Hornets take Lavine + Ball

[Rich4114]

If Chicago is trying to shed contract, including Lavine and the Hornets are willing to take a risk but also add draft capital to help compensate, this could work out for both sides.

Charlotte Outgoing:

Bertans - $16m ($5.25 guaranteed until Jan 15th)
Micic - $7.7m
Cody Martin - $8.1m (non-guaranteed next summer)
Bryce McGowens - $2.m (can be waived prior to July 18th)

Chicago Outgoing:
Lavine - $43m / 3yrs
Ball - $21m final year
2026 frp unprotected

Would probably still do it if light protections were on the pick or it was a later pick (27, 28).

Chicago gets out of huge contracts, can create plenty of room to bring back Demarr or sign another FA and gets additional future flexibility beyond this year.

Hornets take a risk with Lonzo, but this season doesn't matter as it's a compete while develop season and if he actually is healthy enough to play it could be huge. Lavine solves any potential scoring challenges the Hornets might have, though chemistry is a risk along with lack of defense and all of the reasons Chicago wants to move on, but they get added draft capital to make bigger moves down the road.

[Texas Chuck]

The problem is you are right to ask for compensation as the Hornets, but entering a rebuild you don't want to pay to dump salary. Maybe if Chicago still wants to sign DD and compete you could flip the Hornets pile of stuff to another team looking to shed long-term money who sends a solid but cheaper player to Chicago creating the room under the tax for them to bring back DD?

[gswhoops]

The problem is you are right to ask for compensation as the Hornets, but entering a rebuild you don't want to pay to dump salary. Maybe if Chicago still wants to sign DD and compete you could flip the Hornets pile of stuff to another team looking to shed long-term money who sends a solid but cheaper player to Chicago creating the room under the tax for them to bring back DD?

Yeah this is the catch-22 of trying to deal Lavine to a team that's also rebuilding. They will want compensation, but since Chicago is also starting a rebuild (or maybe retool) they shouldn't pay it. The only way I see Lavine getting dealt tbh is if a team that is underperforming at the deadline thinks he can give them a boost and is willing to eat his contract for salary relief.

But that being said, the Warriors are definitely a team that fits this mold, and turned down CP3/Wiggins for Lavine and then just waived CP3 instead.

[Scoot McGroot]

If Chicago is trying to shed contract, including Lavine and the Hornets are willing to take a risk but also add draft capital to help compensate, this could work out for both sides.

Charlotte Outgoing:

Bertans - $16m ($5.25 guaranteed until Jan 15th)
Micic - $7.7m
Cody Martin - $8.1m (non-guaranteed next summer)
Bryce McGowens - $2.m (can be waived prior to July 18th)

Chicago Outgoing:
Lavine - $43m / 3yrs
Ball - $21m final year
2026 frp unprotected

Would probably still do it if light protections were on the pick or it was a later pick (27, 28).

Chicago gets out of huge contracts, can create plenty of room to bring back Demarr or sign another FA and gets additional future flexibility beyond this year.

Hornets take a risk with Lonzo, but this season doesn't matter as it's a compete while develop season and if he actually is healthy enough to play it could be huge. Lavine solves any potential scoring challenges the Hornets might have, though chemistry is a risk along with lack of defense and all of the reasons Chicago wants to move on, but they get added draft capital to make bigger moves down the road.

Charlotte doesn’t have the $42m in cap space needed to do that deal, right? So they’d have to fully guarantee everyone, and they’d still not be able to bring back both guys.

[Godaddycurse]

The problem is you are right to ask for compensation as the Hornets, but entering a rebuild you don't want to pay to dump salary. Maybe if Chicago still wants to sign DD and compete you could flip the Hornets pile of stuff to another team looking to shed long-term money who sends a solid but cheaper player to Chicago creating the room under the tax for them to bring back DD?

Derozan said hes not going back after the caruso trade

[Rich4114]

If Chicago is trying to shed contract, including Lavine and the Hornets are willing to take a risk but also add draft capital to help compensate, this could work out for both sides.

