Bulls sign Lonzo Ball to 2 year, $20 million extension

[WesPeace]

Terrible, terrible deal. Watch him get injured for the next year and a half.

I'm not sure there is even a point to following the Bulls anymore with AKME at the helm. They just don't learn their lessons. They are like Charlie Brown kicking the football.

In no way this is terrible deal, cheap 10M per and second season is team option lol.. it cant be better deal for Lonzo

[DuckIII]

Very hard to complain about this signing. And the timing is perfect. Now we can more aggressively shop guys like Giddey, Coby and/or Ayo to see what's out there. Ball doesn't solve all our problems, but it's a solid deal. I'm pleased.

Totally agree. This is win, win, win for the reasons you stated. Additionally imagine how valuable a trade piece he will be if he’s playing well at that price.

Sidenote: I make no secret that he’s been one of my favorite NBA players pretty much since he was drafted. I love his game and find him one of the most entertaining players in the league to watch and I’m in awe of his understanding of the game and ability process changing circumstances with alarming speed.

I’ve also always respected his demeanor amidst the hurricane of crazy going on around him as he came out. His decision to respect the Bulls for their support of him by agreeing to this incredibly favorable deal makes me respect him even more.

[DuckIII]

Just when you think the Bulls front office couldn’t get any worse, they do this. And I like Lonzo, I like him a lot.

I’m sorry but this is a bad decision. Which team was going to offer him this type of contract? No only is he an injury risk, he isn’t the player he was two years ago and he is highly unlikely to ever get back to that level of play.

I don’t hate that they wanted him to stay, I just don’t like the extension they gave him. I would have been much happier if it was in the 10 million for two year range instead.

Just a baffling decision among many other baffling decisions. Our front office is not good, and it’s a god damn shame that they are what we have currently for the foreseeable future; which gives me zero hope that they will make the right decisions in the draft.

This post and 6 people agreeing with it blows my mind. Lonzo Ball for $20 million for 2 years? With the second year being a TO? And your primary concern is that we overpaid for him?

This deal is a freaking gift. I assumed I’d come in here and there would be 100% full throated celebration over this deal. There is zero downside to the Bulls here with a very long list of positives.

You guys are out to lunch. This wildly exceeds my dreams as the best case scenario for Ball.

[League Circles]

Very hard to complain about this signing. And the timing is perfect. Now we can more aggressively shop guys like Giddey, Coby and/or Ayo to see what's out there. Ball doesn't solve all our problems, but it's a solid deal. I'm pleased.

Totally agree. This is win, win, win for the reasons you stated. Additionally imagine how valuable a trade piece he will be if he’s playing well at that price.

Sidenote: I make no secret that he’s been one of my favorite NBA players pretty much since he was drafted. I love his game and find him one of the most entertaining players in the league to watch and I’m in awe of his understanding of the game and ability process changing circumstances with alarming speed.

I’ve also always respected his demeanor amidst the hurricane of crazy going on around him as he came out. His decision to respect the Bulls for their support of him by agreeing to this incredibly favorable deal makes me respect him even more.

It's funny that you loved him from his NBA day 1 and believe these things about him, cause I basically irrationally hated him from day 1 (thought he looked way overrated at draft time, then the craziness of his Dad plus it's just easy to hate all things Lakers plus his shooting form was gross, plus BIG BALLER brand was begging for hatred)..........yet these days after seeing him for us and having my bias challenged............I feel exactly the same way you do.

[DuckIII]

Lonzo didn't earn this contract.

I’m not sure any player ever in the history of the NBA even came close to doing more to earn a contract worth 1 year, $10 million guaranteed than Lonzo Ball just did.

[DuckIII]

I just got done reading this mind boggling thread. I thought it was possible there was not a Bulls fan on earth who hates and has less faith in AK than me. Evidently not. Some of you are perhaps not capable of crediting him for anything anymore.

1. What does $10 million matter to the Bulls for one year? Other than saying Lonzo has been injured, which is a huge so what for a deal like this, please explain how this contract damages the Bulls. If he plays literally zero games next year, what is the damage?

