Jazz acquire Lonzo Ball in three-team deal, expected to waive veteran guard
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The Utah Jazz obtained guard Lonzo Ball on Feb. 4 in a three-team trade involving the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, but plan to release him and allow him to enter free agency, according to multiple league sources.
Cleveland sent Ball and two second-round draft picks to Utah. The Jazz also received cash considerations from Atlanta, while the Hawks landed center Jock Landale, sources said.
Ball, 28, became expendable in Cleveland after the Cavaliers acquired guards James Harden and Dennis Schroder in separate trades earlier in the week. Moving Ball removes a significant salary commitment from Cleveland’s books and delivers immediate luxury-tax relief.
For Utah, the transaction follows a blockbuster eight-player trade completed one day earlier that brought forward Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies. Landale had arrived in Utah as part of that deal before being rerouted to Atlanta on Tuesday.
Ball returned to the NBA last season after three arthroscopic knee surgeries, appearing in his first game in more than 1,000 days in October 2024. He earned a contract extension from the Chicago Bulls before being traded to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro over the summer. In 22 games with the Cavaliers this season, he averaged a career-low 4.6 points while shooting 30% from the field and under 30% from three-point range.
Once waived, Ball will become an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team.
Source: ESPN
