Lonzo Ball has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Isaac Okoro heading to the Chicago Bulls in return. Ball looks to revive his career in Cleveland, while Okoro seeks a fresh start in Chicago after five seasons in Cleveland’s rotation.
The 2025 NBA offseason is already living up to the hype. On Saturday afternoon (June 28), the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a notable player-for-player trade, sending Lonzo Ball to Cleveland and Isaac Okoro to Chicago, as first reported by ESPN.
Points this season
Chicago Bulls
NBA
This marks a significant shift for both franchises, who are looking to reshape their backcourts ahead of the 2025–26 season. The swap gives each player a fresh opportunity after inconsistent seasons and shifting roles.
Lonzo Ball, now 27 years old (1.99m), joins his fourth NBA team after previous stops in Los Angeles (Lakers), New Orleans (Pelicans), and Chicago. After dealing with persistent injuries that kept him off the floor for two full seasons, Ball made a long-awaited return in 2024–25. He played in 35 regular-season games, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals in 22.1 minutes per game.
With Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell still in place, Ball could slide into a complementary or secondary ball-handling role, depending on how the roster evolves.
On the other side of the trade, 24-year-old Isaac Okoro (also 1.99m) heads to the Bulls after five seasons with the Cavaliers, who drafted him 5th overall in 2020. Known for his physical defense and improving offensive game, Okoro played in 64 games during the 2024–25 campaign, averaging 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 19.2 minutes per game.
With Zach LaVine's status uncertain and the Bulls retooling their roster, Okoro could see more minutes and a bigger role in Billy Donovan’s system.
The Ball–Okoro trade is the latest signal that teams are wasting no time adjusting their rosters. While neither player is considered a superstar, both bring valuable skill sets that could make a difference in the right setting.
For Ball, it's about proving he can stay healthy and contribute to a playoff contender. For Okoro, it's about taking the next step in his development with a new opportunity.
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