The Cleveland Cavaliers completed a trade to acquire Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls, a move that Donovan Mitchell has clearly welcomed with excitement. Mitchell, now entering his fourth season with the Cavaliers, posted a digitally altered image on his Instagram story showing himself alongside Ball in Cavaliers uniforms, accompanied by four fireball emojis to underline his eagerness about their new partnership.
Responding directly, Ball shared the post to his own Instagram story with a simple two-word message: “It’s up.” This brief reply has sparked a noticeable buzz among fans and analysts alike, signaling a sense of optimism around the trade.
Lonzo Ball’s Recent Performance and Contract Details
In the 2024-25 season with the Bulls, Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 34.4% from beyond the three-point line. These numbers represent career lows in points, rebounds, and assists, as well as his third-worst performance in three-point shooting percentage. As part of the trade, the Cavaliers sent Isaac Okoro to Chicago.
Ball is beginning a two-year contract valued at $20 million, with a team option available for the 2026-27 season. The Cavaliers’ front office hopes this deal will complement their roster as they manage upcoming free agency moves, including the anticipated departure of Ty Jerome.
Injury Concerns Highlight Risk in Acquiring Lonzo Ball
The Cavaliers are taking a calculated risk by acquiring Ball, who is 27 years old and has faced significant injury challenges. He missed the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 NBA seasons due to a severe knee injury that required three surgeries, including a ligament transplant from a donor. Returning to the court in 2024-25, Ball played 35 games but was limited both by a minutes cap and a wrist injury.
Throughout his eight-year career, Ball has logged 60 or more games in only one season, raising questions about his durability. The Cavaliers must monitor his health carefully to maximize his impact on the team.
It’s just a blessing, man, to be honest. A lot of people wrote me off, for good reason. A lot of people didn’t think I would be here right now, still hooping. But the people around me did. I felt it,
Ball shared during an exclusive interview with Heavy Sports in March.
The journey made me stronger. Got to dive into myself a little bit more away from hoop with the time off, and I just felt like I came out of it a better man. And just overall, just full of happiness, man. Just to be able to play again and be out there and do the things I love to do.
—Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball to Join a Deep Cavaliers Backcourt
The addition of Ball strengthens an already talented Cavaliers backcourt featuring Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Both Mitchell and Garland have dealt with their own injury problems, though less severe than Ball’s. With the team investing in Ball’s potential contributions, the trade signals a commitment to bolstering their guard rotation despite ongoing health concerns.
However, the trades and injuries place the Cavaliers in a delicate position going forward, with notable players’ availability remaining uncertain.
Increasing Opportunities for Rookie Tyrese Proctor Amid Team Changes
Several injuries and roster adjustments have created an opening for the Cavaliers’ rookie, Tyrese Proctor, a second-round pick from Duke. Proctor’s development has been gradual, but recent scouting reports highlight his growing readiness for professional play in the NBA.
Proctor is a tall combo guard with great passing vision that was expected to go one-and-done, but has taken until his junior year to look ready for the NBA,
wrote Yahoo Sports analyst Kevin O’Connor in a June 12 pre-draft profile.
At this point, he’s sharpened his jumper and become an even better defender.
—Kevin O’Connor
The 49th overall pick hails from Australia and helped lead Duke to the Final Four, showing versatility by playing multiple roles on offense and defense. With his improved skills and adaptability, Proctor could see early playing time, easing some pressure on the Cavaliers’ injury-burdened roster.
Potential Mentorship Dynamic Between Ball and Proctor
Lonzo Ball faced similar questions about his readiness during the 2017 pre-draft process before being the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers. His journey, marked by overcoming setbacks, positions him well to mentor Proctor as the rookie transitions to the demands of the NBA. This relationship could prove valuable as both players seek to establish themselves on a Cavaliers team navigating a mix of resilience and cautious optimism.