Three Lonzo Ball Trade Destinations That Make Sense for Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers made a notable move on Saturday night by trading De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for guards Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis.

Schröder is likely to take on the backup point guard role, which could lead the Cavs to trade Lonzo Ball before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

Cleveland is likely to trade Ball's salary to help them get closer to getting under the second apron threshold. However, the Cavs will still need to make a few additional contract adjustments to get under the second apron if they move Ball.

Ball is in the middle of a challenging season, averaging only 4.6 points and 3.9 assists over 34 games. But several teams should consider trading for him.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets need point guard depth, as their starting point guard, Fred VanVleet has been sidelined for the entire season after suffering a torn ACL before the season began.

Houston has a strong squad, but its lack of point guard depth could come back to haunt it in the postseason. The Rockets should reach out to the Cavs and explore what it would take to acquire Ball. This move would benefit Ball as well, as he'd have the opportunity to play alongside one of the greatest players in history, Kevin Durant.

Dallas Mavericks

Injured point guards are the main storyline here. Kyrie Irving hasn't stepped onto the court all season after suffering a knee injury in March, and there's a chance he won't return before the season wraps up.

The Mavericks have a 19-30 record, which raises the possibility that Irving may miss the remainder of the season. With Dallas potentially trading some players away, bringing in a guard like Ball would be a smart move to support star rookie forward Cooper Flagg as he continues to develop.

Ball excels at getting his teammates involved, which could help Flagg continue developing over the next couple of months.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards rank among the weakest teams in the NBA, but Ball’s potential move to Washington could serve as a valuable salary dump. This might also allow Cleveland to send a couple of second-round picks to the Wizards to take on Ball.

Washington already made a significant trade this year, acquiring Atlanta's star point guard, Trae Young. However, he's currently dealing with an injury that will keep him sidelined through the All-Star break.

The Wizards might consider adding Ball to the lineup, allowing him to hold down the guard position for a bit before Young finally steps onto the court.