Lonzo Ball is in the middle of his first season playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The former UCLA star is averaging 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 30.1% from the field and 27.2% from three-point range in 35 games.
On Wednesday, Ball was traded to a new team.
NBA World Reacts To Utah Jazz Trade Involving Lonzo Ball
Via ESPN’s Shams Charania: “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.”
Charania aded that Ball is not staying in Utah.
Charania: “The Jazz are expected to waive Lonzo Ball, allowing him to be a free agent, sources tell ESPN.”
The Jazz are expected to waive Lonzo Ball, allowing him to be a free agent, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/NH3dxebRlQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
MORE: Mavericks’ Depth Chart: How Does Dallas’ Roster Look After Blockbuster Anthony Davis Trade?
Here’s what people were saying about the deal:
Chris Haynes: “Utah Jazz will waive Lonzo Ball after acquiring him from the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell me. He’ll be a free agent point guard in demand.”
Utah Jazz will waive Lonzo Ball after acquiring him from the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell me. He’ll be a free agent point guard in demand.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 4, 2026
@sig_50: “Kind of unfortunate how the Lonzo Ball experiment played out in Cleveland. I had high hopes for that addition to the Cavaliers Build/Competitiveness.”
Sam Amico: “Cavs trading Lonzo Ball to Jazz, per ESPN. It will mark Koby Altman’s seventh trade with Utah since overseeing Cavs basketball operations (2017).”
@JWeinbachNBA: “The Cavs are still currently above the second apron, but offloading Lonzo Ball’s $10M salary saves them an extensive amount of money against the tax. Cleveland has made tax savings a priority while still maintaining a contending-level roster.”
Keith Smith: “The Cavs will be roughly $3.8M away from getting under the second apron after trading Lonzo Ball to the Jazz. Ball will presumably go into what remains of the John Collins’ TPE. Jazz trading Jock Landale to the Hawks will create the open roster spot for Ball. Atlanta will have to open a roster spot for Landale (Dane, Reath waiver likely).”
Knocking Lonzo’s $10M off the books gets Cleveland a little under $4M from ducking under the second apron, which would ease up restrictions on aggregating contracts in trades and taking back more money than they send out in a deal. Storm clouds gathering! https://t.co/ppnfWLYRxk
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) February 4, 2026
KEEP READING: BREAKING: Cavaliers Trade Lonzo Ball, Draft Capital to Western Conference Team
Ball was the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft after one incredible season of college basketball.
He has also spent time playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls.
Essentially a three-team trade that allows Jazz to pick up two seconds, the Hawks to land a productive center in Landale and the Cavaliers to shed significant salary and tax savings while bringing in James Harden, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to fortify the roster this week. https://t.co/Jed7L9sNr6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
The Jazz are currently the 13th seed in the Western Conference with a 16-35 record.
The Cavaliers will see their projected luxury tax bill drop from $120M to $65M, and more importantly open up a roster spot to convert the Two-Way contract of Nae’qwan Tomlin. https://t.co/AQnhXigRiL
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 4, 2026
Meanwhile, the Cavs are the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference at 30-21.
