Just days after adding to their respective talent bases via the 2025 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers have struck a trade agreement, with 2017 No. 2 pick Lonzo Ball and 2020 No. 5 pick Isaac Okoro set to swap jerseys, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
At this point in time, there don’t appear to be any draft picks attached to either player.
Cavs, Bulls Trade Top-5 Picks Lonzo Ball, Isaac Okoro
Prior to the deal, both Ball and Okoro had been discussed as potential trade candidates. Honestly, it might even be more appropriate to say that they were on the trade block. However, they had not been linked to each other in rumors. There was no indication that the Cavs had interest in Ball or that the Bulls were eyeing Okoro.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/W0FTrRhe7y
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2025
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All the same, this transaction allows both teams to address a key area.
Cleveland has acquired a point guard whose health is a considerable concern. Nevertheless, with 2024 Sixth Man of the Year finalist Ty Jerome drawing interest from other teams in free agency, they may not be able to keep him. Thus, Ball becomes a stop-gap backup for star Darius Garland. Notably, Garland (who has been a part of trade discussions) isn’t the most durable player himself. Still, in a vacuum, he and Ball are two of the league’s top floor generals.
Chicago adds a lockdown perimeter defender that can guard 1-3 with ease and sometimes 4s due to his strength. With that being said, he’s somewhat like Ayo Dosunmu. Neither Okoro nor Dosunmu are players that opponents fear from beyond the arc but they’ve been efficient 3-point threats. Over the past three seasons, Okoro has knocked down 37.6 percent of his 3-balls. Dosunmu is a career 36.1 percent 3-point shooter.
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