NBA Trade Thread #12

[Chi town]

Lakers looking for C help. I like Smith, but he's in Billy's doghouse. What about Smith for Vandy? I love Vandy starting next to Matas.

Buz starts at the 4. Giddey the 3 and always two guards. Coby at the 2, Zo Tre or Ayo at the 1.

This is my issues with drafting CMB. He won’t start.

[Infinity2152]

Bro said Coby getting paid $37 mill as a free agent in 2026 is All Star money. All Stars would be able to get upwards of $60 mill summer 2026. Is $60 mill even close to $37 mil? So you're saying a little over half of the max contract is All-Star money? Kuminga's trying to get $30 mill right now, and he's proven NOTHING, way less than Coby. 34 yr old PG13 signed a $50+ mill AAV contract just last year. He's an old, always injured, declining All Star. Durant's looking for $55+ mill on his extension. Very old All-Star. How much did 35 yr old Jimmy Butler just get? But $37 mill is All Star money for a 26 yr old, lmao!


I saw people in here willing to take PG13 to add assets, but not Gobert, lmao!! Gobert is younger , cheaper, healthier. Not trying to hear about his offense, stick with Vucevic then. Make up your minds. We need a defensive, rim stopping center. But we don't want the best defensive center in the league. Like we don't want one of the best offensive centers in the league in Vuc. Gobert's 32, his contract dropped to $35 mill next year, has a few extra years and we get assets. But we're cool adding a Gafford type (no spacing) or letting Collins or Smith start because offense.

I'm starting to think some fans will b***h whatever we do, including doing nothing. Every deal we make is a bad deal, and everyone we don't we screwed the team by "waiting too long".

So now we shouldn't take on cap to add picks and young players? Gobert plus Shannon's money is less than Vucevic (or equal cost replacement) and re-signed Coby, I bet you that. Wouldn't call Gobert bad cap, his contract is $8 mill less than it was last year. Feels like Giddey all over again. Guy plays big minutes for a team an entire season, team makes the Conference Finals. All of a sudden, because of a Final series, he's unplayable. He was playable the entire season and the rest of the playoffs though.

[Infinity2152]

Side note: Giddey's been here one year. What two forwards do we have that could start over any of Giddey, White, Ball, Lavine for the first half of the season? Y'all must REALLY have wanted to see much more Pat Will. He and Matas were the only forwards and Matas wasn't starting the season over all those guys. Exactly what two forward lineups should Billy have played, absent forcing Jalen Smith, the backup center, to play PF? Didn't have Collins till after the trade and he's better at center too. Then Vuc went down.

He has to base his lineups by players that are on the team. Who are our playable forwards that Billy neglected last year, or even the previous years? Hell, Derozan is a guard and so are Javonte Green and Torrey Craig is 6'5". DJJ a 6'6" guard. Those were our best "bigs". Given how many minutes Pat Will got, our tallest non center, I'd say Billy's probably thirsty for height, lol.

[ChettheJet]

Lakers looking for C help. I like Smith, but he's in Billy's doghouse. What about Smith for Vandy? I love Vandy starting next to Matas.

Buz starts at the 4. Giddey the 3 and always two guards. Coby at the 2, Zo Tre or Ayo at the 1.

This is my issues with drafting CMB. He won’t start.

A) what if you're not able to read Billy D's mind like your think? Why is it not possible the post deadline he sat Smith telling him he just thought Vuc/Zach gave them more size n the lane, I want to see what the kid can do at the 4, don't get down on yourself, next year will be different.

With Vucevic traded, I do see a Buzelis/Giddey/Collins/White/Huerter starting. Giddey is the offense 1 the defense 3, Huerter the offense 3 the defense 2, Coby the 2 on offense taking the PG on defense. Not perfect but this is a team in transition. The bench of Smith, Williams, Ball, #12 those four mix in early/late like Billy did to end the season, not a 4-4 substitution. I see Ayo, Terry and Carter being moved, I'd sure like to bring back Jones and who comes back for Vuc, who knows.

The case for moving Ayo/Terry and Carter now is that next summer there will be more changes, expiring contracts, another trade deadline. the 2026 draft, free agency, make some moves now and some next year don't try to revamp 10 roster spots at one time, it can't go smoothly.

