The NBA offseason is alive and well. Los Angeles Lakers fans have seen some deals involving well-known players go down since the NBA Finals ended, and that will continue for the next month.
Saturday morning, a former top pick by the Lakers found himself caught up in the summer rat race that happens each year in the NBA, as the veteran point guard has been traded to a division rival.
After entering the NBA with high expectations placed on his shoulders, the floor general won't have his number retired in the rafters, as Magic Johnson once infamously predicted, but has managed to carve out a role for himself in the league. Now, he is set to join an Eastern Conference contender.
Former Lakers PG Lonzo Ball Shipped to Cavaliers in Surprise Trade
The Chicago Bulls have reportedly traded Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for veteran wing Isaac Okoro, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.com. This will be the fourth team that Ball has suited up for during his NBA career after being drafted by the Purple and Gold with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/W0FTrRhe7y
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2025
This is an interesting trade for several reasons, beyond the fact that Ball is on the move again. With Cleveland acquiring the former UCLA Bruins standout, it raises questions about where Darius Garland fits in with this roster moving forward. Having Ball, Garland, and Donovan Mitchell on the roster at once doesn't make a lot of sense and would be quite costly.
If Garland is ultimately made available via trade, it would be interesting to see if Rob Pelinka and company can figure out a way to acquire the sharpshooting guard. Given his ability to stretch the floor alone, he would fill in nicely alongside Doncic and James and could help carry the load when it comes to ball-handling duties when needed.
For Ball, this represents the opportunity to truly be part of a contender for the first time in his career. Cleveland has as bright a future as any team in the Eastern Conference. Adding Ball to the fold provides the Cavaliers with another playmaker who can help raise the team's floor when it comes to their defensive efforts on the perimeter. If Ball can manage to stay healthy, which has been a major issue for him throughout his career, this could be a great addition for Cleveland.
For Chicago, they add a 3-and-D player who can be depended on to play regular minutes. It does, however, make Patrick Williams more expendable than he already was, which will be another thing to watch for Lakers fans as the offseason progresses.
With the type of parity that Lakers fans have seen throughout the league this decade, more teams feel confident about their abilities to contend for a title, which makes the offseason even more interesting to follow.