The Orlando bubble hasn’t been kind to everyone. While some have taken full advantage of the opportunity to play and end the season on their terms, other squads have struggled to adjust to the circumstances.
The Pelicans, for all the hype they were generating before the restart, failed to take off in the bubble. They are going to leave with a poor record and with a whole lot more questions than answers regarding their future.
Apparently, their stance on point guard Lonzo Ball, in particular, has changed since his rather pathetic performance in the restart.
(via Sam Amick of The Athletic)
Plus, people down in Orlando tell me Lonzo Ball looked like he’d checked out the whole time the Pels were there, and that they expect some significant roster adjustments in New Orleans before next season. (And I don’t doubt that there may be a desire for a new coach in the Big Easy next season, either. But with every team likely to have less to work with financially next season, I’m not sure there will be enough internal will to write a goodbye check to Alvin Gentry. We’ll see.)
The young UCLA product has averaged 7.1 points, 6.6 assists and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 30.5 percent from the field in Orlando and even he admitted his poor showing was a disappointment to his team…
(via NOLA)
“I feel like I let the team down,” Ball told reporters Monday. “I know I’m a big part of it. Usually, when I play well, we win. Obviously, I didn’t play well this trip. We’re going home early, and I have to live with that.”
Needless to say, there are concerns about Lonzo and his future with the Pelicans is up in the air.
But Lonzo will likely be just one of many faces the franchise will consider moving this summer. With Zion, they can’t afford not to consider anything and everything.