4 days out I would really like to at least hear some rumors of what the Bulls might do or how they could fit into the KD size, big name deals

[Infinity2152]

I don't think we should be looking for whoever we draft at 12 to start anytime soon anyway. Matas didn't and he was supposed to be a much higher pick. I think a team could go either way with Giddey. Play him at PG, has a huge size advantage on offense, rebounding advantage, great passer, speed disadvantage on defense. Play him as point SF, he's still taller than most SF's, you keep a PG on the floor who's hopefully a better defender and shooter, and Giddey probably guards SF's better than PG's. Out rebounds most SFs. If we consider him a SF, Billy is playing 2 forwards any lineup with Giddey and Matas. CMB or Essengue or Bryant or whoever will come off the bench like they will whoever we draft.

Even at point SF, it would be easy enough to get that size advantage back, just get the PG or SG switched onto you. Everybody's switching nowadays. He's likely to add 5-10 lbs over time being so young, be around 6'8, 220 lbs.

Houston, Phoenix, Spurs, Wolves are playing chicken now with 3 days left. Won't be able to include 2025 draft pick after that, all current offers become invalid. Wolves get the advantage then, majority of their offer doesn't revolve around a 2025 draft pick.

People are saying Suns asking too much, they're rejecting two offers centered around expensive guards to a team with Beal and Booker and mid round picks from teams with tons of assets. I'd hold out too. Suns have no use for Vassell or Green. Way we'd get involved is Vassell or Green come to us and Suns get an expiring center and assets. Rumored they want a center and don't plan to tank. Now let's hear the reasons we shouldn't want Vassell. We could send Vucevic and Ball in the trade for Vassell.

Spurs have 16 second round picks, add pick 38, and 3 seconds: Vucevic, Ball, pick 14, pick 38, 3 more second round picks seems like a great return for Phoenix. Spurs would re-sign KD next to Wemby, worth it for them.

[sco]

I don't think we should be looking for whoever we draft at 12 to start anytime soon anyway. Matas didn't and he was supposed to be a much higher pick. I think a team could go either way with Giddey. Play him at PG, has a huge size advantage on offense, rebounding advantage, great passer, speed disadvantage on defense. Play him as point SF, he's still taller than most SF's, you keep a PG on the floor who's hopefully a better defender and shooter, and Giddey probably guards SF's better than PG's. Out rebounds most SFs. If we consider him a SF, Billy is playing 2 forwards any lineup with Giddey and Matas. CMB or Essengue or Bryant or whoever will come off the bench like they will whoever we draft.

Even at point SF, it would be easy enough to get that size advantage back, just get the PG or SG switched onto you. Everybody's switching nowadays. He's likely to add 5-10 lbs over time being so young, be around 6'8, 220 lbs.

Houston, Phoenix, Spurs, Wolves are playing chicken now with 3 days left. Won't be able to include 2025 draft pick after that, all current offers become invalid. Wolves get the advantage then, majority of their offer doesn't revolve around a 2025 draft pick.

People are saying Suns asking too much, they're rejecting two offers centered around expensive guards to a team with Beal and Booker and mid round picks from teams with tons of assets. I'd hold out too. Suns have no use for Vassell or Green. Way we'd get involved is Vassell or Green come to us and Suns get an expiring center and assets. Rumored they want a center and don't plan to tank. Now let's hear the reasons we shouldn't want Vassell. We could send Vucevic, Ball, Portland pick in the trade for Vassell.

I know Vassell has negative BPM but I really like the guy. I'd do that deal.

[Infinity2152]

I don't think we should be looking for whoever we draft at 12 to start anytime soon anyway. Matas didn't and he was supposed to be a much higher pick. I think a team could go either way with Giddey. Play him at PG, has a huge size advantage on offense, rebounding advantage, great passer, speed disadvantage on defense. Play him as point SF, he's still taller than most SF's, you keep a PG on the floor who's hopefully a better defender and shooter, and Giddey probably guards SF's better than PG's. Out rebounds most SFs. If we consider him a SF, Billy is playing 2 forwards any lineup with Giddey and Matas. CMB or Essengue or Bryant or whoever will come off the bench like they will whoever we draft.

Even at point SF, it would be easy enough to get that size advantage back, just get the PG or SG switched onto you. Everybody's switching nowadays. He's likely to add 5-10 lbs over time being so young, be around 6'8, 220 lbs.

Houston, Phoenix, Spurs, Wolves are playing chicken now with 3 days left. Won't be able to include 2025 draft pick after that, all current offers become invalid. Wolves get the advantage then, majority of their offer doesn't revolve around a 2025 draft pick.

