The Knicks have been craving a star point guard for years, and have been dealt a harsh reminder of that need in recent nights, falling in close games to Kyrie Irving and the Nets and Ben Simmons and the 76ers in consecutive nights.
New York made a short-term upgrade by trading for Derrick Rose earlier this season, though Rose is still out due to COVID-19 protocols, but could Lonzo Ball present a long-term solution and finally give the Knicks a young, impact point guard?
If the Knicks feel enticed to pursue Ball, there could be mutual interest.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks would be “heavily on Ball’s radar” should the 23-year-old become a restricted free agent this summer. Per Berman, the Pelicans, who declined to give Ball a rookie contract extension prior to the December deadline, may be reluctant to offer Ball big money this offseason due to luxury tax concerns, leaving the door open for the Knicks to put up a better offer.
New York’s point guard situation has been a problem in recent games with Rose out. Frank Ntilikina’s offensive game has plummeted of late, while Elfrid Payton has been out with a hamstring strain.
Ball would certainly provide a boost at the position, as he’s put together the best season of his career so far, averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 assists per game, while shooting a career-best 42.6 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from downtown.
The Knicks struck out in their quest to sign a superstar point guard in Irving two summers ago, and while Ball isn’t on the same level, he would represent a big addition to an upstart roster with playoff hopes in the near future.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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