Bulls trading oft-injured Lonzo Ball to Cavaliers as former top pick gets shot with contender
The Cavaliers are taking a chance on Lonzo Ball — and the 27-year-old guard, whose career has been derailed by injuries, gets a fresh start.
They sent guard Isaac Okoro to the Bulls in exchange for Ball, who appeared in 35 games last season after missing the previous two years due to injuries.
Ball, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, started his career with the Lakers before stints with the Pelicans and Chicago, and during that time, he dealt with multiple injuries.
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3 Lonzo Ball attempts a shot during the Bulls' Feb. 20 game against the Knicks.
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3 Lonzo Ball defends during the Bulls' Feb. 28 game.
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Okoro, a 24-year-old and former first round pick, started 22 games and appeared in 55 during the regular season last year, averaging 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
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3 Isaac Okoro attempts a shot during the Cavaliers' April 26 game.
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The Cavaliers earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference before falling to the Pacers in the second round, and with Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton both likely missing all of next season with torn Achilles, Cleveland will remain a contender to reach the NBA Finals.
And they're taking a risk on Ball as a piece to help them reach that point.
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