Report: Bulls’ Lonzo Ball Playing 5-On-5, Has Experienced No Setbacks

According to NBA reporter Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball is playing five-on-five. 

Ball, who hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 14, 2022, has experienced no setbacks.

“The Bulls confirmed Ball has started playing in full-contact 5-on-5 scrimmages — as he was scheduled to do once August arrived — and, according to one source, has done so with no setbacks,” Cowley reported. 

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.