What the Cavaliers' Trade for Lonzo Ball Means for Cleveland’s Playoff Hopes

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Jun 29, 2025 - 02:00
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What the Cavaliers' Trade for Lonzo Ball Means for Cleveland’s Playoff Hopes originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to trade former fifth-overall pick Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls for Lonzo Ball early Saturday morning, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

While the idea of adding another injury-prone guard to a Cavs backcourt that already struggles in that area may seem concerning, sending Okoro for a player with Ball’s upside isn’t a steep price to pay. While Okoro has flashed potential over the years, he has consistently shown that he isn’t a viable option in the playoffs, where his inconsistent shooting has been exposed.

Ball has only appeared in 21% of possible games over the last four seasons, so the chances of him becoming a consistent contributor for the Cavs are slim. However, because Okoro has proven he can’t be part of Cleveland’s playoff rotation, taking a chance on Ball feels worthwhile.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (2)Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Although Ball hasn’t been able to stay on the court in recent years, the chance to have him run the second unit for the Cavs was too tempting to pass up. While he hasn’t become the “Steph Curry with a 40-inch vert” that some expected after his impressive season at UCLA, he demonstrated he can still be a highly valuable part of a rotation with the Bulls before his knee injury in the 2021 season. 

In the 35 games Ball played for the Bulls in the ’21-’22 season, he proved he was one of the best all-around point guards in the league, as a great shooter (42.3% from three), top-notch passer, and one of the league's best guard defenders (2.7 stocks per game).

Although it’s been over three years since this season, and Ball didn’t play in the 2022 or 2023 seasons because of his aforementioned knee injury, he quietly had a better-than-expected 2024 while playing just over 20 minutes per game for the Bulls. The cutup below from this past season shows how Ball remains a strong defender and is a weapon in passing lanes.

Even if Ball can’t fully reclaim his 2021 form, his ability as a shooter, playmaker, and defender would significantly boost the Cavs' second unit, especially with the Cavs' current backup point guard Ty Jerome likely departing in free agency this offseason.

While expectations for Ball’s health this season are low, if the Cavs can manage his minutes until the playoffs and Ball enters the postseason on relatively fresh legs, he could significantly boost the Cavs' chances of making a deep run. 

Related: Cleveland Cavaliers Offered Darius Garland in Trade for Kevin Durant

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.

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