Lonzo Ball Thread (UPDATE: Bulls Offer Sato + 2nd Round picks)

[kulaz3000]

chill man, Lauri living rent free in your head. But dont worry too much i dont think Bulls would match offers he will recieve 20+ mil. Be patient, soon he would leave elswhere and be successfull.

Where?

He is a pf with no post game or a center with crappy defense.

wanna do sig bet? And who the fk cares abt post game when analytics favor the 3 they dont want doing those stuffs?
You seem to live on the past 10 yrs ago.

Take it easy, be respectful.

[Indomitable]

7

Where?

He is a pf with no post game or a center with crappy defense.

wanna do sig bet? And who the fk cares abt post game when analytics favor the 3 they dont want doing those stuffs?
You seem to live on the past 10 yrs ago.

Take it easy, be respectful.

How dare I want my 7 footer to take advantage of his size. He still struggles against 6 8 players. He is bullied by 7 0 footers. He is a nice player. He is pretty much the same player he was in his second year.

It is amazing how quick some go to insults. Kukoc Lauri poster shows how you can disagree.

[Gert42]

Could someone summarize why the Pelicans want to trade him? I just don't get it.

I think part of the thoughts of the Pelicans trading him is with how much Brandon Ingram handles the ball you lose a lot of what Lonzo's value is on a starting lineup in NO.

I think this is bad fit trade for both teams in this current space in time. I don't think the Pelicans would want to get rid of him for anything short of a future asset better than a 2nd round pick or a young player the Bulls would not want to give up. I also agree with the poster that having an RFA rights aren't as important as they used to be or we make them out to be.

They drafted loterry pick Kira Lewis Jr for pg of the future. Previous year they traded for loterry pick Shai's cousin Nickel Alexander Walker combo guard. They need more playing time for them. They payed Ingram max, traded for Adams 27,5 mil per year, traded for another vet pg Eric Bledsoe 20 mil salary. They would resigned Zion at max in two years. They need cap space and playing times for guards. Ball failed to reach exstension with them , his gm is Rich Paul aka Lebron. They are asking around 20 mil per year longterm contract. 100% they dont want to resign Ball for that money, they are seeking expiring contracts, shooting and forwards depth. Otto for Ball and Redick is deal to make. Bulls could send Hutch to Nola as sweetener and send Redick to Phila or Boston for couple of second round picks. Zion can play small ball five with Otto spacing the floor on pf spot, Bulls could made life easier for scorers with Ball passing ability and he is good defender and rebounder for position. White coming back in his comfort zone as bench scorer and gunner. Ball/Lavine Sato/White would be great guard rotations with Denzel, very versitale guard lineup. PWill/Lauri/Thad on sf/pf and WCJ/Gaff and one of Felicio/Kornet in spurts for center spot.

I don't think any of your assessment of NOLA to trade Lonzo is wrong in a vaccuum, but I think if the offer from the Bulls is anything less than an asset of LaVine/PWilliams/2021 1st/Lauri/Coby/Wendell Carter/Future 1st gets it done (which obviously the Bulls shouldn't go besides maybe a future protected 1st Rounder). My guess is that NOLA would probably wait and see if there is more value in a sign and trade in the off-season.

[sco]

I think part of the thoughts of the Pelicans trading him is with how much Brandon Ingram handles the ball you lose a lot of what Lonzo's value is on a starting lineup in NO.

I think this is bad fit trade for both teams in this current space in time. I don't think the Pelicans would want to get rid of him for anything short of a future asset better than a 2nd round pick or a young player the Bulls would not want to give up. I also agree with the poster that having an RFA rights aren't as important as they used to be or we make them out to be.

They drafted loterry pick Kira Lewis Jr for pg of the future. Previous year they traded for loterry pick Shai's cousin Nickel Alexander Walker combo guard. They need more playing time for them. They payed Ingram max, traded for Adams 27,5 mil per year, traded for another vet pg Eric Bledsoe 20 mil salary. They would resigned Zion at max in two years. They need cap space and playing times for guards. Ball failed to reach exstension with them , his gm is Rich Paul aka Lebron. They are asking around 20 mil per year longterm contract. 100% they dont want to resign Ball for that money, they are seeking expiring contracts, shooting and forwards depth. Otto for Ball and Redick is deal to make. Bulls could send Hutch to Nola as sweetener and send Redick to Phila or Boston for couple of second round picks. Zion can play small ball five with Otto spacing the floor on pf spot, Bulls could made life easier for scorers with Ball passing ability and he is good defender and rebounder for position. White coming back in his comfort zone as bench scorer and gunner. Ball/Lavine Sato/White would be great guard rotations with Denzel, very versitale guard lineup. PWill/Lauri/Thad on sf/pf and WCJ/Gaff and one of Felicio/Kornet in spurts for center spot.