2. He looks perfectly healthy. If he actually does play healthy and well his contract becomes an incredibly valuable trade asset. People are arguing that Lonzo Ball, playing healthy and well, on a 2 year deal worth $10 million guaranteed, won’t be worth a first round pick to a playoff team? For a guy who credibly plays 3 positions as a two way player? Thats just not objectively rational.

3. Currently he has no trade value. In a very unlike-AK move we actually managed an asset in a way to increase its value with virtually no downside.

4. This gives us leverage in dealing with Giddey and Coby. Any argument by Giddey’s agent that we “need” him is now completely dead between Ayo and Ball. And overpaying Giddey is the biggest risk we face this summer.

5. Can you imagine a better mentor than an unselfish three position two way player with a top 10 IQ and insane work ethic?

One of the best deals I’ve seen the Bulls make in the last 20 years.

[TheSuzerain]

Unexpected move, but I am confused at how people could be against this.

Almost feels like a cheap deal in return for how Bulls handled his situation.

Of course, he still had some health risks. But this deal is very cheap for someone who could be a rotation guy on a contender.

[CROBulls]

Watch him go injured and returning in preseason in last year of his deal. If there is no guarantee security to void his contract then this extension is meaningless

[Dan Z]

I'm not saying they should do this (or will), but this article says they can still trade Lonzo.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/why-lonzo-balls-reported-20-million-contract-extension-doesnt-close-the-door-on-a-possible-deadline-trade/

[DuckIII]

Unexpected move, but I am confused at how people could be against this.

Almost feels like a cheap deal in return for how Bulls handled his situation.

That is what it is. I looked at the list of NBA players earning $10 million per year and it’s Chris Boucher, Chris Paul and his AARP card, Aaron Wiggins and lottery guys still on their rookie deals.

[Little_Bill]

Just when you think the Bulls front office couldn’t get any worse, they do this. And I like Lonzo, I like him a lot.

I’m sorry but this is a bad decision. Which team was going to offer him this type of contract? No only is he an injury risk, he isn’t the player he was two years ago and he is highly unlikely to ever get back to that level of play.

I don’t hate that they wanted him to stay, I just don’t like the extension they gave him. I would have been much happier if it was in the 10 million for two year range instead.

Just a baffling decision among many other baffling decisions. Our front office is not good, and it’s a god damn shame that they are what we have currently for the foreseeable future; which gives me zero hope that they will make the right decisions in the draft.

This post and 6 people agreeing with it blows my mind. Lonzo Ball for $20 million for 2 years? With the second year being a TO? And your primary concern is that we overpaid for him?

This deal is a freaking gift. I assumed I’d come in here and there would be 100% full throated celebration over this deal. There is zero downside to the Bulls here with a very long list of positives.

You guys are out to lunch. This wildly exceeds my dreams as the best case scenario for Ball.

I'm glad you are thrilled with this deal. But I thought the Bulls had finally picked a lane and are now tanking. I thought wrong.

[DuckIII]

I'm not saying they should do this (or will), but this article says they can still trade Lonzo.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/why-lonzo-balls-reported-20-million-contract-extension-doesnt-close-the-door-on-a-possible-deadline-trade/

They definitely should do it now if it makes sense. That’s part of the beauty of this deal. It raised his trade value immediately and now gives us multiple solid options that can be pursued now or later.

[DuckIII]

Just when you think the Bulls front office couldn’t get any worse, they do this. And I like Lonzo, I like him a lot.

I’m sorry but this is a bad decision. Which team was going to offer him this type of contract? No only is he an injury risk, he isn’t the player he was two years ago and he is highly unlikely to ever get back to that level of play.

I don’t hate that they wanted him to stay, I just don’t like the extension they gave him. I would have been much happier if it was in the 10 million for two year range instead.

Just a baffling decision among many other baffling decisions. Our front office is not good, and it’s a god damn shame that they are what we have currently for the foreseeable future; which gives me zero hope that they will make the right decisions in the draft.

This post and 6 people agreeing with it blows my mind. Lonzo Ball for $20 million for 2 years? With the second year being a TO? And your primary concern is that we overpaid for him?

This deal is a freaking gift. I assumed I’d come in here and there would be 100% full throated celebration over this deal. There is zero downside to the Bulls here with a very long list of positives.

