RealGM

Core of the trade is as follows:

Chicago in: Steven Adams and Jock Landale

Houston in: Nikola Vucevic


Why for Chicago?

Adds additional center depth. Right now Chicago has Vuc and Jalen Smith as the only centers on the roster. This gives them additional depth and continues their path to being younger (Landale 28, Adams being an expiring contract). Does come with the benefit of additional 2025 cap space due to the expiring Adams contract.


Why for Houston?
Adams and Landale our depth pieces - the starter is Sengun. But is Adams even real? Didn't play at all last year, played 40 games the season before that. What he'll look like is anyone's guess. Houston needs a reliable, dependable backup center. Vuc is an ironman and rarely misses games. I also think Vuc as a bench center will give Houston's 2nd unit some boost. Being the only person over 6'5" on the court for the Bulls the past two years was taxing, Vuc in a smaller role I could see regaining his scoring and impact.

This also opens up a roster spot and cap space this season to sign Orlando Robinson who Rockets fans have liked on their summer league team.

If there's a value gap here? What fills it?

think houston want to preserve capspace next year

For a backup role, why would Houston take on the extra year of $20m+ salary? And is Vucevic willing to take a backup role? Adams is. And Houston valued Adams enough to trade for him while he was injured and rehabbing his injury. Just seems like a complete DOA type deal for Houston without a first round pick, and that would be silly for Chicago to pay.

Love it as a Bulls' fan-would add the Port 1st to incentivize it a bit

While Vuc would make for an excellent back-up Center, I don't think tieing up salary at Vuc number makes sense. Sengun is going to be a near-max player next year, and having an 20 Million back-up Center just doesn't make sense financially.

Dead deal for Houston.

Adams and Landale are better fits on the court than Vucevic. And that’s not even going into the financials. Houston has cap space next year. Not wasting that on Vucevic. Huge no from Houston.

Colbinii wrote:While Vuc would make for an excellent back-up Center, I don't think tieing up salary at Vuc number makes sense. Sengun is going to be a near-max player next year, and having an 20 Million back-up Center just doesn't make sense financially.

Dead deal for Houston.

Yeah this makes sense to me. If there was an additional year before Sengun needed the extension I could see something centered on this working, but this does pretty much end the idea.

Something similar for Capela may make more sense as he's an expiring. 2:1 center swap, let's Houston sign Robinson

Without much thought it looks like a great one year deal for the Bulls. Adams is expiring, and rather old so next summer the hunt is on for a new starting center. Landale is not guaranteed every upcoming year, he is what he is, he's not going to develop into more. So is he worth hanging onto?

What this would do for me is make Jalen Smith the starting PF with Adams at center and Landale off the bench, rebounders and rim protectors while Smith gets out to run with Giddey, Lavine, Williams

But as most observe, what does HOU want a $20M backup center unless they see Senguin as fragile.