The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be the most active team ahead of the NBA trade deadline, having already struck a deal with the Sacramento Kings and now engaging in advanced talks with the Los Angeles Clippers. It appears a third deal could also be in the cards.
According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Cavaliers are attempting to move off the Lonzo Ball contract ($10 million) by Thursday’s trade deadline. Cleveland has had preliminary conversations with the Charlotte Hornets about a deal that would reunite Lonzo Ball with his brother LaMelo Ball.
Related: Details On Cleveland Cavaliers Trade Talks for James Harden
Charlotte is among the teams that have made it known they are willing to take on unwanted contracts in exchange for future draft picks, according to Stein, with the Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz also among the willing clubs. It is an important market at a time when the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan are believed to be available.
If Charlotte were to reunite the Ball brothers, it would be seeking draft picks back from Cleveland. Currently, the Cavaliers have the trade rights to their own second-round picks in 2026-28 along with the Denver Nuggets second-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.
Over the summer, the Cavaliers acquired Ball from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Isaac Okoro. Signed to a two-year deal worth $20 million, Ball has fallen out of the rotation for Cleveland. Across 35 games this season, he has shot just 30.1 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from the perimeter, posting a career-worst .042 Win Shares per 48 Minutes.
Getting off Ball’s contract would be the second trade this week that helped the Cavaliers shed salary. It could potentially clear the way for the team to acquire Harden from the Clippers.
