Lonzo Ball Reacts to Cavs Trade, 'S--t, I'm Happy to Still Be Playing Anywhere'

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball is in good spirits after the Chicago Bulls traded him for wing Isaac Okoro, noting that he's still also just "happy to still be playing anywhere."

Ball was first asked about what he's looking forward to the most post-trade, and he provided this response (13:08 mark).

"S--t, just playing, competing for a ring. I mean, I feel like that should be the goal. I feel like that is the goal, so, happy to get over there and get started. You know, meet everybody, get familiar with everything, and take it as far as we can."

Ball was then asked how it feels to be joining a team that has the second-best odds to win next year's NBA championship.

"I felt like it's just a blessing, bro, to be honest. I mean, everybody keep asking me how I feel about the trade, how you feel about the trade. I'm like, s--t, I'm happy to still be playing anywhere, let alone a team that has a real chance to, you know, win a ring. So my whole life, I've been, you know, playing, I feel like the right brand of basketball, and that's to win games, so...I'm f--king going to a great situation, and I just want to, you know, play my role and do what I can to help."

Ball missed nearly three years after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee in January 2022. It was a brutal ordeal for Ball, who ultimately had to get three procedures done, including a March 2023 meniscus and cartilage transplant.

But he engineered an incredible comeback, making his return to the court last year. He ended up playing 35 games, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 22.2 minutes per contest.

It's understandable why Ball feels it's a "blessing" to be playing anywhere considering that he was out for so long before getting the opportunity to come back. He's in a great spot in Cleveland, which won 64 games and earned the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed last year.

The Cavs were upset in the second round by the eventual East champion Indiana Pacers, but Cleveland returns a strong roster and could very well make a title run this year. Ball will be part of that effort as he looks toward his next season.