The very first move of the NBA free agency came from the Chicago Bulls as they agreed with Lonzo Ball on a four-year, $85 million deal. Ball comes to The Windy City as a part of a sign-and-trade agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans, ESPN reports.
Ball will join all-stars Zach Lavine and Nikola Vucevic on the Bulls. Backup guard Alex Caruso also joined the Bulls on a four-year, $37 million deal after a successful start to his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ball is joining the Bulls after averaging career highs in 3-point percentage (.378), field goal percentage (.414), free throw percentage (.781), true shooting percentage (.551), and points per game (14.6).
Kyle Lowry will leave his longtime home of the Toronto Raptors and is arriving in South Beach Miami to team with Jimmy Butler and the Miami HEAT. In addition to landing the NBA champion and star point guard, the HEAT has offered Jimmy Butler a max contract extension that would pay out $184 million across four years.
Big deals occurred across the league, including Mike Conley agreeing to a three-year, $72.5 million deal to re-sign with the Utah Jazz, Chris Paul signing a four-year, $120 million deal that will continue to tie him with the Phoenix Suns and the trio of Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza and Wayne Ellington making their returns to the Los Angeles Lakers, joining the newly acquired Russell Westbrook.
ESPN offers a full run of the free agency transactions here.
