Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans have completed a sign-and-trade centered around former second overall pick Lonzo Ball, who agreed to a four-year, $85 million contract with the Bulls early into free agency.
In the deal, Chicago will send veteran guards Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple to New Orleans, who have been linked to a number of point guards in their quest to have a different dynamic at the position.
The Bulls and Ball’s mutual interest is unsurprising, as previous reports have linked the two parties.
Ball, a lengthy defender with a high basketball IQ and passing acumen, provides an element that Chicago has been lacking with the offensive-minded Zach LaVine. The fourth-year pro’s abilities as a perimeter defender and offensive initiator not only complement LaVine but alleviates him from the most tasking defensive responsibilities.
In 2020-21, Ball averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range.
