NBA Trade Rumors: Lonzo Ball on trade block alongside $85M Bulls superstar duo
The Chicago Bulls have been trying to trade the Zach LaVine-Nikola Vucevic duo for some time now, and apparently, Lonzo Ball is also on the trade block. While nothing has come to fruition, reports indicate that the team hopes to find a suitable deal now and before the Feb. 6, 2025, trade deadline.
With Ball back in action following a wrist injury early this season, it sounds like Chicago is also willing to part ways with him. According to a report from Jake L Fischer, the team has contacted front offices around the league to discuss potential trades.
While doing so, they have expressed that a "majority" of the players on their roster are available in trade talks. After parting ways with Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan this offseason, two players Arturas Karnisovas (executive vice president, Chicago Bulls) brought to Chicago after taking over the front office, all cards are on the table.
Fischer wrote on his Substack Friday that Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and Lonzo Ball's contracts are worth nearly $85 million. The team is reportedly looking to trade all three players to free up cap space.
"No surprise, then, that Bulls executives, according to league sources, have been messaging to rival front offices that they are willing to discuss the majority of their roster in trade talks leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Most notably, sources say, Chicago has expressed a desire to move LaVine, Vučević and Ball."
Looking at Lonzo Ball's play this season since returning from cartilage transplant
After a positive 35 games with the Chicago Bulls during the 2021-22 season, where Lonzo Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and a career-high 1.8 steals per game, he suffered a meniscus tear.
While initially, Lonzo Ball was projected to miss 6-8 weeks, he then wound up experiencing pain while rehabbing the injury and was declared out for the rest of the season. He then missed the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, undergoing a cartilage transplant to try and save his career.
After a particularly nasty bout of COVID leading up to this season, Lonzo Ball returned to the Bulls's lineup this season, appearing in three games in October before going down with a wrist injury.
During that time, he averaged 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on 35.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from downtown.
This week, Ball returned to the Bulls lineup after his wrist injury in the team's 119-133 loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. He logged six points, a rebound, three assists, four steals, and two blocks, marking his most impressive game of the season.
Given that, Chicago seems to hope to capitalize on his recent success by striking while the iron is hot.