Report: Suns ‘reached out’ to act as third team in potential Lonzo Ball deal
Feb 5, 2019, 8:18 PM
Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (2) brings the ball up court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Phoenix Suns reached out to the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers to act as the third team in a potential Anthony Davis deal involving Lonzo Ball, the Los Angeles Times’ Tania Ganguli and Brad Turner reported Monday.
Among the Ball camp’s preferred destinations, Phoenix reciprocates the interest. The Suns have reached out to the Lakers and Pelicans and made clear their interest in joining the trade as a third team, according to a person familiar with their conversations who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The latest reports of the talks between the Lakers and Pelicans on Tuesday were that Los Angeles was unwilling to continue sending trade offers to New Orleans, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
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Turner reports the Lakers have pulled out of the trade talks, citing “outrageous” requests made by the Pelicans in exchange for Davis. In the latest offer, Ball was included along with nearly half of the Lakers’ roster and draft picks.
It was reported on Thursday by Ganguli there was “mutual interest” between the Suns and Ball. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Ball would want to be moved to a third team that “doesn’t have an established point guard” if he were to be included in a potential Davis deal.
Ball’s father, LaVar, joined 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Doug & Wolf on Tuesday to further clarify his remarks on Monday that Phoenix was the best fit for Ball. That included a pitch for all three of his sons to join the Suns.
“Even if my son goes to New Orleans, you can’t make him play,” LaVar Ball said. “Phoenix, they might have a chance to get all three of my boys and win these championships and understand what winning is about. But I need all three of my boys on the court ’cause that’s 60 percent of the team that’s in to winning and not worried about how much money they’re going to make.
“It’s time for something new. The Ball boys.”
In his second season with the Lakers, Ball is averaging 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.4 assist a game. As a rookie, Ball made the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team.
Ball was selected No. 2 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, two spots ahead of the Suns’ fourth overall pick Josh Jackson.
The NBA’s trade deadline is at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