I don't think any of your assessment of NOLA to trade Lonzo is wrong in a vaccuum, but I think if the offer from the Bulls is anything less than an asset of LaVine/PWilliams/2021 1st/Lauri/Coby/Wendell Carter/Future 1st gets it done (which obviously the Bulls shouldn't go besides maybe a future protected 1st Rounder). My guess is that NOLA would probably wait and see if there is more value in a sign and trade in the off-season.

Yeah, you may be right, I think the best possible offer would be for Lauri or Thad plus filler.

[coldfish]

chill man, Lauri living rent free in your head. But dont worry too much i dont think Bulls would match offers he will recieve 20+ mil. Be patient, soon he would leave elswhere and be successfull.

Where?

He is a pf with no post game or a center with crappy defense.

wanna do sig bet? And who the fk cares abt post game when analytics favor the 3 they dont want doing those stuffs?
You seem to live on the past 10 yrs ago.

Wow, what terrible take. Yeah, Embiid, Joker, Davis, they never take anyone in the post, like ever.

[WindyCityBorn]

Where?

He is a pf with no post game or a center with crappy defense.

wanna do sig bet? And who the fk cares abt post game when analytics favor the 3 they dont want doing those stuffs?
You seem to live on the past 10 yrs ago.

Since Lauri doesn’t rebound, protect the rim or have any kind post game those things are irrelevant for a PF. What we are getting from Lauri is SF production/performance. We need a PF.

Wow, what terrible take. Yeah, Embiid, Joker, Davis, they never take anyone in the post, like ever.

[Indomitable]

Where?

He is a pf with no post game or a center with crappy defense.

wanna do sig bet? And who the fk cares abt post game when analytics favor the 3 they dont want doing those stuffs?
You seem to live on the past 10 yrs ago.

Wow, what terrible take. Yeah, Embiid, Joker, Davis, they never take anyone in the post, like ever.

Exactly good to great players are versatile. Role players stay in their lane. Lauri is not even on Ryan Anderson pre girlfriend issue level.

[coldfish]

wanna do sig bet? And who the fk cares abt post game when analytics favor the 3 they dont want doing those stuffs?
You seem to live on the past 10 yrs ago.

Wow, what terrible take. Yeah, Embiid, Joker, Davis, they never take anyone in the post, like ever.

Exactly good to great players are versatile. Role players stay in their lane. Lauri is not even on Ryan Anderson pre girlfriend issue level.

Don't get me wrong here. I think Lauri has played well this year . . . when he has played.

The tough thing with Lauri is that he seems to need everything to be perfect to simply get above average play that you really have to question is long term worth. His shooting is great when its on but the fact that he doesn't add much defense or rebounding and that he doesn't create for himself or others really mitigates that shooting. Its like building a team around Kyle Korver or as you note, Ryan Anderson.

Lonzo is kind of the same. He really doesn't run a team great, isn't a good finisher or shooter, etc. In a perfect situation he would be kind of "eh" but who wants to pay through the nose for that?

[Indomitable]

Wow, what terrible take. Yeah, Embiid, Joker, Davis, they never take anyone in the post, like ever.

Exactly good to great players are versatile. Role players stay in their lane. Lauri is not even on Ryan Anderson pre girlfriend issue level.

Don't get me wrong here. I think Lauri has played well this year . . . when he has played.

The tough thing with Lauri is that he seems to need everything to be perfect to simply get above average play that you really have to question is long term worth. His shooting is great when its on but the fact that he doesn't add much defense or rebounding and that he doesn't create for himself or others really mitigates that shooting. Its like building a team around Kyle Korver or as you note, Ryan Anderson.