People are saying Suns asking too much, they're rejecting two offers centered around expensive guards to a team with Beal and Booker and mid round picks from teams with tons of assets. I'd hold out too. Suns have no use for Vassell or Green. Way we'd get involved is Vassell or Green come to us and Suns get an expiring center and assets. Rumored they want a center and don't plan to tank. Now let's hear the reasons we shouldn't want Vassell. We could send Vucevic, Ball, Portland pick in the trade for Vassell.

I know Vassell has negative BPM but I really like the guy. I'd do that deal.

And we'd still have Coby and Huerter to get assets in another deal. Just re-sign Tre Jones for less to recoup the Ball loss.

[Chi town]

Lakers looking for C help. I like Smith, but he's in Billy's doghouse. What about Smith for Vandy? I love Vandy starting next to Matas.

Buz starts at the 4. Giddey the 3 and always two guards. Coby at the 2, Zo Tre or Ayo at the 1.

This is my issues with drafting CMB. He won’t start.

A) what if you're not able to read Billy D's mind like your think? Why is it not possible the post deadline he sat Smith telling him he just thought Vuc/Zach gave them more size n the lane, I want to see what the kid can do at the 4, don't get down on yourself, next year will be different.

With Vucevic traded, I do see a Buzelis/Giddey/Collins/White/Huerter starting. Giddey is the offense 1 the defense 3, Huerter the offense 3 the defense 2, Coby the 2 on offense taking the PG on defense. Not perfect but this is a team in transition. The bench of Smith, Williams, Ball, #12 those four mix in early/late like Billy did to end the season, not a 4-4 substitution. I see Ayo, Terry and Carter being moved, I'd sure like to bring back Jones and who comes back for Vuc, who knows.

The case for moving Ayo/Terry and Carter now is that next summer there will be more changes, expiring contracts, another trade deadline. the 2026 draft, free agency, make some moves now and some next year don't try to revamp 10 roster spots at one time, it can't go smoothly.

4 days out I would really like to at least hear some rumors of what the Bulls might do or how they could fit into the KD size, big name deals

I’m not reading his mind. I am acknowledging what Billy HAS DONE.

How many mins has Pat played at the 3?
This is why he has been whining about “being a SF”. Billy has played him nearly all his mins over years at the 4.

I wish he played big. Guy never does.

[Infinity2152]

Buz starts at the 4. Giddey the 3 and always two guards. Coby at the 2, Zo Tre or Ayo at the 1.

This is my issues with drafting CMB. He won’t start.

A) what if you're not able to read Billy D's mind like your think? Why is it not possible the post deadline he sat Smith telling him he just thought Vuc/Zach gave them more size n the lane, I want to see what the kid can do at the 4, don't get down on yourself, next year will be different.

With Vucevic traded, I do see a Buzelis/Giddey/Collins/White/Huerter starting. Giddey is the offense 1 the defense 3, Huerter the offense 3 the defense 2, Coby the 2 on offense taking the PG on defense. Not perfect but this is a team in transition. The bench of Smith, Williams, Ball, #12 those four mix in early/late like Billy did to end the season, not a 4-4 substitution. I see Ayo, Terry and Carter being moved, I'd sure like to bring back Jones and who comes back for Vuc, who knows.

The case for moving Ayo/Terry and Carter now is that next summer there will be more changes, expiring contracts, another trade deadline. the 2026 draft, free agency, make some moves now and some next year don't try to revamp 10 roster spots at one time, it can't go smoothly.

4 days out I would really like to at least hear some rumors of what the Bulls might do or how they could fit into the KD size, big name deals

I’m not reading his mind. I am acknowledging what Billy HAS DONE.

How many mins has Pat played at the 3?
This is why he has been whining about “being a SF”. Billy has played him nearly all his mins over years at the 4.

I wish he played big. Guy never does.

What PF have we had that's bigger than Pat since he's been here for Billy to play him at SF?

[Chi town]

Side note: Giddey's been here one year. What two forwards do we have that could start over any of Giddey, White, Ball, Lavine for the first half of the season? Y'all must REALLY have wanted to see much more Pat Will. He and Matas were the only forwards and Matas wasn't starting the season over all those guys. Exactly what two forward lineups should Billy have played, absent forcing Jalen Smith, the backup center, to play PF? Didn't have Collins till after the trade and he's better at center too. Then Vuc went down.

He has to base his lineups by players that are on the team. Who are our playable forwards that Billy neglected last year, or even the previous years? Hell, Derozan is a guard and so are Javonte Green and Torrey Craig is 6'5". DJJ a 6'6" guard. Those were our best "bigs". Given how many minutes Pat Will got, our tallest non center, I'd say Billy's probably thirsty for height, lol.

