Report: Lonzo Ball to become free agent after trade to Jazz
The Utah Jazz acquired guard Lonzo Ball in a three-team trade that also included the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, ESPN reported Wednesday
The Cavaliers acquired a pair of second-round draft picks, while the Jazz sent center Jock Landale to the Hawks in exchange for cash considerations. Ball is expected to be waived by the Jazz and become a free agent.
By trading the 28-year-old Ball, the Cavaliers shed significant salary and gained tax savings. Cleveland recently acquired guards James Harden and Dennis Schroder in separate deals.
Landale, 30, was acquired by the Jazz on Tuesday from the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team, eight-player swap that sent star guard Jaren Jackson Jr. from Memphis to Utah.
Ball returned to the NBA in October 2024 with the Chicago Bulls after undergoing three arthroscopic knee surgeries. Then after signing a contract extension with Chicago, was traded to Cleveland last summer for forward Isaac Okoro.
With Cleveland, Ball has a career-low 4.6 points along with 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 35 games (three starts). He's shooting 30.1% from the floor and 27.2% from 3-point range.
The No. 2 overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 draft, Ball is earning $10 million this season and his deal called for another $10 million next season.
In 322 games (256 starts) with the Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Bulls and Cavaliers, Ball has averaged 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
Landale averaged 11.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 45 games (25 starts) before the trades to the Jazz and Hawks. In five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and Grizzlies, the undrafted free agent from Australia has posted 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists over 266 games (36 starts).