Lonzo is kind of the same. He really doesn't run a team great, isn't a good finisher or shooter, etc. In a perfect situation he would be kind of "eh" but who wants to pay through the nose for that?

Anderson was high percentage shooter with a post up game. I still remember how he gave Thibs Bulls hell.

Most NBA players are role players. This was not an insult. A role player fits a mold. He is shooter with some rebounding. He can surprise on the drive but he can live off of it. He struggles to consistently create his shot.

Lonzo struggles to shot. He is kind of like a poor man Luol. He does a lot of the little things that help you win. He would truly upgrade the defense.

Lauri is a player with no real versatility and if we were a team that just needed a reliable shooter. I would feel more comfortable keeping him.

The Bulls by history will spend to the cap and never pay the tax. Therefore, looking at this team. I try to get the Luol Deng type point guard. If he can be a decent PG it is worth Lauri. In my opinion.

[Andi Obst]

I do think Lonzo would look good on this team. He would help our transition offense and our defense, both areas where we could use an upgrade. He would also fit right in as a guy who keeps moving the ball on offense, so I don't think it would take him long to find his role on this team. The lack of spacing the Pelicans have wouldn't be as much of an issue here, that could give him a little boost.

But man, I don't know if I want to pay him. Not right now. I think Lonzo can be really good, but it won't be as a lead ball handler. He just can't get to the rim and can't finish there even if he somehow does. That doesn't just cap his ceiling as scorer, it also lowers the value of his passing ability significantly because he just can't create in a halfcourt offense. I view him as a nice linking piece, someone who can be a good starter at point guard if you have elite creators on the wing. Shooting is a big question mark as well, although I'm more optimistic than some others here. He isn't a non-shooter. Wouldn't mind taking a shot at him in theory, but by trading assets for him now you're at least a little committed to paying him in the offseason and that just scares me. I don't think we're at the point where we pay a guy who is nice to have but won't make a huge difference (same issue with Lauri IMO).

Unless the Pelicans straight up dump him, which makes no sense for them, I'd rather wait and see how the situation develops until the offseason. Maybe there's a way to get him in RFA at a reasonable price and you go for it.

[sco]

I do think Lonzo would look good on this team. He would help our transition offense and our defense, both areas where we could use an upgrade. He would also fit right in as a guy who keeps moving the ball on offense, so I don't think it would take him long to find his role on this team. The lack of spacing the Pelicans have wouldn't be as much of an issue here, that could give him a little boost.

But man, I don't know if I want to pay him. Not right now. I think Lonzo can be really good, but it won't be as a lead ball handler. He just can't get to the rim and can't finish there even if he somehow does. That doesn't just cap his ceiling as scorer, it also lowers the value of his passing ability significantly because he just can't create in a halfcourt offense. I view him as a nice linking piece, someone who can be a good starter at point guard if you have elite creators on the wing. Shooting is a big question mark as well, although I'm more optimistic than some others here. He isn't a non-shooter. Wouldn't mind taking a shot at him in theory, but by trading assets for him now you're at least a little committed to paying him in the offseason and that just scares me. I don't think we're at the point where we pay a guy who is nice to have but won't make a huge difference (same issue with Lauri IMO).

Unless the Pelicans straight up dump him, which makes no sense for them, I'd rather wait and see how the situation develops until the offseason. Maybe there's a way to get him in RFA at a reasonable price and you go for it.

I look at it this way, if we trade for him, we get to try before we buy, which has value with guys who you are "betting on" improving. Giving up none-core assets to get him would be a no brainer...I'm not saying Zach, PWill, or our 1st, but I think anyone else (definitely including Lauri - who we'd be lucky to get a potentially useful asset in trade for) should be on the table.

[Chi]

Anyone but Lavine (and hopefully not Coby)... Make it happen...

[Chi town]

Only way I’m trading for Lonzo is we get healthy before the deadline and go on a 6-8 game winning streak and show we can be a 4-5 seed and have a legit shot at winning in the 1st round. I do see the value of Lavine playing in a competitive playoff series. Lonzo would help you win and I’d be game to pay him to keep him in the summer.

If we don’t go on a run then I’m trading Lauri and can sign Lonzo in the summer as a FA.

[bulls_4_life]

The bulls have plenty of offense, the problem is and always has been no one plays defense.

