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CAVALIERS ACQUIRE LONZO BALL

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guard Lonzo Ball in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. As part of the trade, the Cavaliers sent forward Isaac Okoro to Chicago.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to acquire someone with the skillset and versatility that Lonzo Ball brings to this team,” said Altman. “We have built a team for sustainable success and finding a way to improve around the edges has been our focus this offseason, and the addition of Lonzo represents part of that process. I would also like to thank Isaac Okoro for his professionalism, hard work, and the true grit he brought to the court during his five seasons in Cleveland. We wish Isaac and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

Ball (6-6, 205) appeared in 35 games (14 starts) this past season for the Bulls, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.34 steals in 22.2 minutes. Over his six-year NBA career, he has appeared in 287 games (253 starts) for the L.A. Lakers, New Orleans, and Chicago, owning career averages of 11.4 points, 5.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.53 steals in 31.2 minutes. Additionally, he has recorded 37 double-doubles and eight triple-doubles. Since entering the league in 2017-18, Ball is one of only six NBA players to average at least 11.0 points, 5.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.50 steals per game, along with Jimmy Butler, Dejounte Murray, James Harden, LaMelo Ball, and Ben Simmons. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers, Ball earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2017-18 after a standout season at UCLA, where he led the NCAA in assists.

Okoro (6-5, 225) appeared in 334 games (238 starts) for the Cavaliers over five seasons in Cleveland, averaging 8.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 26.2 minutes. Okoro also appeared in 26 postseason games (nine starts) for Cleveland. Selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft after one season at Auburn University, Okoro was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020-21.

Ball will wear jersey #2 for the Cavaliers.