Chicago and Cleveland agreed to the trade for Lonzo Ball on June 28, but it didn’t become official until the start of the new league year.

If not for a two-year absence tied to a knee injury and complications from surgery, Lonzo Ball would likely be entering the prime of his NBA career. Instead, the former No. 2 overall pick said he is thankful to be playing at all.

An NBA insider reveals why the Cavaliers saw Lonzo Ball as the perfect fit despite his injury history and time away from the game.