The Los Angeles Clippers are looking for an update in the position of point guard before the next pressure for the playoffs. One player they’re looking at is New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times. Ball is currently in the middle of his fourth season in the league and he is set for a restricted free agency this summer.
The UCLA product is having a solid season for pelicans. Ball started in all 38 games in which he played and averaged 14.2 points, 5.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per performance. He is also shooting 42% on the ground and 38% at long range. Despite his positive game, his future in New Orleans is uncertain, as he and the Pelicans did not agree to an extension before the start of the season. Pelicans will have the opportunity to match any external offer that Ball obtains in free action during the off-season. However, if Ball isn’t necessarily in his long-term plans, or if they don’t think they’re going to want to pay him what other teams can offer, switching him now so they get something in return – instead of just leaving him you act freely – it would make some sense.
Clearly, the Clippers think Ball would be an upgrade over the current shipowner rotation that consists of Pat Beverley and Reggie Jackson, despite the fact that Ball has no post-season experience. Clippers are not the only team interested in adding Ball, as the New York Knicks are also interested in switching to Ball, or potentially adding him as a free agent after the season.
The Pelicans have not publicly stated what they plan to do with Ball, but behind the scenes they are certainly reflecting on their options. One person who will be very happy if the Pelicans decide to switch Lonzo is his father, LaVar, who recently made it clear that he expects the Pelicans to move their son.
“No, he can’t stay in New Orleans,” said LaVar, via USA Today. “Come on, man. Come on, listen. … Lonzo has always been an ace. Why are you trying to turn him into a defense expert who stands in the corner and shoots 3s? And you’re trying to change Zion and Brandon Ingram who , in his entire career, he was never a goalkeeper… Gunner! Now you want to put the ball in their hands and be a goalkeeper? … Go mark the ball and do what you do and guess what? games if the ace is not making the right moves. “
It is safe to say that Pelicans’ front office will not take LaVar’s opinion into account when making a decision about Lonzo’s future with the franchise, but it will be extremely interesting to see what they will decide to do. Ball seems to have a bright future in the league, now it’s just a matter of whether he will continue his career in New Orleans or elsewhere.