Lonzo: 'Chicago is the perfect place' for me

Lonzo Ball joined the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal earlier this month, and the guard couldn't be happier.

"(The Bulls) were the team that stood out that really wanted me for me," Ball said Friday. "I wanted to go somewhere I'm appreciated and can play my game. Chicago is the perfect place for that."

Ball's addition gives the Bulls a much-needed pass-first point guard. His ability to push the tempo should bolster a Chicago offense that finished 25th in transition points per game.

The 2017 No. 2 pick made important strides over two seasons with the Pelicans. Ball posted career highs in points (14.6 per game) and 3-point shooting (37.8%) across 55 appearances in 2020-21.

Ball's acquisition was just the first in a series of moves by the Bulls this summer. The club made a huge splash by landing four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade and inking former Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso to a four-year, $37-million deal.

"We're an exciting team, I can see the future, and we're a team that can go up and down and win basketball games," Ball said. "At the end of the day, I'm happy to be a Bull."