Report: Lonzo Ball, Bulls Agree to 2-Year, $20M Contract Extension amid Trade Rumors

Lonzo Ball is sticking around in Chicago after making his successful return this season following multiple knee surgeries.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Ball agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract extension that will keep him with the Bulls for the next few seasons.

The second year of the contract is reportedly a team option, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.

This comes despite reported interest from the Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of the NBA trade deadline, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

After missing two and a half seasons with knee injuries, Ball returned in 2024-25 to average 7.2 points, 3.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.

Despite being sidelined for stretches of the early season with injuries and illness and playing limited minutes when available, Ball served as an effective contributor off the bench when available.

That is particularly impressive given Ball's unprecedented return to the NBA following extensive repair to his left knee. Ball has undergone multiple surgeries on the knee since 2022, most recently undergoing a cartilage transplant in March in 2023.

The Bulls, who are at risk of missing the playoffs for a third straight season, were a postseason team when Ball was last a starter in Chicago during the 2021-22 campaign.

Ball averaged 13.0 points per game as he joined Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vučević in leading Chicago out to a 27-13 record to start that season.

After Ball's injury, the Bulls went 19-23 over the remainder of the regular season before losing in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks. Chicago hasn't been back to the playoffs since.

Trading away LaVine likely won't help the team get back to the postseason, but it's clear the organization values Ball as it attempts to build toward the future.