New Orleans Pelicans: Is Lonzo Ball worth $20 million a season?

Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans has been at the center of a number of rumors as the trade deadline approaches.

He has been linked to everyone from the Bulls, to the Knicks to the Clippers, though many pundits believe the New Orleans Pelicans could just keep him.

Both make sense, as Lonzo Ball is playing some of the best basketball of his career, but the Pelicans may feel it will be too costly to re-sign him long term.

More gas was poured on this fire when Sam Amick from the Athletic (SUBSCRIPTION ONLY) reported that Lonzo Ball will seek a deal that will pay him around $20 million per season.

With Brandon Ingram already on a max deal and Zion Williamson lurking, the Pelicans could decide that Lonzo Ball is just too expensive to keep and would then likely move him at the deadline.

There are certainly arguments for both, so let’s break it down, as well as look at some guys in that price range to see if Lonzo Ball is really worth it.

New Orleans Pelicans: Lonzo Ball’s fit with Zion Williamson

The biggest question when it comes to any personnel decision for the Pels is whether that player fits with Zion Williamson.

In the case of Lonzo Ball, the answer is yes. Lonzo has proven himself to be the type of 3-point shooter that Zion needs in the half court and Ball is one of the best in the league at creating in the fast break.

Lonzo has evolved into one of the best volume 3-point shooters in the league and should continue to get better. He is also a plus defender on the perimeter, which the Pelicans desperately need, so the answer is yes, he is a fit with Zion, but at what cost?

Let’s take a look at both sides of the argument for paying Lonzo Ball $20 million a season.