The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading guard Lonzo Ball to the Utah Jazz, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday afternoon. Utah, however, plans on releasing Ball, making him an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
Cleveland is parting ways with Ball and two second-round picks, in what is ultimately a salary dump. The return has not yet been announced.
Ball, who was in the midst of his seventh NBA season (missed 22-23 and 23-24 seasons due to injury), will now be seeking his fifth different organization.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade Lonzo Ball and two second-round picks to the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN. Ball’s agent Rich Paul and the Jazz are expected to discuss his future soon. pic.twitter.com/qrNtC6tlc7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
Both Utah and Cleveland have been extremely active at the NBA Trade Deadline. Utah made a big swing and traded for two-time NBA All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr., and Cleveland shipped off two-time NBA All-Star Darius Garland for former NBA Most Valuable Player James Harden in a one-for-one swap.
In 35 games this season, Ball was averaging 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that sits at 30-21 on the season (fifth best record in Eastern Conference).
Lonzo Ball will join fifth roster in seventh season out of UCLA
Ball, who was named a First Team All-American during his lone season at UCLA (2016-17), was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He was selected ahead of future All-NBA players Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, and Donovan Mitchell. Ball was expected to help turn around the trajectory of the Los Angeles Lakers, and helped do so via his departure.
He was shipped, along with teammates Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis in July 2019. Davis’ addition to the Lakers roster resulted in an NBA Championship, while Ball’s professional career was thrown into limbo. He did enjoy his career-best season with the Pelicans in 2020-21 (averaged 14.6 points and 5.7 assists), but was shipped to the Chicago Bulls following the season.
Just 35 games into his tenure with the Bulls (signed a four-year, $85 million extension preseason), Ball began to deal with a lingering leg injury that would keep him out until the 2024-25 season. Since then, he hasn’t quite been the same player. As an unrestricted free agent, he will now be free to continue his career wherever he pleases.
The NBA Trade Deadline is set for Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 PM ET. All-NBA players, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Draymond Green, and Karl-Anthony Towns could potentially be dealt by then.