Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Lonzo Ball
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: F Kyle Kuzma, G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2021 first-round pick
Unlike the Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers do not have the financial flexibility to sign Ball in free agency. While the Lakers traded Ball — among other pieces — in exchange for Anthony Davis before the 2019-20 season, Ball is a much different player now compared to how he was at the beginning of his career in Los Angeles.
Upon joining the Lakers as the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Ball was a gifted passer and defender, but his shooting needed some work. Fast forward to now and in the last two years with the Pelicans, he’s made 37.7 percent of his three-point attempts.
Given the team’s lack of assets, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and a 2021 first-round pick would be headed to New Orleans.
The Pelicans have long been rumored as a team that is interested in Kuzma and Caldwell-Pope gives them a solid shooting guard to pair with their next point guard, Brandon Ingram, and Williamson.
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New Orleans owns the No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, in which they can select their hopeful franchise point guard to replace Ball. As for the Lakers, they’d be finally getting a point guard that fits what they want next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
