LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: The Lakers' Lonzo Ball #2 during their game against the Bulls at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan 15, 2019. The Lakers defeated the Bulls 100-107. (Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

Amidst all the trade rumors, Lakers guard Lonzo Ball has made it clear he’d prefer to be dealt to a large market, potentially the Knicks in New York.

In an attempt to control his own destiny, Lonzo Ball has expressed a desire to be shipped to the New York Knicks or Chicago Bulls should he find himself part of a trade over the next eight days according to the Los Angeles Times’ Tania Ganguli.

Ball has obviously been linked to the New Orleans Pelicans as a possible return for Anthony Davis, who was just recently made available after requesting a trade, but the point guard doesn’t see himself as much of a fit next to Jrue Holiday. New Orleans, however, views the former No. 2 overall pick quite differently as the perfect complement to Holiday, who thrives more as an off-ball threat.

Seeing as how both Ball and his camp continue to grow their independent Big Baller Brand, it would make sense for their only NBA presence to be stationed in a big-market city in order to obtain more exposure. New York and Chicago are two of the biggest media markets, while New Orleans is down near the bottom of the list.

Lonzo Ball would rather wind up in Chicago or New York than New Orleans, but the Pelicans see a great fit with the young point guard, sources told me and @BA_Turner. From last night: https://t.co/x8RjDCOCuF — Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) January 30, 2019

It’s very unlikely either the Knicks or the Bulls outright make a deal to acquire Ball. Rather, a deal would include both the Lakers and Pelicans, with say the Knicks sending out expiring contracts to make the deal legal.

Lonzo had been having an inconsistent first half of the season, although LeBron James’ absence in the month of January led to measures of improvement with 11.1 points, 7.0 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game shooting 36.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The former UCLA product has been out since Jan. 19 following a left ankle sprain suffered in the 3rd quarter against the Houston Rockets. He isn’t expected back for at least another month.