The 2021 NBA free agency market is set to open on Monday at 6pm EST and one of the top names available will be New Orleans Pelicans restricted free agent point guard Lonzo Ball. Yes, he is a restricted free agent and the Pelicans will be able to match any offer sheet he signs. However, there is growing optimism that the Pelicans do not plan to match a big offer sheet for Ball.
Over the past week, rumors have been getting hot that the Pelicans are planning to aggressive pursue Kyle Lowry. If they swing and miss on him, Spencer Dinwiddie is another name that New Orleans has interest in pursuing.
With that information in mind, Ball will have plenty of suitors to choose from this offseason. Right now, the Chicago Bulls appear to be the front-runner to end up landing him.
According to a league source, the Bulls are in the lead to land Ball this offseason right now. But, this is a very fluid situation and plenty of other teams will pursue him. Chicago may be the front-runner right now, but that could always change depending on how the dominoes fall this offseason.
Who are the expected other teams who could make a push to sign Lonzo Ball? The New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers are all teams who have been reported to have interest. Another team to keep an eye on could be the Miami Heat, who are looking to make a splash in their back-court as well.
During the 2020-21 NBA season with the Pelicans, Ball put together a good all-around season. He averaged 14.6 points per game to go along with 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds. He also shot a career-high 41.4 percent from the floor and a career-high 37.8 percent from the three-point arc.
Ball has been working hard on his game and is developing nicely. He is just 23 years old and has the potential to become a franchise point guard for whoever lands him this offseason. If the Bulls can bring him in, he would form a dangerous trio with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
Expect to hear more about Lonzo Ball in the next 48 hours. Plenty of teams will come calling with lucrative offers, but for now, the Bulls are the front-runner. That could change though, so make sure to keep an eye on this situation.
