For the first time in years, Lonzo Ball is making headlines for his play rather than his injuries.
After being traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers in late June, Ball has already impressed in training camp as he settles into a new role on a playoff hopeful roster.
The Cavs landed Ball in exchange for forward Isaac Okoro. It was a bold swing for Cleveland, banking on Ball’s experience and basketball IQ to outweigh the risk tied to his health history.
Healthy Again and Building Trust
Ball is coming off his most encouraging stretch in years. After missing two full seasons with knee injuries, he returned for 35 games with Chicago in 2024–25, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 22.2 minutes per game.
While those numbers don’t jump off the page, they showed glimpses of the versatile guard who once looked like a franchise cornerstone.
That progress is carrying into his new situation. As Tim Bontemps put it on NBA Today: “Back in the lab, Lonzo Ball getting after it yesterday. Ready for a season with the Cavaliers.”
It’s not just effort — it’s impact. According to Brian Windhorst, “I’m very happy to say Lonzo Ball is not injured and really impressing his new Cavs teammates and coaching staff. Kenny Atkinson speaking this week, raving about his leadership and basketball IQ that he’s already impressed him with.”
Filling a Void
That presence comes at the right time for Cleveland. With Darius Garland expected to miss the start of the season recovering from toe surgery, Ball’s role will expand immediately.
Windhorst explained: “With Darius Garland expected to miss the start of the season recovering from toe surgery, Lonzo Ball could have a bigger role on the court. But the Cavs view this as like their Alex Caruso move, like their Jrue Holiday move. The last two champions had moves like that right before the season.”
The comparison underscores how Cleveland sees Ball — not as a star, but as a connector.
Just as Caruso gave Oklahoma City defensive toughness and Holiday provided the missing link for title runs in Milwaukee and Boston, Ball is expected to bring steadiness, defense, and leadership to a roster built around Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
What It Means for the Cavs
Ball doesn’t need to be a 20-point scorer in Cleveland. What the Cavaliers need is health, reliability, and the intangibles his coach and teammates are already praising. If he delivers that — and sustains it — this could be the most meaningful chapter of his career yet.
The gamble is real: Cleveland gave up a younger, cost controlled wing in Okoro.
But for a franchise trying to prove it can keep pace in the East, finding the right veteran guard to stabilize the backcourt was worth the risk.
Ball has a chance to repay that faith by doing what he does best — making plays, guarding multiple positions, and setting the tone for a team with postseason aspirations.
For Ball, it’s more than just a comeback. It’s a chance to prove that after years of setbacks, he can still be the kind of player who makes good teams great.