Bulls land Lonzo Ball in sign-and-trade two years in the makingJoe Cowleyon August 2, 2021 at 10:29 pm

The old Bulls regime dropped the Ball back in 2019, only kicking the tires on acquiring then-Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball.

With the start of free agency on Monday, the new regime wasted no time getting it done.

The Sun-Times confirmed that the Bulls acquired Lonzo Ball in a sign-and-trade for four years, $85 million, giving them a play-making point guard they have desired for years.

Almost two years in the making.

Back in April of 2019, general manager Gar Forman and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson had made inquiries to the Lakers about Ball, after Ball’s camp leaked that the point guard wanted out of Los Angeles and the Bulls were one of a handful of team’s on his wish list.

Fast forward a few seasons and to a different regime, but the Bulls – and new executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas – then tried acquiring Ball at the trade deadline. When draft compensation couldn’t be agreed on, the Bulls went elsewhere and acquired Nikola Vucevic.

But Ball was always in the plans, especially with how well he fits with a Bulls roster also needing perimeter defenders in the starting lineup.

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