[Chicagoat]

Only way I’m trading for Lonzo is we get healthy before the deadline and go on a 6-8 game winning streak and show we can be a 4-5 seed and have a legit shot at winning in the 1st round. I do see the value of Lavine playing in a competitive playoff series. Lonzo would help you win and I’d be game to pay him to keep him in the summer.

If we don’t go on a run then I’m trading Lauri and can sign Lonzo in the summer as a FA.

Correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't Lonzo kind of mediocre in the half court setting? And when the playoffs roll around. It'll slow down alot.

I'm not even sure if Lonzo would be much use for this team in the playoffs. Lonzo works best with the ball in his hand and when his team is playing fast. Without that he becomes a liability.

[Chi town]

Only way I’m trading for Lonzo is we get healthy before the deadline and go on a 6-8 game winning streak and show we can be a 4-5 seed and have a legit shot at winning in the 1st round. I do see the value of Lavine playing in a competitive playoff series. Lonzo would help you win and I’d be game to pay him to keep him in the summer.

If we don’t go on a run then I’m trading Lauri and can sign Lonzo in the summer as a FA.

Correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't Lonzo kind of mediocre in the half court setting? And when the playoffs roll around. It'll slow down alot.

I'm not even sure if Lonzo would be much use for this team in the playoffs. Lonzo works best with the ball in his hand and when his team is playing fast. Without that he becomes a liability.

Lonzo has come along way. His shot has improved and gotten a lot quicker. He’s much better in the open floor and secondary break but passing and shooting would improve our team even in the half court.

His D would help a TON. We need a switchy 3D playmaker in the worst way.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

I understand the reservations about Lonzo, and I’m not 100% sure I want to pay his asking price this summer unless it’s seriously depressed by his RFA status, nor am I willing to offer more than Lauri to get him at the deadline - and I’d only offer Lauri if we couldn’t get a first for him instead (any 1st, in just about any year), but...

Lonzo/Coby
LaVine
Kuminga
Williams
WCJ

...looks kinda filthy to me.

[Chi town]

I understand the reservations about Lonzo, and I’m not 100% sure I want to pay his asking price this summer unless it’s seriously depressed by his RFA status, nor am I willing to offer more than Lauri to get him at the deadline - and I’d only offer Lauri if we couldn’t get a first for him instead (any 1st, in just about any year), but...

Lonzo/Coby
LaVine
Kuminga
Williams
WCJ

...looks kinda filthy to me.

Filthy but we would still be the youngest team and struggle to win. We would need 5 healthy vets to become a winner.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

I understand the reservations about Lonzo, and I’m not 100% sure I want to pay his asking price this summer unless it’s seriously depressed by his RFA status, nor am I willing to offer more than Lauri to get him at the deadline - and I’d only offer Lauri if we couldn’t get a first for him instead (any 1st, in just about any year), but...

Lonzo/Coby
LaVine
Kuminga
Williams
WCJ

...looks kinda filthy to me.

Filthy but we would still be the youngest team and struggle to win. We would need 5 healthy vets to become a winner.

I don’t have a problem with being young or losing games next season. I want a core with a future.

[fleet]

I understand the reservations about Lonzo, and I’m not 100% sure I want to pay his asking price this summer unless it’s seriously depressed by his RFA status, nor am I willing to offer more than Lauri to get him at the deadline - and I’d only offer Lauri if we couldn’t get a first for him instead (any 1st, in just about any year), but...

Lonzo/Coby
LaVine
Kuminga
Williams
WCJ

...looks kinda filthy to me.

Filthy but we would still be the youngest team and struggle to win. We would need 5 healthy vets to become a winner.

I don’t have a problem with being young or losing games next season. I want a core with a future.

Amen. Bulls fans decoupling with short term dreams would be helpful to both their mental health, and healthy team growth patterns. We should be imo supporting this FO when they do what must be done. Which is to be slow and sure, and fundamental. You aren’t going to win with all shooting and no D. Just wont work. Lonzo is growing into a balanced player, and that is AKs vision. Balance.

I may be off on this, but Lonzo seems like a Billups kind of guard. And the Bulls can follow the Detroit model. I dont see the superstar collection model over here being a practical goal.