The Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up the regular NBA season with one of the league’s best records, fueled by the leadership and elite play of Donovan Mitchell. However, their postseason campaign fell well short of expectations. Determined to avoid a repeat, the Cavaliers have been active this offseason in search of key reinforcements.
In one of their most notable moves, the Cavaliers traded forward Isaac Okoro to acquire veteran point guard Lonzo Ball. The trade bolsters Cleveland’s depth at the guard position, providing a strong secondary option behind Darius Garland. Days after the transaction, Ball broke his silence and shared his excitement about joining a team with NBA championship aspirations.
Speaking on the podcast What an Experience, the 27-year-old point guard discussed his mindset heading into this new chapter in his career. “Just playing, competing for a ring. I feel like that should be the goal—I feel like that is the goal,” Ball said. “So, happy to get over there and get started. To meet everybody, get familiar with everything, and take it as far as we can.”
Ball went on to express his gratitude for the opportunity to compete on a playoff-caliber roster. “I feel like it’s just a blessing, bro. To be honest, I mean, everybody keeps asking me how I feel about the trade. I’m like, s***, I’m happy to still be playing anywhere—let alone for a team that has a real chance to win a ring. My whole life, I feel like I’ve been playing the right brand of basketball, and that’s to win games. So I feel like I’m going to a great situation, and I just want to play my role and do what I can to help.”
Prior to landing in Cleveland, Ball spent four seasons with the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, he missed two full campaigns due to recurring knee and wrist injuries that threatened to derail his career. He made his long-awaited return in the 2024–25 season, appearing in 25 games for Chicago.
During that stretch, Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 36.6% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc. Though his playing time was limited, the flashes of his two-way potential were enough to earn him a fresh start with a rising contender.
With Ball now in the fold and the core of Mitchell, Garland, and Evan Mobley still intact, the Cavaliers are positioning themselves to take a meaningful step forward. The hope in Cleveland is that this revamped backcourt rotation can help push the team deeper into the postseason in 2026.