February 15: The Bulls officially announced Ball’s extension in a press release on Friday night.
“The complexity of challenges that Zo faced more than three years ago was truly unprecedented,” executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. “It wasn’t just his injury but also the complicated rehabilitation plan that followed, which lacked any template for an NBA player.
“Along with an outstanding team of doctors, trainers and medical staff, Zo embraced adversity and exemplified resilience. His diligence to do what was necessary and his commitment to himself and this team truly speaks to his character. He elevates those around him with his high basketball IQ, relentless defense and hustle, and his unselfish play-making. We are thrilled to have him back and for him to be a part of our future.”
February 5: The Bulls and point guard Lonzo Ball have agreed to terms on a two-year, $20MM contract extension, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network first reported (via Twitter) that the two sides were finalizing a new deal.
The second year of the extension will be a club option, team sources tell Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Ball reportedly drew legitimate interest on the trade market, with the Grizzlies, Pistons, and Timberwolves said to be among the teams to register interest. However, Johnson reported earlier in the day (via Twitter) that while Chicago had been offered draft capital, potential trade partners wanted to send out multiyear salary, which didn’t appeal to the Bulls.
Fischer and Marc Stein had reported on Tuesday that Chicago wasn’t eager to trade Ball and would be more interested in retaining the guard beyond his current contract than buying him out.
While the 27-year-old will technically remain trade-eligible because his new deal will fall within the NBA’s extend-and-trade limits, it’s extremely unlikely that the team would make this move if it didn’t intend to hang onto him through Thursday’s deadline.
Ball, who missed two-and-a-half NBA seasons while undergoing a series of surgeries to address a troublesome knee injury, made his comeback in the fall and has enjoyed a successful return.
His numbers – 7.2 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game – are career lows across the board and his shooting percentages – 36.2% from the floor, 34.0% on three-pointers – are well below his usual rates. However, Ball has been a positive contributor beyond the box score. The Bulls have outscored opponents by 4.2 points per 100 possessions when Ball is on the court and have been outscored by 6.1 points per 100 possessions when he’s not.
Ball is “beloved” by coaches and and teammates and considered a mentor in Chicago, Johnson adds (via Twitter).
Even after trading Zach LaVine to Sacramento this week, Chicago has a crowded backcourt, with Josh Giddey, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Tre Jones, and Jevon Carter all in the mix alongside Ball. But a few of those players are considered possible trade candidates, and Ball is now the only one of them whose contract potentially extends beyond next season.
Ball is currently earning $21.4MM in the final season of the four-year, $80MM contract he signed with the Bulls in 2021.
Bargain…sorta.
Morons.
You do realize they have to pay someone to play even during rebuilding years, right? And that the market for him wasn’t likely to yield much?
10MM a year is nothing. Will make the young guys around him better and, if he manages to stay healthy and rediscover his shooting stroke, could net more in the offseason/next year.
They’re already paying Williams, Collins, and Huerter a combined $54 mil next year. And they’ll likely give Giddey $25 mil…
Good thing the goal isn’t to win next year, or even the year after most likely.
At this point( Unless they can move somebody by tomorrow), You now have for next year:
Giddey( Probably)
White( Maybe)
Ball( WTF)
Ayo
Jevon Carter( Has a player option)
Tre Jones( Maybe)
Dalen Terry( Stinks)
Heurter( WTF)
As Guards already here.
Some people need to go.
The last 5 are easy to move on from one way or another. I’m sure Huerter will be moved to a contender in the offseason.
How are you going to move Carter and Terry? Nobody will take Carter when he can opt in. And Terry smells worse than a fish that’s been sitting on the dock for a week. I’d like to see what Heurter can do the rest of this year. I know nothing about Jones. Why would you move Ayo? That’s even dumber than re signing Ball. I don’t think it’ll be as easy as you think
Easy to move doesn’t necessarily mean they will be moved or mean I’m suggesting they’re valueless. Ayo is an easy asset to add to a package for an upgrade. He’s desirable, therefore easy to move. Carter can be released. Ditto for Terry.
Ball is not part of that group because with the extension, he’s obviously staying. Hell, I should’ve added White to that list. Didn’t realize he was only making $12M. Less easy to move him though because of his value to the team. Doubt Giddey moves. Not easy to just part with him.
All are horrible except Ayo and Tre
Agreed. Tanking and rebuilding is a two year process minimum. Have to be subpar team for at least two seasons and that is if the Bulls are lucky enough to hit on a draft pick or two.
