Lonzo Ball Says He Hopes The Hawks Get Worse With The No. 1 Draft Pick

The clip went viral online, mostly because the statement came out of nowhere. After landing the No. 1 pick this summer, the Hawks have a chance to make a major addition but there's no reason why Lonzo should have it out for them specifically, especially since he has no personal ties to the organization.

While Lonzo's brothers LaMelo and LiAngelo have both played for teams in the area (the Hornets and Greensboro Swarm) they have no connection to the Hawks and no reason to hold a grudge.

On social media, many fans felt the same way and most of them did not support Ball's random jab at the franchise. The truth is, for a guy who hasn't played since 2022, it might not be the best time to speak so harshly on the competition in front of a national audience.

Even worse for Ball is that the Bulls have been suffering in his absence. After several disappointing campaigns, the Bulls hit rock bottom this season when Zach LaVine tried to force his way out. Now, with the future in doubt, Lonzo's place on the Bulls is very much in question and some of his comments could come back to haunt him if he's not careful.

While Zo is set to finally return sometime next season, there are still some steps to be taken and he still has a lot to prove before anyone is confident that he can fully recover. Whatever his deal is with the Hawks, it might be better to focus on the Bulls for now until they can turn their situation around.

A Critical Summer For The Hawks

Despite not making the playoffs this season, the Hawks have a path to becoming a more serious threat in the East. With several assets to work with, including Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela, and Saddiq Bey, the Hawks already have a solid foundation from which to center their rebuild.

After landing the No. 1 pick this summer, they have another way of adding talent. Whether they draft Alexandre Sarr in the first round or trade the pick to acquire a high-profile star, the Hawks have some options on the table and they are expected to think long and hard about their next move.

Now that the Trae Young and Dejounte Murray backcourt is considered mostly unsalvageable, the Hawks are likely to trade at least one of them over the next few months and it will only further shake up the roster.

Of course, since this draft is considered to be one of the weakest in modern times, the Hawks may not land the franchise-altering star that is expected with most lottery picks but they can still take a step up the East, which is bad news for Lonzo, the Bulls, and any other team who stands in their way.