The Chicago Bulls have a lot of perimeter playmakers.
It sounds like they’ve got a way to unload one and save $20 million across the next two seasons.
New reporting from NBA insider Marc Stein says that the Dallas Mavericks are interested in trading for Lonzo Ball to serve as a temporary injury replacement for point guard Kyrie Irving.
Ball is at least somewhat surplus to requirements in Chicago, where the likes of Coby White and Josh Giddey run the offense.
Ball has $10 million due to him for the 2025-26 season. The following year features a team option for $10 million.
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The oft-injured but talented point guard will turn 28 in October.
He played in 35 games this past season and averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Ball also got up 5.6 3-point attempts per game and made 34.4 percent of them.
He likely wouldn’t command a huge trade return given that he himself is a health risk for Dallas in trying to replace an injured player.
But it probably wouldn’t hurt for the Bulls to explore dealing the 6-foot-6 former No. 2 pick. He might fit a little better into a rotation elsewhere.
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