The Bulls trade Lonzo Ball to the Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro
The Chicago Bulls have finalized a trade that sends Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro, according to sources close to the situation.
Ball, 27, averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists this season.
Ball underwent a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023, after several procedures failed to fix an injury suffered during the 2021-22 season, his first in Chicago. He was sidelined since the beginning of March due to a sprain in his right wrist and played in 35 games this season, after missing the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
For the Cavaliers, the acquisition of Ball provides a fast-paced, defensively-minded point guard, standing at 6 feet 6 inches, as the franchise prepares to lose Ty Jerome in free agency.
The Cavaliers enter the 2025-26 season approximately 12 million dollars over the second salary cap, and with star and Defensive Player of the Year, Evan Mobley, receiving a 45 million dollar bonus on his rookie max contract, which makes Ball’s two-year, 20 million dollar contract, with a team option for 2026-27, more acceptable.
The Cavaliers’ president of basketball operations, Koby Altman, and his staff have been interested in Ball for months, inquiring about him at the February trade deadline and finally finalizing the deal this Saturday.
Additionally, free agent guard Sam Merrill intends to sign a four-year, $38 million contract to remain with the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland underwent surgery earlier this month to repair the left big toe injury that bothered him during the playoffs and is expected to miss between four and five months.
The Cavs said in a statement that they expect Garland to “fully recover and resume basketball activities at the start of training camp” in October. But Garland is likely to miss time at the start of the regular season.
The deal gives the Bulls a 3-and-D wing in Okoro, 24, who appeared in 55 games, averaging 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists. He is a 3-point shooter with a 35.1% career effectiveness.
