Shams: Lonzo for Okoro

[boozapalooza]

Does anyone like this trade or have a positive spin? Looking for any rationale to cling onto here. Such a lackluster return.

[Betta Bulleavit]

For those saying that we were offered a FRP for Lonzo at the deadline, is there anything that substantiates that as fact?

[sco]

I like the trade. Okoro is a very good wing defender that we can start as a 5th option guy between Giddey and Coby. I was looking at Ball playing that role but Ball's durability is a big problem. Lonzo may regain his form, but he was clearly bad last season at shooting 3's. FYI Okoro shoots 3's (low volume) at around 37%.

This gives us our wing defender and optimistically opens the door to bring Jones back to be our back-up PG. I also see addition through subtraction by Okoro taking all of Pat's and Terry's minutes.

But again, the move is not good if we don't bring Jones back.

[nomorezorro]

the idea of this being a guy who "showed something" is so funny to me. i hate this front office and they do so much bad stuff, but you don't really need to strain to try to invent more stuff to use to slam them

[Wisedude]

One thing to consider here: Lonzo requires the ball in his hands. Okoro does not require the ball, will play tough hard-nosed defense, only 24 years old, after one year his contract becomes attractive as an expiring contract for trade purposes if needed. $11m this year and $11.8m next year is not excessive by NBA standards.

[WesPeace]

Does anyone like this trade or have a positive spin? Looking for any rationale to cling onto here. Such a lackluster return.

Okoro is actually a very good SF defender and solid shooter for 3pts on low volume.. also he is mostly healthy, while Lonzo isnt. But overall I think we should get at least 2nd rounder on top of Okoro.

[drosestruts]

Big Lonzo fan so don't really like the trade.

AKME certainly have a vision acquiring playersl ike Okoro, Giddey, Smith, Collins, Huerter, and Jones over the last year or so.

Don't see how this helps us, barring Okoro doing a 180.

[Betta Bulleavit]

This is a fine trade. Anyone pissing and moaning about it is really doing so just for the sake of pissing and moaning. Okoro isn’t a “bad” player. He’s a role player and the acquisition of him creates a path for other moves.

[WindyCityBorn]

Jeez..

Ball isn’t worth much with his injury situation.

[WindyCityBorn]

I tend to like Lonzo more.

But pretty boring trade.

One guy plays. The other doesn’t.

[Kurt Heimlich]

AKME are always the least capable guys in the room when it comes to these discussions. Teams keep using us to build/finish their roster while jettison'ing their unneeded/less useful pieces and not even having to pay draft capital to do so. Wild stuff, but predictable at this point.

[Red Larrivee]

For those saying that we were offered a FRP for Lonzo at the deadline, is there anything that substantiates that as fact?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6128022/2025/02/12/best-nba-trade-deadline-moves-lakers-mavericks/?source=user_shared_article

According to a league source, the Bulls had a firm offer to get a first-round pick and take on future money for Lonzo Ball and extended him instead. Good news, though: 12 of the Bulls’ players are signed for next season. They can just re-sign Josh Giddey, run it back and chase the Play-In again. Yay?

[Peelboy]

So this is the "next Giddey" trade? GTFO. After seeing what Caruso did in the playoffs, with Lonzo capable of that (if managed during RS to be healthy, which is also similar to AC), THIS is the best they can get? These guys have no clue how to negotiate deals. They just identify a guy they think might be ok and then give whatever it takes to get him.

Also this makes it 100% seem like they are focused on locking in serviceable guys at decent contracts rather than draft capital. So clearly think that "we can be Indiana in 2025-26," ignoring that they don't have anyone as good as Indiana's top 2, and that that's a 1-year mirage for them before Boston, Milwaukee, Indiana get their key guys back and leapfrog them.

[WindyCityBorn]

Shams just tweeted it. We’re trading Lonzo for Issac Okoro straight up.

Where are the draft picks???

Also how many wings who can’t shoot does one team need…

He shoots just fine...on low volume.

Ideally a precursor to a Pat trade - they play the same role.

Tough to expect any picks for Lonzo.

Read on Twitter

We turned down a FRP from Memphis for Lonzo at the deadline. Having a tough time seeing how this is a better return.

Yeah if we took Smart’s bad contract. No thanks.

[nomorezorro]

For those saying that we were offered a FRP for Lonzo at the deadline, is there anything that substantiates that as fact?

it was reported by john hollinger and the grizzlies ended up attaching a first round pick to move smart to the wizards, so it sounds about right

memphis was the 2 seed in the west at the deadline and slotted to have like the 26th pick in the draft, though. ended up falling to 18 by the end of the season, womp womp

[bullskokie]

Im going to miss Zo! He is one of my all time favorite Bulls players. I still believe when all is said and done, he will have a hall of fame career!

[Bulldog23]

He is a good defender and very athletic.

[WindyCityBorn]

Does anyone like this trade or have a positive spin? Looking for any rationale to cling onto here. Such a lackluster return.

You seriously overrate Ball’s value.

[HoopsterJones]

Let’s be honest, should’ve at least got a Cavs 2nd rounder…that Jerry could’ve made AKME sell for pocket change.

[Betta Bulleavit]

For those saying that we were offered a FRP for Lonzo at the deadline, is there anything that substantiates that as fact?

it was reported by john hollinger and the grizzlies ended up attaching a first round pick to move smart to the wizards, so it sounds about right

memphis was the 2 seed in the west at the deadline and slotted to have like the 26th pick in the draft, though. ended up falling to 18 by the end of the season, womp womp

So then it was probably more about not wanting Smart than not wanting the pick. Right?