NBA Rumors: Clippers Eyeing Lonzo Ball As 2021 Trade Deadline Approaches

The Los Angeles Clippers are looking for point guard help with less than a week left until the 2021 NBA trade deadline. With their eyes on knocking off the defending champs in the Western Conference, the Clippers are reportedly targeting a former Laker.

The Clippers are “exploring trade routes” that would allow them to acquire Lonzo Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell The New York Times’ Marc Stein. It would be difficult for the Clippers to pull off such a move, considering the team doesn’t have a first-round pick that it can trade.

Los Angeles would likely have to get a third team involved in hopes of presenting New Orleans with an acceptable offer.

Ball is no stranger to trade rumors. The Lakers sent the 23-year-old to New Orleans in 2019 as part of the Anthony Davis trade. There were reports earlier this season that the Pelicans might be open to trading Ball, though New Orleans seems less likely to trade the guard now, according to reports.

In the final year of his rookie contract, Ball is having the best season of his young NBA career. The point guard is averaging a career-high 14.2 points to go along with 5.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

Once a poor shooter, Ball has excelled from 3-point range. Ball is making 38.5% of his 7.8 attempts per game from behind the arc. He’s been a more prolific shooter than the likes of Trae Young and Pelicans teammate Brandon Ingram.

The New York Knicks have also been linked to Ball.

The Pelicans are a candidate to be a seller next week. New Orleans is five games out of the No.8 seed and three games out of the final spot in this year’s play-in tournament.

While Kawhi Leonard and Paul George continue to perform like two of the NBA’s best players, the Clippers have struggled in the backcourt. Patrick Beverley has missed time with an injury. Point guard Reggie Jackson is only averaging 8.8 points and 2.9 assists per game.

The Clippers are viewed as the second favorite in the West behind the Lakers. The Lakers were ousted in the second round of last year’s playoffs in embarrassing fashion, blowing a 3-1 series lead.