Several players have come and gone from the Los Angeles Lakers over the past decade, and one of the most widely discussed draft picks made during the Magic Johnson era is popping up in trade rumors yet again.
Perhaps the expectations placed on him at the time by the franchise legend who was calling the shots were unfair, but Lonzo Ball's time in Los Angeles was short-lived and, honestly, rather forgettable.
While injury issues have plagued Ball throughout his professional career, he appeared to find his footing with the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately for the former UCLA Bruins standout, his stay in the Windy City may not last long either, as Evan Sidery of Forbes.com is reporting the point guard is expected to be made available on the trade market.
After signing a two-year, $20 million extension in February, Lonzo Ball is expected to be made available in trade talks by the Bulls.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 3, 2025
Ball’s $10 million annual salary, which includes a team option for 2026-27, is easily digestible for contending teams in need of guard depth. pic.twitter.com/8TwcUpWlDt
A reunion with the Lakers seems unlikely, but fans of the Purple and Gold shouldn't be surprised if they see Ball's name bantered about as one of the more attainable players on the trade market this summer.
At that price, there should be plenty of parties interested in acquiring Ball, as there is no questioning his talent as a lead guard. What organizations will have to weigh is just how much they are willing to surrender in a trade to bring in the former lottery pick.
Given his injury history, Ball has only played more than 55 games in a season once during his NBA career, and opposing teams may be hesitant to dig too deep into their warchest of assets to meet whatever Chicago's trade demands will be. All it takes is one front office to believe that Ball is the right fit for their organization to finalize a deal, and, at that salary point, the potential reward may outweigh the risks.
One thing is for certain: we'll find out soon enough whether the former No. 2 overall pick finds himself on the move again.