data-mm-id=”_cija30rza”>The New Orleans Pelicans didn't give Lonzo Ball a contract extension before Monday's deadline, which means he'll be a restricted free agent this offseason. Without a contract in hand for next year, the 23-year-old point guard will need to earn his next payday this season. Ball's career is now officially in his own hands. There will be no agreement on a rookie extension for Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. Ball will become a restricted free agent next summer. Both sides remain positive about the ability to move forward together, Paul tells ESPN.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020The Pelicans landed Ball from the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to LA before last season. During his first campaign in New Orleans, Ball averaged 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.0 assists in 32.1 minutes per game. He also shot a career-high 37.5 percent from three-point range. His shooting woes persisted in other areas though, as he hit only 40.3 percent of his shots from the field and 56.6 percent of his free throws. Ball has tantalizing skills that need to be rounded into form. He possesses a remarkably high basketball IQ and a nose for the ball. He's an excellent rebounder for a point guard, is a great ball-handler and he's already one of the NBA's best passers. Ball is also a much better defender than he was projected to be coming out of UCLA. But in an evolving league where efficiency is prized above all else, he needs to make shots at a better clip. In two preseason games, Ball's shot has looked much improved. His release appears to be more straight than the cross-body action he used early in his career. He's even made a few midrange jumpers, which was unthinkable until recently. Ball has constantly tweaked and tinkered with his form and release since the Lakers drafted him with the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Hopefully he's finally dialed something in that will work.Ball won't be asked to shoulder much of the scoring load for the Pelicans. With Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Eric Bledsoe and J.J. Redick on the roster, Ball's role will continue to be that of a table-setter. But when he's open he'll need to knock down shots to keep the floor spread for the team's primary scorers.When he being scouted before the 2017 draft, Ball drew comparisons to Jason Kidd. They were both all-around guards with great vision who struggled to shoot consistently. But Kidd could simply do more offensively than Ball has early in his career. That needs to change. Kidd was a threat to score when he had the ball in his hands, while Ball has never averaged more than 12 points per game. He'll need to find ways to score more this season if he wants to get paid like a star. On Monday, Ball watched as many his draft classmates were locked up to big-money contract extensions, while the Pelicans passed on giving him one. That had to sting for a guy who was so hyped entering the NBA. This season will be his chance to prove New Orleans made a mistake.
Related Posts
Marcelo Gallardo has confirmed he will remain as River Plate head coach for another year after considering his future with the club.
Gallardo become one of the most highly touted young coaches in global football after masterminding River s 2015 Copa Libertadores triumph and the former Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker has been linked with the likes of Atletico Madrid.
Following last week s thrilling 4-3 Copa Argentina final triumph over Rosario Central, which secured a return to the Libertadores next year, the 40-year-old said he would mull over his options.
And Gallardo, who enjoyed three stints with River during his playing days, told a news conference on Wednesday he would leave this lengthy association intact for the time being.
I ll stay anot…
Patrick Vieira is unsure over the futures of Mario Balotelli and Alassane Plea at Nice after the duo were absent for the new coach s first day on the job.
The Nice squad reported back for pre-season training on Monday under the guidance of Vieira, who left New York City FC to take over at the Ligue 1 club.
However, forwards Balotelli and Plea who both reached double figures for league goals in 2017-18 failed to show up.
The pair have been the subject of transfer speculation since the end of the campaign; domestic rivals Marseille are reportedly keen on Balotelli, while Plea is attracting interest from a number of Premier League sides.
I have no information regarding them as it was not planned, Vieira who was placed in charge after Lucien Favr…
Best odds: 13/20
Bookmaker:
Coming back to the venue where their hopes for a Premier League title were shattered in the previous season, Arsenal will face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday night.
Last weekend, the Gunners regained their winning form and goal-scoring prowess by defeating Crystal Palace 5-0. In contrast, Nuno Espirito Santo s team had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Bristol City in Friday s FA Cup match.
Nottingham Forest
Taiwo Awoniyi s goal crushed Arsenal s hopes of achieving Premier League stardom once and for all last season. Simultaneously, it secured Nottingham Forest a spot in the top flight for the second consecutive year. However, a third straight season of top-flight football is far from guaranteed at this point.…
In the next week and a half crucial World Cup qualifiers will take place all around the globe. World Champions Italy will qualify for next years competition held in South Africa with a victory over the Republic of Ireland at Croke Park.
