Start the Rumor Mill: L.A. Reunion Makes Sense for Former Lakers Star

The Los Angeles Lakers are making headlines again. The team has been linked to pretty much every rumor in the regular season. This time we are talking about a potential reunion with a former Lakers star.

What about Lonzo Ball? The Lakers sent the young player to the New Orleans Pelicans to get Anthony Davis. The front office added Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram to the same package. Davis was the right player to join the Lakers and he helped the team win a title in his first season. LeBron James and AD work really well together.

Let’s go back to Ball. Brian Windhorst from ESPN said Ball is the perfect sign-and-trade candidate. His current team played Zion Williamson more at point guard in the last few weeks.

“He’s been so strong that I question whether or not the Pelicans are going to try to keep Lonzo Ball, because Lonzo’s played pretty well with him,” Windhorst explained on The Hoop Collective podcast. “Lonzo has had a good year off the ball, but Lonzo was available in trade talks. They didn’t find a trade, but there’s a possibility he could be a sign-and-trade candidate this summer, because their point guard of the future might be Zion, and it may be about finding guys who fit alongside that concept. Not that Lonzo doesn’t, Lonzo is shooting much better, like 38% on three, but they may have to build their team around point-Zion.”

A reunion with the former Lakers star

Ball is a restricted free agent and the Pelicans will be able to match offers from other NBA teams. The franchise may be reluctant to do that. Lakers players may soon reunite with Ball. They selected him with the No.2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

The Lakers are well over the salary cap going into the 2021-22 season. They won’t get Ball right now. Is Ball willing to reunite with the Lakers?

Sam Amick from The Athletic reported Ball will seek a $20 million annual salary.

“The Pelicans’ willingness to discuss Lonzo has everything to do with his own market,” Amick noted. “That’s a common thread here: It’s not that the team doesn’t like the player, but it may not like him at the price that is likely forthcoming in free agency. To that end, one source who has discussed the Lonzo dynamics with New Orleans said the 23-year-old guard is hoping to make approximately $20 million annually on his next deal (he’s a restricted free agent this offseason).”