While the NBA world processes a series of monumental trades — Luka Doncic to LA, De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio, Jimmy Butler to Golden State — we have another consequential, if slightly less buzzy bit of breaking news.
The Chicago Bulls and Lonzo Ball have agreed to terms on a two-year, $20 million extension, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Ball has been a common presence in fake trades of late. He was also a popular hypothetical buyout candidate. Instead, he’s locked into a contract with Chicago through the 2026-27 season in what qualifies as a huge personal victory for the former No. 2 overall pick.
After missing two full seasons to an unprecedented knee injury, Ball has made a strong impression in his return to action. His numbers aren’t quite where they were pre-injury, but Ball is as mentally sharp as ever. His ability to process the floor, connect dots as a passer, and put teammates in a position to succeed is seldom rivaled.