They are currently four points ahead of Ireland with just two games remaining. Italy have been lucky that they were in a relatively weak group. The World Champions will face a much tougher challenge in South Africa next year.
Looking stale and old
The World Champions have looked less than impressive in recent months. Their performance in the Confederations Cup was embarrassing. They looked stale and out of ideas. The team has lots of experience but at the moment what they really lack is creativity and vision.
They do not …
Manchester City winger Jesus Navas is delighted by Sevilla s progress ahead of Wednesday s Champions League reunion with his former club.
Navas swapped the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan for the Etihad Stadium ahead of the 2013-14 season, having twice won the Europa League under its former guise of the UEFA Cup.
Sevilla followed those triumphs with two more in 2014 and 2015 – last season s glory lifting them into the Champions League this time around.
I am very happy, seeing them grow year on year, keep doing well and now enjoying the Champions League – where they ll get to know themselves better, Navas told Omnisport.
It pleases me a lot. I watch their matches on television.
Sevilla and City have three points a piece, having beaten Borussia Mo…
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte could reluctantly allow goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to leave the club during the January transfer window.
Begovic has served as a back-up keeper at Stamford Bridge since arriving from Stoke City in 2015, with Thibaut Courtois having established himself as the club s first choice.
Reports on Friday suggested Bournemouth had seen a £10million bid for the Bosnia-Herzegovina international turned down.
But, while Conte concedes he would prefer Begovic to remain at the club, he also says an offer is still under consideration.
I want to say Asmir is an important player on and off the pitch. He knows this, Conte told a news conference ahead of Sunday s Premier League clash with Hull City.
There is this offer. Me and the clu…
What the papers say
Tottenham are determined to hold on to England captain Harry Kane, according to the Daily Mirror, despite him approaching the final year of his contract. Manchester United have been leading the chase to sign the 29-year-old striker.
Another England player is in Manchester United’s sights as they look for a possible replacement for goalkeeper David de Gea, 32. The Daily Mirror reports they are preparing a move for Jordan Pickford, 29, from Everton.
Bayer Leverkusen’s 23-year-old winger Moussa Diaby has emerged as a possible summer target for Arsenal, according to the Standard. The French international has also been linked with Newcastle and Paris St Germain.
Striker Romelu Lukaku, who turns 30 on Saturday, will return to Chelsea for pre-se…
Rangers trounced Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox as Michael Beale enjoyed his first win over the Hoops as Gers manager.
Midfielder Todd Cantwell fired the home side into the lead after five breathless minutes before returning defender John Souttar headed in his first Light Blues goal from a corner on 34 minutes.
Attacker Fashion Sakala made it 3-0 in the 70th minute to clinch a convincing victory over the below-par cinch Premiership champions.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC)
It was Beale’s first success in five attempts against the Parkhead side since taking over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst last November and it ended Celtic’s 34-game unbeaten domestic run – although Ange Postecoglou’s side remain on course for a domestic treble, with the S…
Borussia Dortmund are weighing up a move for Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia, according to Sky Italia.
The Millionaires are hoping to sign a replacement for long-term casualty Neven Subotic and they seem to have made the Italy international their number one target.
The good news is that Inter are prepared to cash in on the stopper in the January window with their asking price being €16 million.
Nevertheless, Sky Italia understands that the Nerazzurri would probably settle for a transfer fee in the region of €12 million.
Andrea Ranocchia joined Inter from Genoa in January 2011 and has since featured in 74 Serie A matches for the club.
He has made a total of 14 league appearances this season, scoring 1 goal in the process, but it appears …
Southampton have announced the release of six first-team players, including Artur Boruc and Jos Hooiveld.
Goalkeeper Boruc joined the Premier League club in September 2012, but fell down the pecking order following the arrival of Fraser Forster.
The Poland international spent the majority of the campaign on loan with Bournemouth promoted as champions from the Championship and his release could pave the way for a permanent switch to Dean Court.
Hooiveld has also found himself out of favour at St Mary s Stadium this term and has been shipped out on loan to both Norwich City and Millwall during 2014-15.
Jake Sinclair, Cody Cropper, Omar Rowe and Chris Johns have also been released by the club.
…