The Cleveland Cavaliers opened training camp this week with plenty of optimism after a 64‑win season, but the biggest storyline so far has been the play of Lonzo Ball. The veteran guard, acquired in an offseason trade from the Chicago Bulls, is reportedly impressing teammates and coaches alike at the team’s camp in Florida, even as questions about his long‑term health continue to hover.
Ball’s career has been defined as much by injuries as by his unique skill set. Over the past two seasons in Chicago, he appeared in just 35 games each year, battling persistent knee issues that at one point nearly pushed him toward retirement. The Bulls ultimately dealt him to Cleveland in exchange for Isaac Okoro, giving Ball a chance to reset his career with a contender.
According to Cavaliers insider Chris Fedor, Ball has been “turning heads” in camp, showing flashes of the playmaking, defensive versatility, and high basketball IQ that once made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft.
“He continues to show how he can be an effective fit for this team,” Fedor noted, while acknowledging the lingering uncertainty: “Obviously there are questions about how much he’s going to play in the regular season, is he going to play back‑to‑backs, can he make it through fully healthy?”
Head coach Kenny Atkinson has also been vocal about Ball’s impact.
“He hasn’t disappointed. It’s kind of everything that we thought we were getting,” Atkinson said. “The IQ stands out. He was setting some inverted screens for Evan [Mobley] today, and just the angle of the screen, when to flip the screen; he’s just got a great, great feel.”
That feel for the game has always been Ball’s calling card. While his scoring has never been elite, his ability to orchestrate an offense, defend multiple positions, and make quick decisions has made him a valuable connector on every roster he’s joined.
For all the excitement, the central issue remains Ball’s health. At 27, he has played just 70 games combined over the past four seasons. Last year in Chicago, he averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in limited minutes, but never found consistent rhythm. The Cavaliers are expected to manage his workload carefully, particularly in back‑to‑back situations.
Still, even a healthy version of Ball in a 20‑minute‑per‑game role could be a major boost for a Cleveland team already stacked with talent in Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. His defensive instincts and unselfish playmaking could give the Cavs a new dimension in their pursuit of an NBA Finals berth.
Ball’s journey has been anything but smooth, but his early showing in camp suggests he’s determined to write a new chapter. For a Cavaliers team still stinging from last season’s second‑round exit, his resurgence could be the X‑factor that pushes them over the top.