@shea
Sorry Bro. Papa Ball must have something on the organization. They just paid him $40 mil to wear street clothes for 2 years. Then he comes back, off the bench? shooting 6 shots a game, almost all 3s, on a meh 35%? And they reward they with 2/$20 mil? crazy.
Spoken like a true casual.
@Shea
Why?. why would you post an injury prone guy you just waisted for $40 mil on while he missed two whole season? Are 36% 3pt shooters of the bench hat to come buy?
Its below the mid level each season and a team option in the second. I think if he shows more value next season able to play more min they could flip him for a ton relatively speaking on a 10+10 option.
Shea-You realize he only plays part time right? He doesn’t play BTB. He still takes extra days off. He missed other time already. He should get paid by the game.
You realize his minutes have been ticking up throughout the year, and according to recent reports he’s on the way to being cleared to play without any restrictions. Even as a part time player his impact on the floor is tangible, he’s also revered in the locker room.
I bet he would have got some teams full MLE in the off-season on a one year deal, 2 for 20 isn’t bad and still moveable.
The minutes restriction will be removed soon. He is a team-first player. Solid guy off the bench for a team in the midst of a “retool”. Leader in locker room who is well-liked. Bulls have a Team Option for year 2. There exposure is $10 million. His contract very tradeable. Option makes it an expiring contract at team discretion which increases trade value. Lonzo $10 million + Vucevic $21 million = $31 million in contracts that can expire after next year, and be traded in offseason, or during next season. Isn’t that about what Julius Randle makes????
This reeks of Jed Hoyerism. Jed just has to have some of his pets around. Apparently so does AKME. They probably still sleep with Teddy Bears. The only thing about Ball is he is a plus points person when he plays. As little as he plays. I’m not impressed if his minutes go up.
I’m sorry, did we all get transported back to 2010 when 10MM was worth considerably more in the NBA and no one told me? It is solid rotation player money now. Lonzo is already a solid rotation player right now. Today. And he was a lot better than a solid rotation player before his injuries. As it is, he’s still a good defender, passer, and high BBIQ player.
If Lonzo were the Lonzo of old he would be getting triple this amount on a contract twice as long with no team options. But he’s not. The hope, obviously, is that he can rediscover his shooting stroke, which is hardly a stretch given he had previously been a very good shooter for years. And, obviously, the assumption is he would not be limited by the start of next season.
Finally, the team option ensures if he does fall apart again the team can cut it losses at a single year.
A healthy off season could do a lot for him if his knee really is healed
Yup, my bet is he wont play next year.
He didnt have enough faith in himself to sign 1 y contrqct
This tells me that they NO market for him. Why? Why? You running 4 guard lineup with Matas??? Absolutely stupid and careless spending by this team.
Look, this isn’t a defense of the Bulls FO by any stretch. But Ball likely had a market given that he drew a lot of trade interest. It’s possible he feels like he owed the team after missing 2+ years and wanted to stick around rather than test the market.
@justin
the only trade interest would be fit his expiring contract.
Why does it matter when the new objective is to lose as many games as possible? And some of those guards might not be on the team next year?
How does he average 11 ppg off 3 pointers.
With great efficiency.
But only 13 ppg total.
Usually pg’s can get to the line, or the rim.
Oops. I was looking at last year’s stats.
It’s pretty typical of him though.
Was there a massive NBA GM party and they all made bets on who could do the most ridiculous move?
So proud of this guy. I been loving his game since he was a beast at Chino Hills. Obv has the tough injury & comeback but his perseverance is paying off & I really feel good to see this news.
Yeah them Ball boys really had to pull themselves out of the dumpster to make a name for themselves
I love this move from the bulls #SeeRed
No team treads water in the nba like the bulls…
The Bulls didn’t want to trade Lonzo because other teams wanted them to take on future salaries and the Bulls didn’t want to.
The solution? Guaranteeing future salary to Lonzo.
“The Bulls have outscored opponents by 4.2 points per 100 possessions when Ball is on the court and have been outscored by 6.1 points per 100 possessions when he’s not”
That’s not bad value for $10M/yr
He and Caruso had the lineup with Demar, Zach and Vuc the top defensive rated team and we know those 3 dudes can’t defend to save their lives. IQ isn’t always quantifiable with the traditional stats
This is the exact same thing the Wizards did with Valanciunas: sign him to a good value multi-year deal and deal him for assets. Basic stuff during a rebuild. Even if it doesn’t work out all you did is cost yourself money during years you wouldn’t be competitive anyway.
