The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached an agreement to acquire guard Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls, according to sources familiar with the deal. The trade cannot be finalized until the new NBA league year begins on July 6th, as shared by an anonymous source to The Associated Press on Saturday.
Ball played in 35 games last season, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, after missing the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons due to a left knee injury. At 27 years old, Ball underwent meniscus and cartilage implantation surgery in March 2023, following two previous surgeries related to injuries sustained during his first year with Chicago in the 2021-22 season.
Selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 draft, Ball missed the last two months of the recent season due to a sprained right wrist. He is still under contract with team options extending through the 2026-27 season.
Cleveland is in need of a point guard due to Ty Jerome entering unrestricted free agency and the likelihood that Darius Garland might miss the start of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his left big toe earlier this month.
Last season, the Cavaliers posted the second-best NBA record at 64-18 but were ousted in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Indiana Pacers in five games.
Meanwhile, Okoro, known for his defensive prowess, averaged 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds last season and is an effective shooter from the perimeter. However, his playing time reduced as the season progressed, dropping to 14.2 minutes per game in the playoffs from 19.1 in the regular season. Okoro still has two years left on his contract.
— Report by Associated Press
Fan Take: This trade signals a strategic move by Cleveland to bolster their point guard position, which is vital for maintaining their recent success and pushing deeper into the playoffs. For basketball fans, it’s an exciting development that could shake up team dynamics and impact the competitive landscape in the NBA next season.