Yep. You get it.

Billy has played Zo Caruso DJJ and Green at PF.

[Chi town]

A) what if you're not able to read Billy D's mind like your think? Why is it not possible the post deadline he sat Smith telling him he just thought Vuc/Zach gave them more size n the lane, I want to see what the kid can do at the 4, don't get down on yourself, next year will be different.

With Vucevic traded, I do see a Buzelis/Giddey/Collins/White/Huerter starting. Giddey is the offense 1 the defense 3, Huerter the offense 3 the defense 2, Coby the 2 on offense taking the PG on defense. Not perfect but this is a team in transition. The bench of Smith, Williams, Ball, #12 those four mix in early/late like Billy did to end the season, not a 4-4 substitution. I see Ayo, Terry and Carter being moved, I'd sure like to bring back Jones and who comes back for Vuc, who knows.

The case for moving Ayo/Terry and Carter now is that next summer there will be more changes, expiring contracts, another trade deadline. the 2026 draft, free agency, make some moves now and some next year don't try to revamp 10 roster spots at one time, it can't go smoothly.

4 days out I would really like to at least hear some rumors of what the Bulls might do or how they could fit into the KD size, big name deals

I’m not reading his mind. I am acknowledging what Billy HAS DONE.

How many mins has Pat played at the 3?
This is why he has been whining about “being a SF”. Billy has played him nearly all his mins over years at the 4.

I wish he played big. Guy never does.

What PF have we had that's bigger than Pat since he's been here for Billy to play him at SF?

We have Buz last year and Pat and him rarely got mins together. We have Jalen who never got PF mins even though he has his whole career.

[sco]

I’m not reading his mind. I am acknowledging what Billy HAS DONE.

How many mins has Pat played at the 3?
This is why he has been whining about “being a SF”. Billy has played him nearly all his mins over years at the 4.

I wish he played big. Guy never does.

What PF have we had that's bigger than Pat since he's been here for Billy to play him at SF?

We have Buz last year and Pat and him rarely got mins together. We have Jalen who never got PF mins even though he has his whole career.

It was flat out baffling. Billy has always confused the crap out of me in terms of who he has and hasn't played at the 4. Smith >> Pat. At least AK was pretty clear that Pat's entitlement opportunity ship has sailed and "it's on him" to figure his sh*t out.

[Infinity2152]

I’m not reading his mind. I am acknowledging what Billy HAS DONE.

How many mins has Pat played at the 3?
This is why he has been whining about “being a SF”. Billy has played him nearly all his mins over years at the 4.

I wish he played big. Guy never does.

What PF have we had that's bigger than Pat since he's been here for Billy to play him at SF?

We have Buz last year and Pat and him rarely got mins together. We have Jalen who never got PF mins even though he has his whole career.

We were trying to run, Vucevic is already slow, you really advocating for Vucevic/Smith lineup? Didn't we just add Smith this season too? We had Drummond before. Two bad perimeter defenders on the floor with Giddey and White? It could work sometimes, but is it really better? Just added Buz. Buz barely got minutes with anyone to start the season, and Pat got less minutes at the end. And they're still the only two PF's. Pat averaged 25 mins, Matas averaged 19. Somebody has to play PF. That's not even 48 minutes for the position.

Just saying, we've rarely had two forwards better than all the guards, especially if you consider Derozan a guard.

[kodo]

What PF have we had that's bigger than Pat since he's been here for Billy to play him at SF?

We have Buz last year and Pat and him rarely got mins together. We have Jalen who never got PF mins even though he has his whole career.

It was flat out baffling. Billy has always confused the crap out of me in terms of who he has and hasn't played at the 4. Smith >> Pat. At least AK was pretty clear that Pat's entitlement opportunity ship has sailed and "it's on him" to figure his sh*t out.

Last time Billy played a PF was in 2017, he played Sabonis. But Sabonis is an all-star level talent, none of our PF options are close to Sabonis.
Since then he's always played two SF types at the 3 & 4.

I think he would play two bigs with enough talent but the bar is pretty high.

[Infinity2152]

Most of our guards are the same height as whoever you consider PF anyway. Ball 6'6, Lavine 6'6, DeRozan 6'7", White 6'5", Terry 6'7, Ayo 6'5". We have a lot of good sized guards. Again, he just got Matas, Collins and Smith on the roster this year. Our PF's, outside Williams who got too many minutes and should be a small forward were non existent or shorter than the guards. We played Javonte Green, Caruso, DJJ and Torrey Craig at PF.

