"I would have traded myself for Anthony Davis": Lonzo Ball's hilarious response after Lakers traded him for former Pelicans big
When Lonzo Ball was drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017, he was touted to be one of the next legends of the proud franchise. Then-president and Lakers legend Magic Johnson even expressed that his jersey would be in the rafters one day.
But two seasons later, the Lakers packaged Ball alongside other young stars in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis. Ball played two years with the Pelicans before signing with the Chicago Bulls in 2021. There he became an instant impact player for the team on both ends of the floor.
In an episode of The WAE Show, Ball looked back at the Lakers-Pelicans trade in 2019 and how he reacted to the deal.
“That’s the first time I realized that this is really a business. It’s Anthony Davis. I mean, to be fair, a part of me was like, I would have traded myself for Anthony Davis,” said Lonzo Ball.
The trade involved Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, three first-round picks, and Lonzo Ball, who grew up in L.A., for Davis, who then partnered with LeBron James to help the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship.
When asked about what it was like dealing with the trade from a player’s perspective, Ball had a stoic answer amidst the unpredictable nature of the NBA.
“There was never a time that I was traded or a move was made and I’m like I knew it was going to happen. You just got to expect it to come, and if it come, it comes, and if it don’t, it don’t,” said Ball. “Either way, I’m in the NBA, regardless.”
Ball has dealt with injuries for most of his six seasons in the NBA. His career-high for games played is just 64 games in the 2019-2020 season with the Pelicans.
Lonzo Ball nears end with the Chicago Bulls, per report
When the Chicago Bulls acquired Lonzo Ball via sign-and-trade, it was deemed a massive win for Chicago as they added star power to a team that also featured Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic.
However, due to injuries, Ball has not quite panned out for the Bulls after just playing 35 games in the last three seasons. Now, the acquisition of playmaker Josh Giddey may indicate Ball’s time with the Bulls is coming to an end.
In a report by The Athletic, Giddey’s arrival in Chicago clouds the Bulls' plans for Ball, who plays a similar game. In the same report written by their staff, a trade or buyout is increasingly likely for Ball.
Ball is expected to return after missing the last two full seasons with a knee injury. He last played an NBA game on January 12, 2022, over two and a half years ago.
The initial diagnosis was a meniscus tear for Ball, but numerous setbacks in his recovery forced him to go for two more surgeries on his knee.
Ball has opted into his $21.3 million player option for the 2024-2025 season, giving him one more season with the Bulls. Next year, he will officially be a free agent.