The Oklahoma City Thunder have shown this season that their success last season was no fluke. They’re once again on top of the Western Conference and hold the second-best record in the NBA. If this season ends like it did last year (eliminated in Conf. Semi-Finals) for the Thunder, the off-season could be a busy one.
If that’s the case, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report has Oklahoma City acquiring Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball this off-season.
“Oklahoma City could covet a dot-connecting floor general to play behind (or, at times, alongside) Gilgeous-Alexander, and a healthy Ball would do a masterful job of keeping the offense humming without hurting the defense,” Buckley wrote.
They’re some huge contracts coming for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren within the next couple of years. It would be smart for Oklahoma City to start building around those players now for the future. Ball would be a low-cost addition with his $21 million contract.
In order to acquire Ball, the Thunder would have to put guards such as Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace in a trade package. Other Oklahoma City players that could be dealt in order to acquire Ball would be Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
The Thunder have a plethora of future draft picks that they could include in any proposed deal. That would become very attractive for the Bulls, who are rebuilding and looking for any additional future draft picks they can get.
The addition of Ball would help push the pace just a little for Oklahoma City, who could use more points in transition. He is also a great defender that can defend opposing guards and even smaller forwards on the wing. Like Buckley mentioned, it adds offense, without sacrificing the defense. Honestly, it’s an improvement on both sides. Not to mention, his unselfish style of play would fit well under Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s system.
If Ball can get a fresh start with a championship team, it be just the motivation he needs to get his health in order and compete for an NBA championship. The Thunder adding him to their young nucleus would put them all in a better position to win.
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