Pelicans: Where does Lonzo Ball rank among NBA free agents?
The biggest decision the New Orleans Pelicans will have to make this offseason is what to do with restricted free agent Lonzo Ball.
He is reportedly seeking for a $20 million per season contract and all indications are that he wants to stay with the Pelicans, so if they think he is worth that, a deal can and probably will get done. The Pelicans can match any offer, so unless some team like the Knicks or Bulls gets crazy, the Pels will at least have a chance to retain him.
The 2021 NBA free agent class is a pretty good one and has at least 20 impact players who could potentially hit the market.
Related Story. 4 glaring holes to fix this offseason. light
Even though this free agent class is deep, there will still be competition for Lonzo Ball’s services, as he is one of the better free agents in this group.
Here’s a look at where Lonzo Ball stands against a few different pairs of NBA free agents.
Pelicans: Where does free-agent Lonzo Ball stand among shooters?
Lonzo Ball came into the league with a questionable shot that has now become one of his strengths. He has evolved into one of the best volume 3-point shooters in the NBA, hitting 37.8 percent on 8.3 attempts per game.
So where does Lonzo stand among the shooters?
Duncan Robinson- Miami Heat
Duncan Robinson is also a restricted free agent and is considered one of the best shooters in the NBA, but he was only marginally better than Lonzo, hitting 40 percent of his shots on 8.5 attempts per game.
Lonzo also adds rebounding, playmaking and defense, and could lead the league in steals one day, so he is a much better all-around player who ranks higher as a free agent than Robinson.
Tim Hardaway Jr.- Dallas Mavericks
Hardaway Jr. is having a great season for the Mavs, averaging 16.6 points and shooting 39 percent from long range on 7.6 attempts per game.
He is similar to Robinson in that he is a better shooter than Lonzo, but not by much, and doesn’t bring as much to the table as a playmaker, rebounder or defender.
Both Robinson and Hardaway Jr. are in or near the top-ten free agents this offseason, and Lonzo Ball should be ranked above them. which at least puts him in the top ten.