Aug 2, 2021 Lonzo Ball entered free agency as the most desirable restricted free agent who could presumably be had. The Chicago Bulls wasted no time acquiring him via a sign-and-trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple and a second-round pick. Ball’s new contract will pay him $85 million over the next four seasons, an acceptable number that could even be a steal if his outside shooting continues to improve. (He made 37.8% of the 8.3 threes launched per game last year.) The Bulls telegraphed their desire to win at last year’s trade deadline when they dealt Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter and two first-round picks for Nikola Vucevic, a two-time All-Star who naturally complemented their own franchise player, Zach LaVine. Ball isn’t good enough to slide in as the third piece in anybody’s Big 3, but his on-court fit, age and cost is a nice complement beside Chicago’s two best players as the organization tries to build itself into a competent playoff team.