The Chicago Bulls face another offseason riddled with uncertainties and lacking clear solutions, including what course of action to take with Lonzo Ball. A suggested trade proposed by Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report presents a potential resolution.”With uncertainties surrounding DeMar DeRozan’s free agency, Barnes could fill a crucial role as a versatile forward capable of providing stability on both ends of the court. If the Bulls are wary of risking another season without Ball, especially considering his impending free agency in 2025, acquiring Barnes in a straightforward swap could prove prudent,” Hughes explains.
Barnes, having secured an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 and subsequently reaching the NBA Finals again in 2016, hasn’t reached similar heights since departing the Warriors. Nevertheless, he continues to command significant compensation, entering the second year of a lucrative three-year, $54 million contract as the 2024-25 season approaches.
As for Lonzo Ball, he hasn’t seen action in the NBA since January 2022, and details regarding his return timeline remain vague. However, Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas provided an update on Ball’s progress during an April 20 press conference:”We’re closely monitoring his development over the next few months,” Karnisovas shared with reporters, according to Ryan Taylor of Yahoo Sports. “He’s making positive strides, showing no setbacks. We’ll assess his condition further in the coming months.”Karnisovas emphasized Ball’s physical improvement while indicating that the team would continue to evaluate his progress.
“He’s making progress,” Karnisovas reiterated. “We’ll reassess his situation in the next few months. So far, there haven’t been any setbacks, and we’ll monitor both his on-court progress and his overall basketball development.”Before his injury sidelined him indefinitely, Ball had demonstrated his value to the Bulls, averaging 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game while shooting an impressive 42.3% from three-point range across 35 games.
Head coach Billy Donovan also provided insights into Ball’s recovery progress before Karnisovas’ remarks, describing it as promising:”He’s begun running, and some of the workouts have been very positive in terms of running, cutting, and jumping. He’s responded well to those activities,” Donovan noted, as reported by Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune on March 9. “From what I’ve seen, he looks good in motion.”Ball’s potential return could significantly impact the Bulls’ fortunes, as they posted a 27-13 record before his injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Since then, they’ve struggled to find their footing, remaining in a state of uncertainty.