The Cavaliers are taking a chance on Lonzo Ball — and the 27-year-old guard, whose career has been derailed by injuries, will get a fresh start.
They sent guard Isaac Okoro to the Bulls, according to ESPN, in exchange for Ball, who appeared in 35 games last season after missing the previous two years due to a knee injury.
Ball, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, started his career with the Lakers before stints with the Pelicans and Chicago, and during that time, he dealt with multiple injuries — forcing him to navigate a gruelling path back to the Bulls’ line-up.
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“To make a long story short: Ultimately, it started with a meniscus tear, basically started on the Lakers when I tore it the first time,” Ball said during a May 2024 episode of the “What An Experience” podcast. “[I] tore it a couple more times to a point to where there was no more meniscus left, bone on bone was rubbing. So the cartilage was gone and the bone was messed up.
“So I had to get a new meniscus from a donor, I had to get a bone allograft, and I had to get some new cartilage put in as well. All that healed up and now I’m back on the court.”
FILE - Chicago Bulls' Lonzo Ball (2) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro (35) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Dec. 8, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
FILE - Chicago Bulls' Lonzo Ball (2) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro (35) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Dec. 8, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)Source: AP
He played in the Bulls’ season opener in October 2024, collected five points in just over 13 minutes and averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, but he didn’t appear in a game after Feb. 28 due to a wrist injury.
Okoro, a 24-year-old and former first-round pick, started 22 games and appeared in 55 during the regular season last year for the Cavaliers, averaging 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Ball’s departure clears the way for Australia’s Josh Giddey to be completely running the show in Chicago.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 30: Coby White #0, Josh Giddey #3, Ayo Dosunmu #12, Zach LaVine #8 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Chicago Bulls pose for a photo during Chicago Bulls Media Day at Advocate Center on September 30, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 30: Coby White #0, Josh Giddey #3, Ayo Dosunmu #12, Zach LaVine #8 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Chicago Bulls pose for a photo during Chicago Bulls Media Day at Advocate Center on September 30, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
But Ball’s arrival in Cleveland may limit the immediate impact Australian guard Tyrese Proctor will be able to make in his maiden season after being taken by the Cavaliers at pick 49 in this week’s NBA draft following his college career at Duke.
The Cavaliers earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference before falling to the Pacers in the second round, and with Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton both likely missing all of next season with torn Achilles tendons, Cleveland will remain a contender to reach the NBA Finals.
And they’re taking a risk on Ball as a piece to help them reach that point.