標籤: Lonzo

It’s pretty safe to say that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ acquisition of Lonzo Ball did not go according to plan. Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bulls for Isaac Okoro, Ball struggled mightily in his half season with the Cavs. He eventually became a cap casualty, with the Cavs deciding to trade his salary to the Utah Jazz, who waived him and sent him to free agency.

Ball did not produce well in a Cavs uniform; In 35 games, he averaged only 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists, while shooting 30.1 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from deep. It got to the point where Ball’s father, LaVar, felt like he had to step in and tell the Cavs how to better utilize his son.

“You’re already messing him up by not starting him,” LaVar said in an appearance on the Ball in the Family podcast. “You saw him come off the bench and run to the corner. He’s never played like that in his life and he’s going to have to adapt after not playing basketball for so many years. It’s not going to work.”

“I told them that when I got there and I said, ‘If you only want him to play 20 minutes, how about we let him play 24 minutes, but let him play the last two quarters?'”

LaVar Ball will always support his son despite tough end to Cavs tenure

What doesn’t make sense in LaVar’s plan to utilize Lonzo is that the Cavs were very wary of overloading his body. Ball has been well aware of the knee problems that have cost him years of his career, so it doesn’t make sense for Cleveland to give him such a heavy workload.

As of now, Ball remains a free agent, and there is not much buzz surrounding his name. It doesn’t seem likely he’ll be lining up with a team before the 2025-26 season ends, which is testament to how his stock has fallen during his time with the Cavs.

Lonzo Ball is currently unemployed in the NBA, as the Cleveland Cavaliers traded him in a salary dump to the Utah Jazz, who immediately waived him. There are no strong indicators at this time that Ball will sign with a team before the end of the 2025–26 regular season. Now, he’s at least as busy with his brother LiAngelo on the Ball in the Family podcast, and in the latest episode of the podcast, he was reminiscing about his days with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ball got the big break of his career when the Los Angeles Lakers traded him to the Pelicans in the Anthony Davis trade. And he looks back fondly on his time with the team, especially as he considers Zion Williamson to be the best fit for him in the NBA.

“To surround with? I would probably say, bullshit, low key probably Zion. Just because I can throw him the lob anywhere and if I get him in the pocket, just match my assists. He’s lying that shit down every time,” Ball said.

But Ball says that, considering the off-court bonding, DeMar DeRozan might be his favorite partner to wear his shoes.

“Off the court, it’s tough. [But] I respect Dibo the most. If I had to choose to be like a big brother in the league, I would say him,” Ball added.

Injuries significantly slowed down Lonzo Ball’s career

Ball was emerging as a 3-and-D playmaking point guard whose only goal on the court is to play winning basketball and make his teammates better. Sadly, he was out of action for over two years due to persistent knee problems, and while he looked good for the Chicago Bulls during the ’24-’25 season, his performance so far this season has been poor – so the Cavs decided to trade him.

At only 28 years old, perhaps Ball will get another chance to prove he deserves to remain in the NBA.

Lonzo Ball finds himself in limbo as no team has selected him since He was waived by the Utah Jazz After acquiring him in a three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks in February.

The Cavaliers signed Ball in the offseason, but only he gone 35 games, play A limited role off the bench. He became even more expensive with the arrival of James Harden.

Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson was excited about the addition of the selfless guard, praising his vision and playmaking. However, Atkinson could not get enough minutes on the ball.

28 year old ball is under multiple Mentor in the NBA, but on “Ball in the Family” he claimed to have been coached by his father, LaVar Ball, and his former coach at UCLA, Steve Alford h himburn.

“I felt like I was trained to be a certain way for a long period of my life, so when I got to the league, it was weird for me. Like if I was playing bad, someone would say, ‘Oh, it’s OK.’ He wasn’t translating for me. I would love to hear like, ‘What’s wrong? Do your work.’ It was an adjustment. “I haven’t been around a lot of coaches that can rub off on you like that,” Ball said.

“I think Stan Van Gundy was a little strict. But other than him, there’s not really any hard coaching here. I got a lot of hard coaching in college and really by my pops.”

He and his younger brothers, LiAngelo Ball and LaMelo Ball, often credit their father for inspiring them to become good players. The elder Ball was punished for his flamboyance, but it’s hard to discredit his work in turning his sons into professional hoopers.

In addition to Atkinson and Van Gundy, Ball has played for Luke Walton, Alvin Gentry and Billy Donovan in the NBA.

He enjoyed his best season under Van Gundy at the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 118 games.

Ball has struggled to regain his form in 2022 after suffering a knee injury that caused him to sit out consecutive seasons.

Lonzo Ball’s first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers was cut short as the team traded him to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team deal. The Jazz eventually waived him, allowing him to become a free agent.

Ball said he understood the Cavaliers’ decision to fire him, but he responded to the statement by saying he was playing terribly.

“I don’t think I’m playing as bad as people are saying. I know I’m the scapegoat right now. But look, it comes with the name and it comes with what they brought me in for,” Ball said on the “Ball in the Family Podcast.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m playing great. But for me, I’m really just missing shots. People always say, ‘25% shooting.’ Okay, let’s actually take the percentage and talk about what it is. It is a four shot game. Sh***y, but I promise we’re not winning or losing games in four shots.”

How’s Zoe been playing lately… real breakdown 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/uKl8G56lvH

– Ball in the Family Podcast (@ballinthefampod) 17 February 2026

The 28-year-old Ball seemed like a perfect fit for the Cavaliers when they signed him in the offseason. His unselfishness, playmaking and defense were qualities that coach Kenny Atkinson praised. But alas, it was not to be.

In 35 games for the Cavaliers, Ball averaged 4.6 points on 30.1% shooting, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 20.8 minutes off the bench.

Ball continued, “Can I play better? Yes. Am I playing too bad? I don’t think I played well.”

Ball, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, has struggled to find his rhythm after missing two seasons due to a knee injury.

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly interested in signing Ball.