After the Chicago Bulls lost to the Boston Celtics in what was a rather close game, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan praised veteran Lonzo Ball’s shooting and defensive playmaking.
“The steals, the disruption, the hands, knocking down his first couple threes,” Donovan would tell reporters (h/t Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times). “Even if he missed those two shots, he still had a huge impact on the game.”
Donovan also lauded Ball’s “unselfishness,” which has been key for all of their guards in what’s a crowded backcourt. Of course, when it comes to Ball, his teammates are really just happy that he’s able to play at all. It’s not often that athletes make it out of a multi-year injury-related hiatus, especially not performing the way he has.
That’s not exactly why —if NBA insider Jake Fischer’s report about the Bulls’ willingness to trade him is accurate —Chicago should change course. However, it leads to the very reason why the Bulls would actually be better off holding onto the 27-year-old.
Bulls Need To Take X-Factor Lonzo Ball Off Trade Block
If the Bulls can get useful asset in a Ball trade, be it a pick or player, Chicago obviously has motive to make a trade. Yet, the Bulls may be underestimating the impact that Ball has on the team’s culture. In the long haul, his on-court and off-court habits could contribute to the team more than what they get for him in.
Leading By Example
On the court, Ball’s enhances the flow of the offense, bringing Bulls head coach Billy Donovan’s vision of a run-and-gun offense to life. In fact, Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has recently spoken about Ball’s understated impact. The two time All-Star cites Ball’s combination of vision, basketball IQ, and passing ability as essential to their postseason success.
Ball is also a superior defender to Josh Giddey, who lacks his technique and instincts.
Chicago might not be trying to make a playoff push this season. Having Ball on the roster is unlikely to be the deciding factor in whether or not they can. Nonetheless, they can still benefit from playing the right way and he helps them do that.
Off the court, Ball’s intangibles are exemplary with regard to his dedication to getting back healthy. If Ball is out there giving it his all when there’s always a feeling that he’s one bad injury away from having to shut it down for good, his teammates have no excuse not to. With that in mind, because he’s liked and respected by his teammates, he may also add to the team’s culture as a locker room leader.
The Contract
Ball being on the final year of his four-year, $80 million contract is worth mentioning.
As his salary will come off the books one way or another in 2025, the Bulls really don’t have that much to consider. Unless the Brooklyn Nets or Atlanta Hawks wanted to completely absorb Ball into a trade exception, they wouldn’t get much financial relief from moving him before the deadline. Such a deal could be possible if they saw Ball as someone who could be a key depth piece this season and perhaps beyond. However, both teams are recalibrating as well, having gone from playoff contenders to rebuilds before they could say “Wilson.”
Furthermore, even if they were interested in Ball, they might prefer to wait until he becomes a free agent. There’s no telling what kind of market he’ll have just yet. Nonetheless, it’s possible that they’d get away with paying him the mid-level or minimum because of his injury history.
That’s a route that the Bulls need to consider as well. They’ve already shown a commitment to Ball that other teams might not have, so why give up on him now? If he’s willing to sign an inexpensive contract, he should remain in Chicago.
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