Lonzo Ball's selfless financial sacrifice backfires as Bulls send him to Cavaliers
After agreeing to a contract extension earlier this year, which saw him take a significant paycut, Lonzo Ball has been traded by the Chicago Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Just months after taking a huge pay cut to remain with the Chicago Bulls, Lonzo Ball has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On Saturday, it was announced the Bulls had traded Ball to the Cavaliers, just months after he agreed to a two-year $20 million extension to remain with Chicago. Having joined the Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal back in August 2021, Ball has been through injury hell over the last four years.
The 27-year-old returned to action to play in his first NBA game for 33 months this past season after having undergone three surgeries on his left knee. However, it has now been confirmed Ball is now a Cavalier.
Posting on X, ESPN's Shams Charania wrote: "BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro, sources tell ESPN."
Prior to his extension earlier this year, Ball was playing on a four-year $80 million contract, which was set to expire at the end of the recent NBA season.
And it has also been reported Ball, who is the first player in NBA history to ever successfully return to play in the league after a knee cartilage transplant, has been a target for the Cavaliers for quite some time.
Charania added on ESPN.com: "Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman and his staff have targeted Ball for months, inquiring about him at the February trade deadline and then ultimately finalizing the deal Saturday."
Following his lengthy spell out, Ball played in 35 games this past season, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Bulls.
Speaking back in October about coming back from injury, Ball, who played 16 minutes in a preseason win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, said: "It felt a lot better playing than watching, I'll say that much. I can't even really put into words how I felt out there."
He added: "I had a goal to get back on the court.
"I know it was a long journey, a long process, but it all paid off because this was what I was looking forward to. I'm just glad it's here now. I can finally go out and do what I love to do.
"There were a lot of people that helped me get here, not just myself. Just to see the crowd and all the love I get from the city, man, you cannot replicate that in any type of way. And it's real."
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