Warriors get major Lonzo Ball buyout update

Lonzo Ball almost immediately landed on the Golden State Warriors' radar after getting waived by the Utah Jazz last Thursday. 

Ball has had a rough go of it in the big leagues for the most part. However, the former Los Angeles Lakers guard is a stout perimeter defender and adequate ball-handler who could help run the Warriors’ second unit.

On Saturday, the Stein Line’s Jake Fischer reported that the Warriors are open to adding Ball to their roster via buyout. 

“As the Warriors are working to convert two-way guard Pat Spencer to a roster spot, Golden State also has its sights set on adding Lonzo Ball via the buyout market,” Fischer said.

Two days later, though, the Stein Line’s Marc Stein stated that the Dubs, who agreed to sign Spencer to a standard NBA contract shortly after Fischer’s report, may be having doubts about bringing Ball on board.

“There were some fresh rumbles over the weekend that the Warriors might opt not to sign Lonzo Ball in the end after converting Pat Spencer from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract,” Stein claimed Monday.

Ball’s troubling injury track record is likely the main reason the Warriors are hesitant to pair the UCLA product with Stephen Curry in the Bay. Ball only competed in 70 games with the Chicago Bulls from 2021 to 2025 due to a significant knee injury, which isn’t going to appeal to a Warriors squad that hasn’t been fully healthy this year. 

If Golden State believes that the reward for acquiring Ball will never outweigh the risk, there’s a good chance he won’t become a Warrior anytime soon. 

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