According to media reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers reached a trade agreement with the Chicago Bulls to send forward Isaac Okoro to Chicago in exchange for point guard Lonzo Ball.

Since the new NBA season will start on July 6, the deal will not be officially completed until the start of the new year. The 27-year-old Ball has been injured since he played for the Chicago Bulls in the 2021-22 season. He has missed all games in the past two seasons due to a serious left knee injury.

In March 2023, Ball underwent a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee, which was his third attempt to repair the injury. After returning this season, Ball played in 35 games, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, and his condition is still recovering. He currently has one year left on his contract and has a team option for the 2026-27 season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' move is intended to strengthen the point guard line. With Ty Jerome about to become a full free agent and point guard Darius Garland missing the early season due to left big toe surgery, the team is in urgent need of an experienced organizer. Although Ball has been plagued by injuries in recent years, if he returns to health, he still has good linking and defensive abilities.

The 22-year-old Okoro is a 3D wing that the Cleveland Cavaliers have focused on developing in recent years. This season, he averaged 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, performed steadily on the defensive end, and his three-point shooting percentage also improved. However, as the season progressed, his playing time gradually decreased, and in the playoffs it dropped to an average of only 14.2 minutes per game. After joining the Chicago Bulls, Okoro is expected to get more room to play.

This season, the Cleveland Cavaliers ranked second in the league with 64 wins and 18 losses, but lost to the Pacers 1-4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals and stopped in the top four. This trade is seen as part of the lineup fine-tuning, the purpose is to strengthen the backcourt organization and stability, and prepare for higher goals in the new season.