Are people really mad he added Matas minutes slowly? He ramped up, played well the second half and didn't hit a rookie wall because he was exhausted, like most rookies. Many get injured their first year from too many minutes too early. Matas plays more minutes, maybe he's injured at the end of the season after helping us win a few more games to get the 16th pick.

Smith was our only backup center half of the season, and he's supposed to get minutes at PF next to Vuc? And Williams at SF? Combined with Giddey's lightning fast foot speed, we could score off slow breaks instead of fast breaks and guard..... one player. Pat Will can and should get minutes at PF over Smith, he just needed to get it together. Now Matas will lock down the spot most likely. If we had a faster center I'd say sure, but not next to Vucevic. He averaged 15 minutes a game at center, at most he could have played a few minutes at PF, not enough to matter. Career average of 16 mins/gm.

They were really hoping for a Pat Will revival, he got 25 mins/gm.

[Chi town]

Vuc Pat - 21 18 - 39

For

Kuminga Moody TJD - 20 12 3 - 35

Only way I want Kuminga is as a Pat replacement.

[WesPeace]

If Bulls could finally lean on PWill that he will be healthier, get in shape, leaner, faster to play SF alongside Matas, that would solve one big problem. BUT PWill is a mystery box lol.. tools are there, but mental part of his game isnt! This is the last season he should get some chance to prove it otherwise..

At draft day or even a bit before we should see a lot of Bulls narrative going forward.

Vooch, Carter should be gone,thats it! Tre Jones re-signing depends on draft (especially if Demin or KJ are picked, which I hope doesnt happen).

Trading Vucevic and/or POR pick for younger defensive C or late 1st rounder should be priority,
Drafting someone like Coward, CMB, Powell, Bryant second priority to fit on SF/PF along Matas.

[Infinity2152]

Saw a proposed trade, reportedly from Portland league channel, so just a proposal but from Portland' side

Bulls get DeAndre Ayton, pick 11. Portland gets: Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, 2026 Portland pick. I'd do it. Quickly. Then try to trade that pick for 15 and 24. Have 12, 15, and 24.

Whether this trade happens or not, we should really be trying to trade Portland their pick back and come up. Right now. It has way more value to them than to anybody else, or as a trade throw in. Heck, pick 45 and their 2026 pick might get us pick 11. They get control of their picks again and they still get a rookie this year.

[sco]

Saw a proposed trade, reportedly from Portland league channel, so just a proposal but from Portland' side

Bulls get DeAndre Ayton, pick 11. Portland gets: Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, 2026 Portland pick. I'd do it. Quickly. Then try to trade that pick for 15 and 24. Have 12, 15, and 24.

Whether this trade happens or not, we should really be trying to trade Portland their pick back and come up. Right now. It has way more value to them than to anybody else, or as a trade throw in. Heck, pick 45 and their 2026 pick might get us pick 11. They get control of their picks again and they still get a rookie this year.

I'm on the fence. First, totally agree that we should get what we can from POR for that pick which has the most value to them. That said, no way do I want 3 rookies on the team. Also, only getting 11 for giving POR back and having to take on a bad salary on a Vuc-like player who doesn't shoot 3's and doesn't defend seems like a bit of a rip-off. Could you imagine having our C position manned by Ayton and Vuc...you are absolutely flushing it down the toilet.

[Chi town]

Saw a proposed trade, reportedly from Portland league channel, so just a proposal but from Portland' side

Bulls get DeAndre Ayton, pick 11. Portland gets: Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, 2026 Portland pick. I'd do it. Quickly. Then try to trade that pick for 15 and 24. Have 12, 15, and 24.

Whether this trade happens or not, we should really be trying to trade Portland their pick back and come up. Right now. It has way more value to them than to anybody else, or as a trade throw in. Heck, pick 45 and their 2026 pick might get us pick 11. They get control of their picks again and they still get a rookie this year.

This is the exact type of trade AK should be hunting but he won’t.

Ayton sucks but is a playable 35M expiring contract and he will want that next contract.

I’d be shocked if POR would ever do this.

You don’t trade back. You stay at 11 and go BPA 11 and 12. If you get too good of an offer you trade back from 12 and then trade away one of the later picks for a pick next year.

All of this is too much GMing for AK. It’s something Presti would do.