The Cavaliers aren’t expected to make a major splash this offseason with their core already in place, but championships are won around the edges — and Cleveland shored up one need with a deal on Saturday.
The Bulls sent guard Lonzo Ball to the Cavaliers in a one-for-one trade ahead of free agency, giving the former No. 2 pick a fresh start after completing a remarkable comeback from a long-term knee injury. The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move could signal that Cleveland expects to be priced out on free agent guard Ty Jerome, who had some standout moments for the franchise in the playoffs. While Ball comes with availability concerns after missing two full seasons and appearing in less than half of Chicago’s game last season, he could help fill the void left by Jerome.
Here are the details of the Cavaliers’ trade for Ball with their division rivals.
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Lonzo Ball trade details
The deal is a one-for-one swap with no draft picks involved, Charania reported.
Cavaliers receive:
Bulls receive
The Cavaliers sent former No. 5 pick Isaac Okoro to the Bulls, cutting ties with a player who offered promise on the defensive end but never progressed on the offensive end. While he started a majority of games over his five seasons in Cleveland, Okoro saw his role decrease in 2024-25.
Okoro is under contract for two more seasons with a cap hit in the range of $11 million, while Ball will cost the Cavaliers $10 million in 2025-26 but can be cut loose after the season if Cleveland declines his team option.
The Cavaliers will likely have to be cautious with Ball, whose health is far from a guarantee, but the deal gives the former No. 2 pick the chance to play a key role for a contender after so much time away from the court. Okoro, meanwhile, will face stiff competition in Chicago with plenty of wings angling for minutes, but he has two seasons to prove himself before hitting free agency.
