In a surprise move that kicks off their offseason activity, the Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guard Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for wing Isaac Okoro, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.
The trade represents both a calculated gamble and a strategic salary maneuver for the Cavaliers, who are working around the constraints of the NBA’s second apron under the new collective bargaining agreement.
Ball, 26, is still working his way back to full form after missing more than two years due to a lingering knee injury. He returned to the court late last season and averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, showcasing flashes of the playmaking and defensive awareness that once made him one of the most intriguing young guards in the league.
While his explosiveness is still recovering, Ball’s feel for the game and unselfish style could bring a fresh dynamic to a Cleveland offense that has often relied heavily on isolation scoring from Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
From a financial standpoint, Ball’s contract fits snugly into Cleveland’s current needs. He is owed $20 million over the next two seasons, slightly less than Okoro’s $21 million, allowing the Cavaliers to shave a small amount off their books while still acquiring a high-upside player with a significantly higher offensive IQ and proven floor-spacing ability when healthy.
For a team toeing the line of the second apron, every bit of savings matters, especially with a potential extension looming for Mitchell.
Isaac Okoro, meanwhile, heads to Chicago after an uneven run in Cleveland. Once touted as a defensive stopper with improving offensive skills, Okoro never quite found a consistent role in the Cavs’ evolving rotation.
He averaged 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game in 2024–25, and while his three-point shooting showed minor improvement, it never reached the consistency needed to justify a long-term investment. For the Bulls, Okoro provides a younger, healthier, and lower-pressure wing option who can guard multiple positions and still has some room to grow at only 23 years old.
For Cleveland, this move isn’t just about saving money — it’s about maximizing the current championship window. The Cavs went 64-18 during the 2024–25 regular season, finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. But their promising campaign ended in heartbreak, as they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the second round, with multiple starters sidelined due to injury. It was a bitter ending for a team that many saw as a title favorite.
Adding Lonzo Ball to the mix gives Cleveland a better shot at sustaining offensive rhythm even when Garland or Mitchell are off the floor. If Ball can regain even 80% of his pre-injury form, the version that averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and nearly 2 steals with Chicago, the Cavaliers may have just pulled off one of the savviest low-risk, high-reward moves of the summer.
It’s a quiet, under-the-radar deal now. But come playoff time, it might be the one that helps Cleveland finally take that next step.
