The Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement on a three-team trade that will move point guard Lonzo Ball and two future second-round picks to Utah, while center Jock Landale heads to Atlanta for cash considerations, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
Utah will take Ball’s $10 million expiring salary (with a 2026-27 team option that will be declined) into the $12 million trade exception created in last summer’s John Collins deal. The Jazz are expected to waive Ball once the transaction is finalized, allowing him to clear waivers and sign with any club other than Cleveland.
The Cavaliers will shed Ball’s contract and send their only movable second-round selections — 2028 and 2032 — to Utah. The move trims Cleveland’s projected payroll by roughly $65 million and leaves the team about $3.9 million above the new second tax apron. Cleveland had already added guards Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis in a separate trade with Sacramento as part of its ongoing cost-cutting efforts.
Ball, 28, arrived in Cleveland last offseason in a swap with Chicago for Isaac Okoro but struggled, posting career lows of 4.6 points, 20.8 minutes, 30.1 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from three-point range.
Landale, 30, was acquired by Utah from Memphis earlier this week in the Jaren Jackson Jr. blockbuster. The Australian center is enjoying a career season, averaging 11.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists while hitting 38.0 percent of a career-high 2.9 three-point attempts per game over 45 appearances (25 starts). Atlanta can absorb his minimum contract without sending out salary but will need to waive a player — likely injured big men Duop Reath or N’Faly Dante — to open a roster spot.
Source: Hoops Rumors
