Lonzo Ball is one of the exciting young point guards in today’s era. Ball is a taller point guard with elite defensive and playmaking ability, while also being able to space the floor well off the ball. Despite Lonzo Ball’s elite abilities, he couldn’t come to a contract agreement with the Pelicans before the season and will enter restricted free agency at the end of the season.
Lonzo Ball would command interest from a lot of teams, but one of the teams that are on Ball’s personal radar is the New York Knicks. Marc Berman of the New York Post reported on the situation.
The Pelicans passed on giving Ball a rookie contract extension at the December deadline. Ball will be seeking big bucks this summer – and Pelicans ownership historically is afraid of luxury-tax implications.
ESPN’s cap guru Bobby Marks told The Post he doubts the Pelicans would match an offer sheet that starts higher than $18 million. The max starting number is $28 million.
The Post has learned the Knicks, with plenty of cap room, would be heavily on Ball’s radar as a restricted free agent.
It’s no surprise Ball would consider the Knicks an attractive destination. Father LaVar Ball wanted the Knicks to find a way to draft his point-guard son, LaMelo, favorite for Rookie of the Year who also wound up in a smallish market in Charlotte.
The New York Knicks could offer Lonzo Ball an opportunity to build his brand, and he would fit perfectly on a team that has some issues with who to start at point guard. Lonzo Ball would give the New York Knicks an elite perimeter defender who has the basketball IQ to make the right plays on offense. There is still some time left for Ball to make his decision, but it seems like the Knicks could be an enticing destination.
