Bulls’ Lonzo Ball ‘Moving Closer’ To Return

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said Lonzo Ball is “moving closer” to playing in the NBA again. 

Ball hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 14, 2022.

“Hopefully we can get Lonzo back. He’s moving closer…he’s a guy that everyone enjoys playing with and I think the same can be said for Josh”

Billy Donovan sees similarities with Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball w/ @TheFrankIsola @darthamin & Ryan McDonough #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/0aIKQjbAQD

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 14, 2024

Ball signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Bulls in August 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. The UCLA product averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks for Chicago in 2021-22 in 35 games while shooting 42.3% from the field, 42.3% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line.

Ball has career averages of 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers, Pelicans and Bulls. He was the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers. 

The Bulls missed the playoffs last year and this year without Ball, who underwent a cartilage transplant in his left knee. The guard received a meniscus transplant from a donor.

“There was no more meniscus left and bone on bone was rubbing,” Ball said on his podcast in May. “The cartilage was gone and the bone was messed up, so I had to get a new meniscus from a donor. I had to get a bone allograft and I had to get some new cartilage put in as well.”

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, the Bulls are trying to trade Ball and Zach LaVine.

LaVine will make $43 million next season, while Ball will make $21.4 million.

The Bulls are rebuilding after trading Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey and letting Andre Drummond leave for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.

DeMar DeRozan also joined the Sacramento Kings in a sign-and-trade deal. 

LaVine and Ball have no trade market due to their contracts and injury history.