Lonzo Ball and the New York Knicks are two names we’ll hear a lot this offseason. The point guard is practically out of New Orleans and he won’t miss suitors for his services after a very good season at the Smoothie King Center.
Zo and the Knicks could cross paths this summer, with the player set to hit free agency and the Knicks looking for a playmaker while having $70 million in cap space. It seems like a match made in heaven.
Marc Berman of the New York Post wrote a piece explaining how the Knicks can address and fix their point guard problem. Besides trading for Damian Lillard, Ben Simmons, or Kemba Walker, the Knicks could Lonzo Ball in the free market.
Ball, the No. 2 pick of the 2017 draft, is a restricted free agent, but the Pelicans might not match an offer sheet that starts at $19 million. Making Zion Williamson happy is their top priority, though, and it has been reported they like playing together. Ball is the kind of pass-first point guard the Knicks need. He improved his 3-point shooting (37.8 percent) this past season but has never performed against a playoff defense. Leon Rose knows Lavar Ball from their past when CAA repped the family. The father’s eccentricities are not an issue. Sources believe Lavar, a former tight end on the Jets’ practice squad, wants all his sons on Broadway, and the Knicks are on Lonzo’s radar.
“He can take the ball out of [Julius] Randle’s hands and he’s improved his shooting,’’ an NBA scout said.
This would be a win-win situation for both parties. Lonzo showed interesting things during his time with New Orleans. He’s not part of the team’s plans moving forward, and another franchise could take advantage of that. The Knicks made a lot of noise this season, and they’re trying to improve the roster.
Adding Lonzo to the roster would be great for them, but the young player will have more options once free agency starts.
