Latest news with #IsaacOkoro
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cleveland Cavaliers Acquire Lonzo Ball From Bulls In Exchange For Isaac Okoro
Cleveland Cavaliers Acquire Lonzo Ball From Bulls In Exchange For Isaac Okoro originally appeared on Fadeaway World. In a surprise move that kicks off their offseason activity, the Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guard Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for wing Isaac Okoro, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. Advertisement The trade represents both a calculated gamble and a strategic salary maneuver for the Cavaliers, who are working around the constraints of the NBA's second apron under the new collective bargaining agreement. Ball, 26, is still working his way back to full form after missing more than two years due to a lingering knee injury. He returned to the court late last season and averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, showcasing flashes of the playmaking and defensive awareness that once made him one of the most intriguing young guards in the league. While his explosiveness is still recovering, Ball's feel for the game and unselfish style could bring a fresh dynamic to a Cleveland offense that has often relied heavily on isolation scoring from Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. From a financial standpoint, Ball's contract fits snugly into Cleveland's current needs. He is owed $20 million over the next two seasons, slightly less than Okoro's $21 million, allowing the Cavaliers to shave a small amount off their books while still acquiring a high-upside player with a significantly higher offensive IQ and proven floor-spacing ability when healthy. Advertisement For a team toeing the line of the second apron, every bit of savings matters, especially with a potential extension looming for Mitchell. Isaac Okoro, meanwhile, heads to Chicago after an uneven run in Cleveland. Once touted as a defensive stopper with improving offensive skills, Okoro never quite found a consistent role in the Cavs' evolving rotation. He averaged 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game in 2024–25, and while his three-point shooting showed minor improvement, it never reached the consistency needed to justify a long-term investment. For the Bulls, Okoro provides a younger, healthier, and lower-pressure wing option who can guard multiple positions and still has some room to grow at only 23 years old. For Cleveland, this move isn't just about saving money — it's about maximizing the current championship window. The Cavs went 64-18 during the 2024–25 regular season, finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. But their promising campaign ended in heartbreak, as they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the second round, with multiple starters sidelined due to injury. It was a bitter ending for a team that many saw as a title favorite. Advertisement Adding Lonzo Ball to the mix gives Cleveland a better shot at sustaining offensive rhythm even when Garland or Mitchell are off the floor. If Ball can regain even 80% of his pre-injury form, the version that averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and nearly 2 steals with Chicago, the Cavaliers may have just pulled off one of the savviest low-risk, high-reward moves of the summer. It's a quiet, under-the-radar deal now. But come playoff time, it might be the one that helps Cleveland finally take that next step. Related: "We're Not The LeBron James-Kyrie Irving Cavaliers" - Donovan Mitchell Gets Real On Pressure To Win A Title This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Lonzo Ball doesn't have to worry about rehabbing from a knee injury for the first time in a couple seasons. Instead, the veteran guard will use the offseason getting acclimated to a new team. Ball was at the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice complex meeting with the medical staff and coaches on Monday after his trade from the Chicago Bulls for forward Isaac Okoro was finalized on Sunday.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What the Cavaliers' Trade for Lonzo Ball Means for Cleveland's Playoff Hopes
What the Cavaliers' Trade for Lonzo Ball Means for Cleveland's Playoff Hopes originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to trade former fifth-overall pick Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls for Lonzo Ball early Saturday morning, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. Advertisement While the idea of adding another injury-prone guard to a Cavs backcourt that already struggles in that area may seem concerning, sending Okoro for a player with Ball's upside isn't a steep price to pay. While Okoro has flashed potential over the years, he has consistently shown that he isn't a viable option in the playoffs, where his inconsistent shooting has been exposed. Ball has only appeared in 21% of possible games over the last four seasons, so the chances of him becoming a consistent contributor for the Cavs are slim. However, because Okoro has proven he can't be part of Cleveland's playoff rotation, taking a chance on Ball feels worthwhile. Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (2)Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Although Ball hasn't been able to stay on the court in recent years, the chance to have him run the second unit for the Cavs was too tempting to pass up. While he hasn't become the 'Steph Curry with a 40-inch vert' that some expected after his impressive season at UCLA, he demonstrated he can still be a highly valuable part of a rotation with the Bulls before his knee injury in the 2021 season. Advertisement In the 35 games Ball played for the Bulls in the '21-'22 season, he proved he was one of the best all-around point guards in the league, as a great shooter (42.3% from three), top-notch passer, and one of the league's best guard defenders (2.7 stocks per game). Although it's been over three years since this season, and Ball didn't play in the 2022 or 2023 seasons because of his aforementioned knee injury, he quietly had a better-than-expected 2024 while playing just over 20 minutes per game for the Bulls. The cutup below from this past season shows how Ball remains a strong defender and is a weapon in passing lanes. Advertisement Even if Ball can't fully reclaim his 2021 form, his ability as a shooter, playmaker, and defender would significantly boost the Cavs' second unit, especially with the Cavs' current backup point guard Ty Jerome likely departing in free agency this offseason. While expectations for Ball's health this season are low, if the Cavs can manage his minutes until the playoffs and Ball enters the postseason on relatively fresh legs, he could significantly boost the Cavs' chances of making a deep run. Related: Cleveland Cavaliers Offered Darius Garland in Trade for Kevin Durant This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cavaliers Reporter Serena Winters Honors Isaac Okoro With Touching Goodbye
Cavaliers Reporter Serena Winters Honors Isaac Okoro With Touching Goodbye originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After spending his first five seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, guard-forward Isaac Okoro will be starting a new chapter in his basketball career with the Chicago Bulls. This comes after his trade to the Bulls via a 1-on-1 swap for guard Lonzo Ball. Advertisement Although Okoro was never viewed as among the main guys in Cleveland, he surely left his mark on Cavs fans — and even on Cavaliers sideline reporter Serena Winters, who dedicated a message for the former Auburn Tigers star. "Isaac, it's been an absolute pleasure covering you and getting to know these past 4 years!!!! Swipe through for some of my favorite 🧊moments! Zone. Compete. Energy. 😂" Winters wrote. Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) shoots beside Pacers center Myles Turner (33).David Richard-Imagn Images Winters also shared some of the fun moments she had while interviewing Okoro, who played in 55 games, including 22 starts, for the Cavs in the 2024-25 NBA season. Taken fifth overall in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft by the Cavaliers, Okoro can look forward to a bigger role and more playing time in Chicago. Just 24 years old, Okoro can continue polishing his skills and boosting his confidence on the court with Chicago, which has not made the NBA Playoffs in the last three seasons. Advertisement Signed to a fully guaranteed three-year contract worth $33 million, Okoro can bring a little bit of everything to the Bulls. During his stint with the Cavs, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per 36 minutes through at total of 334 games. Related: What the Cavaliers' Trade for Lonzo Ball Means for Cleveland's Playoff Hopes This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Lonzo Ball excited for fresh start with Cavaliers after trade from Bulls
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Lonzo Ball doesn't have to worry about rehabbing from a knee injury for the first time in a couple seasons. Instead, the veteran guard will use the offseason getting acclimated to a new team. Ball was at the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice complex meeting with the medical staff and coaches on Monday after his trade from the Chicago Bulls for forward Isaac Okoro was finalized on Sunday. Chicago and Cleveland agreed to the trade on June 28, but it didn't become official until the start of the new league year on Sunday. 'I think it's a great situation for my play style,' Ball said. 'Don (Donovan Mitchell) is one of the best players we have in the league. And they have two bigs that are mobile, can set pick-and-rolls and get to the rim like that. And then do some switching on defense. I think we can do a lot of different things on both sides of the ball, and to have the option to be able to do those things is great.' Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 35 games this past season after missing the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns because of a left knee injury. The 27-year old Ball underwent a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023 after two surgeries failed to fix an injury he suffered during his first season in Chicago in 2021-22. He missed the last two months of the season due to a sprained right wrist, but was encouraged with the way his knee held up throughout the season. 'After the games I didn't really know what to expect. But, you know, when I first got back versus Minnesota in that preseason game, I was kind of surprised that I was moving around,' Ball said. 'I feel like I just got better as the year went on. Unfortunately, I had to deal with my wrist, but as far as my knee was concerned, it was pretty good.' Ball, the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 draft, has one year remaining on his contract with a team option for the 2026-27 season. Cleveland had a need at point guard after Ty Jerome signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. Starter Darius Garland is likely to miss the start of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his left big toe last month. The Cavaliers had the second-best record in the NBA at 64-18 but were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Indiana Pacers in five games. Ball has yet to take part in a playoff game in the six seasons he has played, which is something he is hoping will change. 'When you start in September or October you can't look too far ahead. But they were No. 1 in the East last year, so everybody knows that. It's pretty much ring or nothing,' he said. 'It's just making sure I'm prepared to be as available as possible and put myself in the best position to finish the season strong. Right now, it's more so just being in the weight room making sure my lower body is good and stuff like that.' ___ AP NBA:
