NBA Trade Deadline: Lonzo Ball traded to Utah before being released
Feb 4, 2026
Sylvain Sultat
Lonzo Ball calls himself a « scapegoat » after leaving Cleveland
Lonzo Ball believes he was used as a scapegoat during the Cavaliers' struggles. The point guard traded to the Utah Jazz in February defends his performance despite disappointing statistics in Cleveland.
Photo Credit : © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Lonzo Ball didn’t mince words about his shortened stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a guest on the Ball In The Family podcast, the former Cavs point guard believed he was designated as responsible for the team’s early season struggles.
« I know I’m the scapegoat right now, but that comes with the name, » Ball said. « Can I play better? Yes. Did I play terribly? I don’t think so. I shot poorly. »
Declining statistics that precipitated his departure
Arriving in Cleveland via a trade with Chicago during the 2025 offseason, Ball was supposed to occupy a key role in the backcourt rotation after Ty Jerome’s departure. However, his performances never met the expectations placed on him.
Coming off the bench, the 6’6″ point guard averaged only 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals, with alarming percentages: 30.1% overall shooting and 27.2% from 3-point range.
The Cavaliers had an inconsistent start to the season, posting a 22-19 record after 41 games, far from the brilliant 64-18 of the 2024-2025 season. Hit by injuries to Darius Garland, Max Strus and Evan Mobley, the team struggled to find continuity.
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Nicolas Flamecourt
On February 4, Cleveland finally traded Ball to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal. The Jazz then released him, making him a free agent. Ball acknowledges his struggles while nuancing the criticism: « People say I’m shooting 25%. Let’s look at the percentages: I take four shots per game and I make one. That sucks, but you don’t win or lose on four shots. »
Since his departure, Cleveland has restructured its backcourt by trading Garland to the LA Clippers for James Harden, and now has a 34-21 record, remaining in the race in the East.
Lonzo Ball on being the « scapegoat » for the Cavs’ recent struggles:
« I know I’m the scapegoat right now, but that comes with the name… I’m not going say I’m playing great, but to me, I’m just missing shots. People are like ‘Oh, he’s shooting 25%.’ That’s four shots a game and… pic.twitter.com/NVEJlZlDRF
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) February 18, 2026
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
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