@shea
Bro Val was giving his team s double double off the bench and shooting 57% from the floor. Even with that said, all he netted were two 2nd round picks. You can buy 2 of those for a lot less than $20 mil. Sooooo casual.
@KnicksFanCavsFan
A) Two 2nds and a young player with a bit of promise (Cissoko)
B) The salary floor is still a thing
C) There’s a reason JV can only get backup work these days. He’s on the decline and is not good defensively
D) Yes, defense is a thing but I suppose a casual wouldn’t know that
Wiz did well to get anything
Val is a traffic cone
Lmao, after just paying him how many millions to not play, they’re going to sign up for 2 more years of that? Those Ball’s… they dazzle just enough to lure you in, then rob ya blind. All pay and no play.
Has anyone watched enough BULLS games to gauge how Lonzo’s play/sturdiness.
But I guess, $10M/year means little in today’s NBA.
Great deal for Chi
Very little downside, good deal of upside on the court and Trade market a year from now
Between the Bulls in the last 10 years and the White Sox forever,
Jerry Reinsdorfis the worst ownership in both sports.
Ahh yes! Taking on multi year salary is definitely a problem WHEN YOU SIGN THIS GUY TO A MULTI YEAR DEAL AND KEEP HIM INSTEAD. Bulls honestly deserve the next 10 years. Back to back trade deadlines where you’re afraid to deal your guys because you could get burned in a trade. Grow a pair.
Lots of people in here who don’t understand what a team option is…
Makes no sense unless they are still moving Coby or Giddey. He’s nit even healthy yet. I guess they are paying him to heal …..
Decent value, hoping Ball doesnt get injured and mentors the kids.
If he is a mentor, I feel sorry for the players he mentoring
Yes a guy who had had to persist through 2.5 years of injury woes, remains humble and hard working, and has been able to come back and be an effective player. Terrible mentor material.
Are the people in this thread even reading what they are posting?
If he can stay healthy enough to be a backup, I can see that. Otherwise, WTH?
Bulls…sigh…
Hell yes! Ball is more than a mentor. WHEN he returns to full form, he’s one of the best point guards in the league. Him and Coby will form a nice duo as Ball continues to get back to form.
Bulls have a decent foundation for this rebuild in Coby, Ball, and Matas. Giddey can be a decent player, but he can’t defend a broomstick and his ball movement skills are unnecessary in the starting lineup with Ball.
-Trade the pick
-Trade Vooch
-Trade Giddey
-Go after Giannis with everything you have in 2026
Lonzo Ball is like Ben Simmons to me in value. Not quite as bad, but both will be remembered as busts in 30 years cause they were top picks who got hurt and played on terrible teams after their draft teams gave up on them.
Let’s summarize. Bulls did not want to take back more salary going forward to likely get a 2nd round pick. You can’t blame the Bulls incompetent front office for once in this scenario. His salary expiring at 21 million likely hard to match with expiring deals only. The deal is only one year and 10 million likely with a team option. That is nothing in the NBA these days. Very minor. Obvious on the surface looking at typical stats not great. But every advanced stat shows the team is better when he is on court despite those. His shooting has gotten better as minutes have increased with doctor approval. Take it easy. He is coming off missing 2.5 years and surgery no athlete has ever came back from. Takes time. Again only one year and 10 million. Calm down. This is minor deal that even if he gets injured or craps out has little to no impact. This is not a big deal. The Bulls front office has done much more incompetent things.
Bruh whoever is running the Bulls front office don’t know wtf they’re doing like y’all got rid of Zach because y’all had 2 many players who play the same position just to extend Lonzo & trade for 3 other players who play 1-2-3 like damn why
Was going to laugh but it’s only $10m. Patrick Williams is laughing all the way to the bank.
But expert Al was saying they are buying him out lol
I feel bad for Bulls fans (not that much though for booing Jerry and Jerry’s wife who made you all champs) so they deserve this
Bulls are a dumpster fire
More stupid moves by Reinsdorks boys.
Bulls do like to double down on mistakes
I’m happy for Lonzo after what he has been through. It’s great to see those kind of stories.
But what are the Bulls doing? I get you need to pay guys and it helps having vets around during a rebuild. If a different organization did this I would assume it was to move him later for value but it’s awfully hard to believe AK can pull off such a thing. Look at his trade history? At the same time it’s not like getting extra draft picks is likely to yield anything.
They need to clean house in the front office so bad. But it seems there are still enough Bulls fans willing to buy tickets so ownership has zero motivation to make useful changes while they still make money.
So glad that he didn’t sprain his wrist signing the contract…