Is Josh Giddey acquisition the end for Lonzo Ball in Chicago?

Lonzo Ball has missed the last two seasons due to a knee injury. He has only played in 35 games for the Chicago Bulls since signing a four-year $80 million deal in 2021 and is entering the final year of that contract in the upcoming season.

However, the Bulls appear to have found a replacement for Ball, acquiring Josh Giddey and sending Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder. During a recent appearance on Sirius XM NBA Radio, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan discussed the similarities between Ball and Giddey.

"If think if you go back to when Lonzo Ball was first healthy, we played a lot faster and maybe a lot different," Donovan said. "...Hopefully, we can get Lonzo back. He's moving closer and closer to playing, which is a positive. I think he's a guy that everyone enjoys playing with. I think the same can be said for Josh. He's kind of a pass-first guy. Really good advance passing. Getting it up the floor, I think will allow us to play faster than we have in the last couple of years."

Giddey is entering his fourth NBA season and has flashed a high-level skillset on both sides of the ball. There are clear similarities between his game and Ball's.

Meanwhile, Ball's two-year absence will likely hinder his ability to hit the ground running. Even if he's healthy, it could be Giddey who handles the starting ball-handler role with Ball coming off the bench.

If Ball can't rediscover the level of perimeter defense he showed during his time with the New Orleans Pelicans, this could be his last season in the Windy City. Giddey is younger, has All-Star upside and doesn't have a serious injury history to worry about. If he can help galvanize Chicago's roster, Ball's position within the rotation will likely be surplus to requirements.

Chicago will likely struggle to find any teams interested in adding the veteran ball-handler this season considering his injury history and contract. Instead, the Bulls may need to let him walk next summer. However, if he hits the ground running, he could rebuild some of his value and emerge as a trade candidate at the deadline.

Nevertheless, Giddey's arrival in Chicago has likely put a time limit on Ball's tenure with the franchise. The Bulls are entering a rebuild and Giddey's age and skillset make more sense for the franchise. As such, Ball needs to prove he can still be a reliable contributor at the NBA level and accept that he may need to look for a new team to call home.