Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start
with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls
[July 08, 2025]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Lonzo Ball doesn't have to worry
about rehabbing from a knee injury for the first time in a couple
seasons.
Instead, the veteran guard will use the offseason getting acclimated
to a new team.
Ball was at the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice complex meeting with
the medical staff and coaches on Monday after his trade from the
Chicago Bulls for forward Isaac Okoro was finalized on Sunday.
Chicago and Cleveland agreed to the trade on June 28, but it didn't
become official until the start of the new league year on Sunday.
“I think it’s a great situation for my play style,” Ball said. “Don
(Donovan Mitchell) is one of the best players we have in the league.
And they have two bigs that are mobile, can set pick-and-rolls and
get to the rim like that. And then do some switching on defense. I
think we can do a lot of different things on both sides of the ball,
and to have the option to be able to do those things is great.”
Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 35 games
this past season after missing the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns
because of a left knee injury. The 27-year old Ball underwent a
meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023
after two surgeries failed to fix an injury he suffered during his
first season in Chicago in 2021-22.
He missed the last two months of the season due to a sprained right
wrist, but was encouraged with the way his knee held up throughout
the season.
“After the games I didn’t really know what to expect. But, you know,
when I first got back versus Minnesota in that preseason game, I was
kind of surprised that I was moving around,” Ball said. “I feel like
I just got better as the year went on. Unfortunately, I had to deal
with my wrist, but as far as my knee was concerned, it was pretty
good.”
Ball, the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017
draft, has one year remaining on his contract with a team option for
the 2026-27 season.
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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)
Cleveland had a need at point guard after Ty Jerome
signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. Starter Darius Garland is likely
to miss the start of the regular season after undergoing surgery on
his left big toe last month.
The Cavaliers had the second-best record in the NBA at 64-18 but
were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Indiana
Pacers in five games.
Ball has yet to take part in a playoff game in the six seasons he
has played, which is something he is hoping will change.
“When you start in September or October you can’t look too far
ahead. But they were No. 1 in the East last year, so everybody knows
that. It’s pretty much ring or nothing,” he said. “It's just making
sure I’m prepared to be as available as possible and put myself in
the best position to finish the season strong. Right now, it’s more
so just being in the weight room making sure my lower body is good
and stuff like that.”
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