One day after The Post reported Lonzo Ball would have the Knicks on his radar as a restricted free agent, LaVar Ball joined the fray, saying he’d like to see his son dealt by the March 25 deadline because he’s not a fit in New Orleans.
“I don’t know what [the Pelicans] are going to do. I hope he’s traded, though,” the controversial father said on Los Angeles radio Thursday. “I don’t like watching the way that he’s playing. … He can’t stay in New Orleans. C’mon man.’’
Ball said his ever-improving son doesn’t mesh with the talent there and isn’t being used properly as a playmaker. The Pelicans have to decide whether to trade Ball before the deadline, with the possibility of him receiving another offer too rich for their blood in the offseason.
The Post reported in Thursday’s editions Knicks president Leon Rose, his former agent, has Ball high on his list. The Knicks lack pass-first point guards.
“Lonzo has always been a playmaker,’’ the elder Ball said. “Why are you trying to change him into a defensive specialist to stay in the corner and shoot 3s? And you’re trying to change Zion [Williamson] and Brandon Ingram, who all throughout their career have never been playmakers? They’re scorers. Now you want to put the ball in their hand? C’mon man.
“[Williamson and Ingram] went to Duke and they weren’t playmakers. So now you’re in the league you’re a playmaker? Go score the ball and do what you do.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks told The Post he didn’t think the Pelicans would match an offer more than $18 million per year. The Pelicans historically are leery of luxury-tax implications and drafted point guard Kira Lewis in the lottery.
The Pelicans are coached by Stan Van Gundy, a close friend of Tom Thibodeau’s.
