Rumors

“We should all be focused on getting to a ring,” Ball said. “But we all know that June's a long time when you start in September, October, so you can't look too far ahead. [The Cavs] were [the No. 1 seed] in the East last year, so everybody knows that it's pretty much ring or nothing.”

Akron Beacon Journal

“I couldn't ask for nothing better than this,” Ball said. “I think it's a great situation for my play style. “I play basketball the same way no matter what team I'm on. I'm gonna go out there, defend, push the pace, shoot the shots that are open and live with the results.”

Akron Beacon Journal

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.”

NBA.com

During a guest appearance on the “What an Experience” podcast, the 27-year-old point guard explained why he's so excited to play for the Cavs. Lonzo Ball is grateful for the opportunity to play for a title-contending team and opened up about how happy he is to be a part of the Cavaliers. “Just playing, competing for a ring. I feel like that should be the goal, I feel like that is the goal,” said Lonzo Ball. “So, happy to get over there and get started. To meet everybody, get familiar with everything, and take it as far as we can. “I feel like it’s just a blessing, bro. To be honest, I mean, everybody keeps asking me how I feel about the trade. I'm like, s*** I'm happy to still be playing anywhere, let alone a team that has a real chance to win a ring. My whole life, I feel like I've been playing the right brand of basketball, and that's to win games, so I feel like I'm going to a great situation and I just want to play my role and do what I can to help.”

Clutch Points

First up on Chicago's to-do list is to re-sign Josh Giddey, a restricted free agent who is expected to command a salary near $30 million annually, sources told ESPN. The move to acquire Giddey in a player-for-player trade, without any additional draft compensation, looked a lot like the deal the team made last week when it swapped Lonzo Ball (age 27) for Isaac Okoro (age 24) from Cleveland.

ESPN

Shams Charania: BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro, sources tell ESPN.

x.com

Jake Fischer: That is indeed the full trade, per source: Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro. It’s a straight-up deal between the Cavaliers and Bulls. No draft picks changing hands.

x.com

According to a source, the Bulls and Karnisovas have been more responsive to trade talks than in the past, and while Ball, Vucevic and White are all possibilities to be moved, the name that is atop Karnisovas’ list entering Wednesday’s first round of the NBA Draft is Patrick Williams.

Chicago Sun-Times

Now that a majority share of the Lakers is going to be sold by the Buss family to Mark Walter, the elder Ball wants his three sons — Lonzo, LaMelo and LiAngelo — to play for the Purple and Gold and for Magic Johnson to return to the organization. “More news!” LaVar said. “The Lakers just sold for $10 billion. Uh oh. Hey, [Los Angeles] Clippers, you better get my boys or Lakers if you put Magic back in line. Let Magic run this thing so we go get these championships, 'cause he know what to do. Magic, this for you. Since them Lakers is ran by a new group, shoot. A new time, new era. Go get the Ball boys. Hey, it’s not even about a bidding war. First come, first serve. “Whoever wants them championships, better get the Ball boys. Trust me when I tell you. But Magic, if you in line, I’m down with you, dawg. Holler at your boy.”

Yahoo! Sports

XXL Magazine: Gelo performing “Tweaker” with his brother Lonzo Ball at the #BETAwards pre-show 🗣️

x.com

Lonzo Ball on how MVP should be defined: Shai would have gotten my vote if I voted for MVP (… ) It has to be the best player on the best team.

YouTube

League sources say Dallas is expected to at least explore whether there are any feasible trade pathways to Boston's Jrue Holiday — complicated as that would likely be given the three years and $104 million still left on Holiday's contract — while also maintaining an interest in a far more reasonable trade target as we've discussed on the DLLS Mavs podcast: Lonzo Ball…Another name to monitor for Dallas: Chris Paul. The free agent-to-be just turned 40 on May 6, but Paul also just played (and started) 82 games in his maiden season as a San Antonio Spur.

marcstein.substack.com

Lonzo Ball: "For sure. If you have a good organization that’s behind you and letting you heal, that’s huge. Like—shout out to the Bulls for that. When I was going through it, a lot of teams could’ve just pushed me to the side and been like, ‘whatever.’ But they stuck with me the whole way. Having a good team behind you helps a lot, for sure."

YouTube

Lonzo Ball: "I wasn’t getting in trouble like that. Melo was getting in trouble. "Honestly, some stories I can’t even say. He was really bad. Probably the worst kid I’ve ever met. He’s calmed down a lot though—I’ll give him credit for that."

YouTube