The Chicago Bulls have traded Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In return, Isaac Okoro is coming to the Windy City.
This was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. No draft picks are involved in the transaction; it is a rare player-for-player trade. Ball was under contract in Chicago for a total of four years, two of which the point guard missed due to ongoing knee problems. During his first season with the Bulls, he also tore the meniscus in his left knee.
Last season, Ball played 35 games, averaging 7.6 points and 3.3 assists. In February, the Bulls rewarded him with a two-year contract extension worth a total of $20 million.
In Cleveland, Ball is likely to be slotted in as backup guard behind Darius Garland. Ty Jerome did a great job in that role last season, but the 27-year-old is a free agent and likely to be too expensive for the Cavs.
Ball becomes Garland’s backup
In return, the Cavs parted ways with Okoro, whom they selected with the fifth pick in the 2020 draft. However, the defensive specialist never developed an offensive game in his five years in Cleveland and fell completely out of the rotation in February after injuring his shoulder. As a result, the wing player averaged only 19 minutes on the court, scoring 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
There will likely be more playing time available in Chicago, as the Bulls are looking to get younger and more athletic. This was also evident in the draft, where they selected Noa Essengue from ratiopharm Ulm with the twelfth pick.
