Chicago Bulls Lonzo Ball signs his $21.4 million option for 2024-25: Reports

Lonzo Ball has not been able to play for the Chicago Bulls during the last two seasons. However, he expects to be a part of the team's preparations for 2024-25. 

According to reports Ball accepted his $21.4 million player option for next season. Despite the decision, Chicago Bulls is unsure if Ball will be able to play with a left knee that has had three operations in the last two years. In March 2023, he had a cartilage transplant surgery on his knee, which had sustained a torn meniscus in January 2022.

If Ball is unable to return and his knee injury turns out to be career-ending, the Bulls will be allowed to remove the $21.4 million number from their salary cap and luxury tax. However, if Ball continues his efforts to return and does not play, he will consume a substantial portion of Chicago's budget space in 2024-25 as the team looks to re-sign DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams. This might make moving Zach LaVine an even bigger priority. 

We’re just going to wait and see his progression - Arturas Karnisovas

"We’re just going to wait and see his progression the next couple of months," after the team's season ended. "He’s progressing well. Everything is looking good with no setbacks. So, we’ll see where he’s at in a couple of months," according to Yahoo Sports Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas stated.

Karnisovas made his statements when a reporter remarked that Lonzo Ball's father, LaVar Ball, claimed in early April that it would be four to five months before he could play five-on-five full contact basketball.

Ball has averaged 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game across his career, which includes two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans. He was the Lakers' first-round choice (No. 2 overall) in 2017 after playing one season at UCLA.