drosestruts wrote:I call this the "where there's smoke there's fire" offseason plan.
Trade 1:
Chicago in: Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins
Golden State in: Alex Caruso, Nikola Vucevic, and Torrey Craig
At the deadline there were reports that the Bulls liked Kuminga and that the Warriors liked Caruso but no deal materialized. Now they each get their guys while exchanging unwanted contracts. Warriors also add Craig for need forward depth.
Trade 2:
Chicago in: #5
Detroit in: Zach LaVine, #11
Another previously rumored deal gets completed with the addition of a pick swap in this year's draft. Chicago gets well below the tax. Draft BPA, don't worry about fit.
DeMar DeRozan:
I think, right or wrong, the Bulls will give DeMar the opportunity to decide if he wants to stay or not. With the above moves I'd guess he asks to go to LA, and that the Bulls accommodate him even if the return is underwhelming
Bulls in: Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and 2 2025 2nd's
Lakers in: DeMar DeRozan
Draft:
For the sake of this fantasy land let's say Nikola Topic falls - you know AK would be all over him
Free Agency:
Re-sign Patrick Williams to 3 year deal with ~$14m AAV
Release/relinquish cap holds on Bitim, Green, and Drummond
By my count at this point we'd have $14mm in cap space left and a need for some centers.
Throw all the remaining cap space at Hartenstein on a contract with raises every year - it will be more than he'd make on the MLE and it will be interesting to see if the Knicks match as they'll be starting the offseason ~$20mm below the tax and also have to re-sign Anunoby. Could in theory stretch Ball and make this offer even more competitive
Then use a portion, probably not all, of the MLE to sign James Wiseman and take a flier on if things can click for him in the near future
2024-25 Bulls:
White/Ball/Vincent/Carter
Topic/Dosunmu/JHS/
Williams/Wiggins/Terry
Kuminga/Phillips/Vanderbilt
Hartenstein/Wiseman
Bulls look something like this. Not a single starter over 26. Bulls rapidly become one of the youngest teams in the NBA
IMO, GS doesn't include Kuminga for that deal. Similarly I don't see us coming away with Vandy from LA for a Demar S&T. Nabbing Hartenstein would be a huge win.