RealGM

Bulls
out: Vucevic, P.Williams, Huerter, J.Carter, D.Terry
in: Markkanen, B.Portis, A.Jackson

Bucks
out: B.Portis, A.Jackson, Kuzma
in: Vucevic, K.Anderson, Niang

Jazz:
out: Markkanen, K.Anderson, Niang
in: Kuzma, P.Williams, Huerter, J.Carter, D.Terry


Bulls: try to make the PO in 2026
Giddey, White, Buzelis, Markkanen, Portis
TreJones, Dosunmu, Okoro/Essengue, J.Smith, Collins

Bucks: the sacrifice of Portis is necessary to sell Kuzma, in return they take expiring contracts for having flexibility in summer 2026
K.anderson add playmaking that is not the best quality of ColeAnthony. Niang add 3 point shooter, Vucevic replace Portis
ColeAnthony, Trent, Anderson, Giannis, Turner
K.PorterJr, Rollins, Prince, Niang, Vucevic

Jazz: downgrade the roster for reach the objective of one of the best potizion for draft 2026

Bucks aren’t trading Portis to move Kuzma. Vucevic would be a worthless player on the Bucks too. Bucks are trying to contend this year, making the team worse doesn’t achieve that.

Chicago owes (2?) firsts to Utah.

Milwaukee part probably fair value or even favoring Milwaukee a bit, but I’d just keep Portis/Kuzma. Throwing a whole season of Giannis’ prime just to maybe get to 30-35m in cap space for ???? (Reaves?) and being left with no roster doesn’t feel like best way forward. Next offseason if they just sit with this roster, they can trade Kuz+2026 first+2031 first for a player likely better than Reaves.. while keeping Turner, Portis, and whatever of their current pieces that works out..

While Lauri's new contract has significantly lowered his trade value (he got paid extra money to stick with a tank team for several more years but the extra money causes problems on a team that's trying and has other good players getting paid), it's not nearly this low.

Taking back some bad contract money like Williams or Kuzma makes sense, but it would need to come with some positive asset(s) as well.

It's definitely a playoff NOW move for the Bulls. It's also a real return to sender trade for them, bringing back two former players The Bulls aren't giving up any picks just to get to lose in the first round of the playoffs. They're taking on the huge contract, that's their contribution.

There's no saying that Markannen, or Portis for that matter, wants to go back to CHI. I don't see them dissatisfied with Buzelis to relegate him to the 3rd option which this does before he gets a full year starting. If it were up to me I'd give up Dosunmu over Huerter to keep the better shooter who you don't put in the Bucks 10 man rotation. Otherwise I'd do it.

I really have a tough time seeing why in the heck UT wants 4 former Bulls except to tank with 3 expiring contracts

So our incentive is to trade a really good player for terrible ones with no compensation

babyjax13 wrote:So our incentive is to trade a really good player for terrible ones with no compensation

But his contract! Think of his contract! Wouldn’t you want to pay basically the exact same just split up amongst far worst players?! Who wants a near allstar on a bad contract when you can get far worst players on equally bad contracts?

Bucks decline.

Bulls improve their team without giving any value for it?
Lauri and Portis are better than anything they are sending out... head scratcher

Jazz get the worst player in the trade(kuzma) for the best player in the trade...