You guys are out to lunch. This wildly exceeds my dreams as the best case scenario for Ball.

I'm glad you are thrilled with this deal. But I thought the Bulls had finally picked a lane and are now tanking. I thought wrong.

Retaining a single veteran player with a questionable future on an extremely low value and low risk deal is not failing to pick a lane. The Bulls are still fully committed to a rebuild.

This is an example of retaining an asset to increase its value as part of a rebuilding plan. It’s the type of thing AK never does because he sucks at his job, but finally did. This is GOOD asset management for once.

[_txchilibowl_]

Even if you're tanking the goal should still be development. Lonzo may be one of the best players in the league for those purposes.

A+ deal

[drosestruts]

This news breaking was the hightlight of the Timberwolves game for me.

I find it impossible to not be happy about this deal.

I give it an A

[DuckIII]

Even if you're tanking the goal should still be development. Lonzo may be one of the best players in the league for those purposes.

A+ deal

Absolutely. You still want mentors. And his style of play is perfect for development of others.

I’m just very perplexed. For the Bulls it’s a 1 year, $10 million deal during a rebuild year in which they do not intend to be going hard into free agency. Even if you assume the worst case scenario, whatever that could reasonably be, I don’t see how it can hurt us at all.

[ChettheJet]

As much as I wanted to see some minor deal that did NOT include Lonzo I was stunned in my recliner hearing KC Johnson. I'm going to brag, I thought it would be during the summer not during the season, but I called this a couple of weeks ago. Short deal for reasonable money because unlike with any other team Lonzo saw it as he's gotten $60M from the Bulls for nothing but surgery and rehab, is comfortable with the organization and fans as was willing to stick around out of respect and loyalty.

For the Bulls he provides all the on court things but he's older than the rest of the roster, he's been on other teams, been traded, been a FA and has the leadership skills on and off the floor to add more than stats to this team. At just $10M he leaves cap space for the Bulls to look for size in free agency

The Bulls by signing him send a loud message to the rest of their guards. Coby is due a new contract, he's slotted as the SG right now they would have to pull off a big trade to get a better starter. So if he and his agent see few other teams are looking for him they don't try to break the bank with the Bulls. Ayo with the other guards still around he should be looking at himself as a 6th man and not think he's worth starter money. Josh Giddey needs a new contract but again he isn't head and shoulders above the rest so he's free to ask other teams for an offer but the Bulls don't need to overpay to keep him. All three have to see Huerter still here and giving the Bulls some options. He'd be a good not spectacular SG coming off the bench so if the three want to stay they have less leverage.

[KissedByaRose1]

Great move here, first one in a vacuum i give Arturas a B+/A- in awhile minus the Matas pick which i'm not giving him credit for =).

He'll take up 6.5% of the cap, he had trade interest as an expiring and this time next year or even this summer the asset will be more valuable than it is now. Plus if we got full scale rebuild his skillset/passing is exactly what i want around young guys. Good stuff.

Now trade Vooch today or else i'm going to go postal.

[kodo]

Even if you're tanking the goal should still be development. Lonzo may be one of the best players in the league for those purposes.

A+ deal

Absolutely. You still want mentors. And his style of play is perfect for development of others.

I’m just very perplexed. For the Bulls it’s a 1 year, $10 million deal during a rebuild year in which they do not intend to be going hard into free agency. Even if you assume the worst case scenario, whatever that could reasonably be, I don’t see how it can hurt us at all.

Playing devil's advocate, it can hurt us because Lonzo uses a core rotation spot and will likely start many games and uses up minutes & rotations that could be going to gambles on young players.

Patrick's contract was rookie scale for most of his tenure w/ the Bulls, and we never drafted or acquired any talented young PFs because of him. Vuc's contract wasn't a bad one, but we never drafted or acquired any young centers until Smith.

That being said I don't see any real upside for Dalen Terry, so I don't care if he doesn't see any floor time due to Lonzo. If we draft Dylan Harper and he's given the Matas treatment because we have Lonzo/Ayo/Coby that's a different story but that's a rich man's problem.

[DuckIII]

Now trade Vooch today or else i'm going to go postal.

It’s looking like after the last few days there may no longer be a market for that. Might have to wait for this summer.