In a speculated trade since the past months, Lonzo Ball has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers officially by the Chicago Bulls in exchange for forward Isaac Okoro. Most Bulls fans are wondering whether the team got enough in exchange as this deal derails a long trade saga.
Once a potential pillar of Chicago’s rebuild, the sidelined Ball has not played a match in almost two seasons, operating with a persistent knee injury. But he took too long off to question his compatibility with the franchise in the long term. Before the trade deadline, the Bulls also rejected a deal that would have involved sending a future first-round pick in exchange for Ball, and this one-to-one trade that involved Okoro did not go down well with many fans in Chicago.
Okoro, 23, is a wings defender who scored an average of 6.3 points last season and showed 37 percent of the long-range mark last season. He is not the kind of player who comes to overwhelm the opponents, but at least he brings stability and a skill set that better fits the new Bulls model of youthfulness.
Chicago has traded after a hectic year since they have had to get over Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso, and DeMar DeRozan, and all that without receiving a single first-round draft pick. As fans continue to lose their patience, there is increasing pressure on the front office to produce a more promising plan with regard to rebuilding.
The Bulls grade: C+
The trade of Okoro might turn out to be a superior short-term solution compared to bidding for injured Ball, but given that they already lost a first-rounder earlier this year, this trade paints a very long shadow.
What’s Next?
Bulls should keep busy in the offseason, and some names continue to be stirred up during trade discussions. Whether the future steps will result in greater regard is yet to be known.
