Sources: Bulls trading Ball to Cavs for Okoro

The Chicago Bulls are trading Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro, sources told ESPN.

Ball, 27, averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season.

Ball underwent a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023 after several procedures failed to fix an injury he suffered during the 2021-22 season -- his first in Chicago. He was sidelined since the beginning of March because of a right wrist sprain and played in 35 games this season after sitting out the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

For the Cavaliers, the Ball acquisition provides a fast-paced, defensive-minded point guard with size at 6-foot-6 as the franchise prepares to lose Ty Jerome to another team in free agency.

As the Cavaliers enter the 2025-26 season approximately $12 million over the salary cap's second apron -- and with All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley receiving a $45 million bonus on his rookie maximum contract -- it makes Ball's contract at two years and $20 million, with a team option on 2026-27, more palatable.

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.

Also, free agent guard Sam Merrill intends to sign a four-year, $38 million contract to stay with the Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN.

Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland had surgery earlier this month to repair the left big toe injury that troubled him during the playoffs and is expected to miss four to five months.

The Cavs said in a statement that they expect Garland to "make a full recovery and resume basketball activities by the start of training camp" in October. But Garland is likely to miss time to start the regular season, sources told ESPN.

The deal gives the Bulls a 3-and-D forward in Okoro, 24, who appeared in 55 games, averaging 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists. He is a career 35.1% 3-point shooter.