The Golden State Warriors are making moves - and they’re not done yet. According to multiple reports, the team is eyeing Lonzo Ball on the NBA buyout market, signaling a potential reunion between the California native and his home state.
Ball, who was just waived by the Utah Jazz after being traded there by the Cleveland Cavaliers, is now an unrestricted free agent. And if the Warriors have their way, he could be suiting up in the Bay Area before long.
Let’s set the stage: Golden State just pulled off a significant trade deadline move, sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis. That’s a bold swing - one that signals the Warriors aren’t content with just making the playoffs.
They’re aiming to retool on the fly and make another deep postseason run. Adding Ball, even in a limited role, could be part of that equation.
Now, let’s talk about what Lonzo Ball brings to the table - and what he doesn’t, at least right now. The 28-year-old guard is averaging 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game this season.
His shooting numbers are rough: just 30.1% from the field, 27.2% from three, and 66.7% from the line. Those are far from his career marks, and they reflect a player still working his way back to form after battling injuries in recent seasons.
But numbers only tell part of the story. Ball’s value has never been just about scoring.
He’s a high-IQ floor general, a plus defender, and a guy who can push the tempo - all things that could mesh well with Golden State’s motion-heavy, read-and-react offense. He doesn’t need to dominate the ball to make an impact, and in a Warriors system that thrives on unselfish play and quick decision-making, he might just find his rhythm again.
It’s easy to forget, but Ball was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Since then, he’s had stints with the Lakers, Pelicans, Bulls, and Cavaliers.
Through it all, he’s posted career averages of 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. When healthy, he’s shown flashes of being a connective piece - a guard who can glue together lineups with his feel for the game and defensive instincts.
Of course, this potential signing comes amid a critical stretch for Golden State. The Warriors currently sit eighth in the Western Conference at 28-24.
They’re in the thick of the playoff race, but nothing is guaranteed in a crowded West. The Porziņģis trade was a clear signal: this front office still believes in the core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green - and they’re willing to make bold moves to give that trio another shot at contention.
Interestingly, the Warriors also made a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo before the trade deadline, though Milwaukee ultimately held onto their superstar. Giannis shares an agency with Curry, and the Warriors’ interest wasn’t exactly a secret. That deal didn’t materialize, but it underscores Golden State’s mindset - they’re not standing pat.
It’s been a few years since the Warriors lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy. They last won it all in 2022, taking down the Celtics in six games.
Since then, they haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs. Last year, they battled through a grueling seven-game series against the Rockets before falling to the Timberwolves in five in the conference semifinals.
So here we are again, with the Warriors trying to recalibrate. The addition of Porziņģis gives them a new dynamic - a stretch big who can space the floor and protect the rim. If they can also bring in Lonzo Ball and get even a fraction of the player he once was, it could be another piece in a late-season puzzle.
No one’s saying Ball is a cure-all. But in a league where versatility, defense, and basketball IQ still matter - especially in the playoffs - he might just be the kind of low-risk, high-upside move that could pay off big.