, Lonzo Ball has all the potential to grow into an All-Star caliber player and it is because of the strides he has made this season. While many questioned his work ethic and skill-level last season in the NBA Bubble, Lonzo Ball has proven to everybody this season that he is well worth a big contract this coming offseason.
Lonzo Ball has been dealing with a hip injury over the course of the last month or so, but in 41 games this season, he is averaging 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.4 steals and is shooting 38.4% from three-point range.
The strides Ball has made to become more of a perimeter threat and off-the-ball threat is why he is going to be viewed as one of the top free agents this offseason and why he is an excellent free agent target for the New York Knicks.
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Derrick Rose is going to be a free agent, as is Elfrid Payton, leaving the Knicks with no long-term solution at the point guard position. Rookie Immanuel Quickley has been really solid this season, but he is not ready to take on the full time point guard position and is a much better “change of pace” kind of guard off-the-bench.
If the Knicks are able to sign Lonzo Ball, not only would they be getting a dynamic point guard who can be this team’s floor general, but they would be getting a young player that they can build with alongside Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett for the foreseeable future.
The only question mark about signing Lonzo Ball though is if the New Orleans Pelicans will match any offers given to the young guard. He is set to be a restricted free agent, meaning the Pelicans can and will likely match any deal made to Ball in order to keep him in New Orleans.
