Lonzo Ball has been the crutch Arturas Karnisovas has been leaning on to get through this underwhelming start to the season. Lonzo Ball is considered the key to the engine who can run the Bulls’ offense well enough to launch them into a serious contender category of the playoffs. Unfortunately, he’s only played 35 games for the Bulls after signing an $80 million deal over four years in the summer of 2021. To make matters worse, the Bulls were stripped of a second-round pick after being found guilty of tampering before signing Ball.

More than anything, Lonzo Ball’s ability to initiate the offense with two iso-heavy players on the roster has been the most impressive part of his game. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are both guilty of taking advantage of the situation by completely removing themselves from the offense and trying to score one-on-one at any chance.

Although it is a short sample size, Lonzo Ball put together an All-Star caliber season by shooting 43% from behind the arc and being the best perimeter defender the Bulls have seen since the Michael Jordan and Ron Harper days. Lonzo Ball’s infectious effort on the defensive end helped the Bulls rank among the top teams in the NBA, which was a big reason they had the top seed in the east headed into last year’s All-Star break. Since his absence, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, and Coby White have been tasked with running the point guard position. While it’s obvious they miss Lonzo Ball’s intelligence on the court, those three guards have held the ship together and have made Lonzo Ball potentially expendable.

“In a recent trade speculation piece, NBA Analysis Network constructed a deal to send Ball to the Houston Rockets. In exchange, the Bulls would receive Eric Gordon and a 2023 first-round pick (MIL via HOU)” via sports illustrated’s grant afseth

Does This Trade Work For The Bulls?

This move could be seen as a significant relief by acquiring a first-round pick and getting dead-weight money off the books in one transaction. It doesn’t hurt to add a three-point sniper in Eric Gordon, who fits the timeline of DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic and could help the Bulls spread the floor. Conversely, Lonzo Ball could be seen as a rare talent in today’s NBA. The Bulls would be selling at the lowest point of his value. If Ball does make a recovery and can play at least 70% of the remainder of his contract, the Bulls would be making a significant mistake.

The Bulls also have a loaded backcourt heading into the trade deadline. With Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu in the rotation when they’re all healthy, the Bulls need to figure out their plan once Lonzo Ball is ready to return. Ayo Dosunmu is already up for an extension, and Coby White will also be testing free agency. The Bulls need to decide if this current combination without Lonzo Ball is working to make this trade.

Does This Trade Work For The Rockets?

Yes. It’s that simple. The Rockets took a king’s ransom when trading away James Harden to the Nets. With a nice young core built around Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jabari Smith Jr., they’re missing an uptempo-style point guard that fits the description of Lonzo Ball. The risk to reward is there for the Rockets, without a doubt. If Lonzo Ball isn’t able to stay healthy for the remainder of his contract, they can move on and continue to build through the draft with their arsenal of picks. If he figures out a way to fix his knee issues, the Rockets will take a significant leap in their conference.