Why the Bulls should snatch Lonzo Ball from the Pelicans

by Bella Michaels

photo courtesy of Joe Murphy via Getty Images

Trade rumors emerged last week that New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball may be heading to Golden State in a possible trade with the Warriors for Kelly Oubre Jr.

Now, the Chicago Bulls have entered the conversation as a possible destination for Zo and I’m all for it.

To those who may be against this trade because of his dad or the fact that he has his own reality show, just know those are insufficient reasons to exclude Zo from the mix.

Zo is the playmaker that the Bulls need right now, especially since Coby White has been inconsistent and lacking defensively.

For a starting point guard, White is not performing at the level he should be. His player efficiency rating is 10.98 and he ranks 49th out of 50 amongst the point guards in the league. Ouch.

Offensively and defensively, White doesn’t bring a positive impact on the court for the Bulls. He struggles to find his rhythm.

That’s where Zo could come in and do his thing. Zo would be a perfect match for Chicago. His two-way playmaking and defense are skills that the Bulls haven’t been finding consistently from White.

Zo is a true, pass-first point guard that can get the ball to a scorer like Zach LaVine or a big like Daniel Gafford. If you somehow haven’t already – just look at his stunning collection of full-court passes to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram showcasing his unique, creative touch and accuracy.

During his rookie year, Zo averaged a career-high 7.2 assists per game – higher than any Bull since Derrick Rose in 2011-12. While his season average has dropped this season to 4.8 assists per game, I think a change of scenery might be exactly what he needs to get it back. This would boost the Bulls rotation altogether and switch up the tempo.

As a 6’6” point guard with a 6’9” wingspan, defense is the best skill Zo has to offer on and off the ball. At 190 pounds, he is on the thinner side and can build more muscle. He has strong basketball IQ, making the right plays while also contributing his size and athleticism to the position he plays.

He knows how to position himself when it comes to help defense and can get the ball in transition. He’s averaging 1.5 steals per game and 0.7 blocks per game which is highly impressive. White is averaging just 0.7 steals per game and 0.1 blocks per game.

Statistically, this is one of Zo’s worst seasons as he’s averaging 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. But his points-per-game average has increased from the 10.2 points per game he averaged his rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017-18.

While Zo may not be a better overall shooter than White, he has more impact on the court and in winning games because of his pacing skills and pass-first mentality.

I can see his offense improving under Billy Donovan, who is known for his ability to develop players. Donovan also emphasizes fast-pace play and involving all players on the team -- which Ball excelled in doing with the Pelicans.

Gafford has been shining and working his way into a bigger role on the team this season… now just imagine if he had Zo to throw him a clever lob. I can already picture the thrilling dynamic.