Lonzo Ball trade: Cavaliers move on in three-team deal, Jazz expected to waive

Lonzo Ball is on the move again after Cleveland sent the veteran guard to Utah in a three-team trade that also involved Atlanta. The deal, completed Wednesday, February 4, 2026 (ET), is widely viewed as a financial and roster reset for the Cavaliers — and a short stop for Ball, with Utah expected to waive him and let him enter free agency.

Lonzo Ball trade: the terms

Cleveland sent Lonzo Ball and two second-round picks to Utah. Utah, in turn, sent center Jock Landale to Atlanta. Atlanta sent cash considerations to Utah.

The structure matters: Cleveland’s outgoing package is centered on clearing Ball’s slot and attaching picks, while Utah effectively purchases flexibility (cash plus picks) and moves Landale to Atlanta.

Why Cleveland made the move

For Cleveland, the trade reads like a decision to stop trying to “make it work” with Ball and to open up flexibility ahead of the stretch run. Ball arrived last summer and carried obvious theoretical value — size at guard, passing, and perimeter defense — but his recent availability history and uneven production made him a difficult fit for a team trying to stay steady in a crowded Eastern Conference picture.

This move also signals a preference for simplifying the rotation. Cleveland has leaned on other guards and creators for consistent minutes, and Ball’s role had become harder to justify night-to-night if he wasn’t providing dependable spacing or rhythm offense.

Just as importantly, swapping Ball out without taking back a comparable salary can help Cleveland manage its roster spots and financial commitments. Even without a marquee player coming in, that breathing room can be valuable for late-season additions, internal development minutes, or simply avoiding clogging the backcourt.

Why Utah is expected to waive Ball

Utah’s end of the deal looks less like a basketball bet and more like an asset-and-flexibility play. With Ball expected to be waived, the Jazz can take the two second-round picks and cash considerations while keeping their roster plan clean.

For Ball, a waiver would immediately reshape his market: instead of being tied to a single team’s timeline, he could look for a situation that offers either (1) a clearer path to minutes, (2) a contender-friendly role, or (3) medical and performance infrastructure that gives him the best chance to stay on the floor.

If Utah does waive him, the next steps would depend on waiver timing and league rules, but the practical point is simple: a player who was traded is likely to become available to the rest of the league quickly.

Atlanta’s angle: a straightforward center add

Atlanta’s involvement is the cleanest: it gets Jock Landale. That type of acquisition is typically about depth and matchups — an additional big who can cover regular-season minutes, help with physical lineups, and give coaches another option when injuries or foul trouble hit.

From a roster-building perspective, adding a playable center can stabilize the second unit and reduce the need for small-ball patches. Whether Landale becomes a regular part of the rotation will come down to how he fits with Atlanta’s existing frontcourt options and how the coaching staff wants to allocate minutes.

What comes next for Lonzo Ball

Ball’s immediate future now hinges on two questions: how quickly the waiver process moves, and what kind of role he’s willing to accept.

Teams that could show interest generally fall into two buckets:

• Playoff teams seeking guard defense and passing in a limited role, especially if they want another ball-mover who can fit next to higher-usage scorers.

• Teams needing structure at guard but unwilling to take on a large commitment, preferring a short-term agreement tied to health and performance.

Ball’s career arc has been shaped by health, especially his left knee issues that cost him long stretches across multiple seasons. Any suitor is likely to prioritize medical clarity and role definition: how many minutes, what usage, and what the team needs him to do immediately.

For now, the headline is clear: Cleveland has pivoted, Utah is positioned to move on quickly, and Lonzo Ball may be headed to the open market at a moment when teams are calibrating for the final weeks of the season.

Sources consulted: NBA, Reuters, ESPN, Yahoo Sports