Charlotte Outgoing:

Bertans - $16m ($5.25 guaranteed until Jan 15th)
Micic - $7.7m
Cody Martin - $8.1m (non-guaranteed next summer)
Bryce McGowens - $2.m (can be waived prior to July 18th)

Chicago Outgoing:
Lavine - $43m / 3yrs
Ball - $21m final year
2026 frp unprotected

Would probably still do it if light protections were on the pick or it was a later pick (27, 28).

Chicago gets out of huge contracts, can create plenty of room to bring back Demarr or sign another FA and gets additional future flexibility beyond this year.

Hornets take a risk with Lonzo, but this season doesn't matter as it's a compete while develop season and if he actually is healthy enough to play it could be huge. Lavine solves any potential scoring challenges the Hornets might have, though chemistry is a risk along with lack of defense and all of the reasons Chicago wants to move on, but they get added draft capital to make bigger moves down the road.

Charlotte doesn’t have the $42m in cap space needed to do that deal, right? So they’d have to fully guarantee everyone, and they’d still not be able to bring back both guys.

They can fit this deal in according to Fanspo (I think because of their trade exceptions?).

[Rich4114]

The problem is you are right to ask for compensation as the Hornets, but entering a rebuild you don't want to pay to dump salary. Maybe if Chicago still wants to sign DD and compete you could flip the Hornets pile of stuff to another team looking to shed long-term money who sends a solid but cheaper player to Chicago creating the room under the tax for them to bring back DD?

Yeah this is the catch-22 of trying to deal Lavine to a team that's also rebuilding. They will want compensation, but since Chicago is also starting a rebuild (or maybe retool) they shouldn't pay it. The only way I see Lavine getting dealt tbh is if a team that is underperforming at the deadline thinks he can give them a boost and is willing to eat his contract for salary relief.

But that being said, the Warriors are definitely a team that fits this mold, and turned down CP3/Wiggins for Lavine and then just waived CP3 instead.

I feel like it could still work if the pick is pushed out further or there's protections. I think it would take a frp though to take on the Lavine contract. I think it would take the same to take on Wiggins.

[Scoot McGroot]

If Chicago is trying to shed contract, including Lavine and the Hornets are willing to take a risk but also add draft capital to help compensate, this could work out for both sides.

Charlotte Outgoing:

Bertans - $16m ($5.25 guaranteed until Jan 15th)
Micic - $7.7m
Cody Martin - $8.1m (non-guaranteed next summer)
Bryce McGowens - $2.m (can be waived prior to July 18th)

Chicago Outgoing:
Lavine - $43m / 3yrs
Ball - $21m final year
2026 frp unprotected

Would probably still do it if light protections were on the pick or it was a later pick (27, 28).

Chicago gets out of huge contracts, can create plenty of room to bring back Demarr or sign another FA and gets additional future flexibility beyond this year.

Hornets take a risk with Lonzo, but this season doesn't matter as it's a compete while develop season and if he actually is healthy enough to play it could be huge. Lavine solves any potential scoring challenges the Hornets might have, though chemistry is a risk along with lack of defense and all of the reasons Chicago wants to move on, but they get added draft capital to make bigger moves down the road.

Charlotte doesn’t have the $42m in cap space needed to do that deal, right? So they’d have to fully guarantee everyone, and they’d still not be able to bring back both guys.

They can fit this deal in according to Fanspo (I think because of their trade exceptions?).

Fanspo appears to be wrong here. I don’t see them having any TPE as large as even $2m. And using salary matching, even if hey fully guarantee all those guys, they’re short or taking back even just Lavine, let alone Lavine and Lonzo.

[NW]

The problem is you are right to ask for compensation as the Hornets, but entering a rebuild you don't want to pay to dump salary. Maybe if Chicago still wants to sign DD and compete you could flip the Hornets pile of stuff to another team looking to shed long-term money who sends a solid but cheaper player to Chicago creating the room under the tax for them to bring back DD?

Yeah this is the catch-22 of trying to deal Lavine to a team that's also rebuilding. They will want compensation, but since Chicago is also starting a rebuild (or maybe retool) they shouldn't pay it. The only way I see Lavine getting dealt tbh is if a team that is underperforming at the deadline thinks he can give them a boost and is willing to eat his contract for salary relief.

But that being said, the Warriors are definitely a team that fits this mold, and turned down CP3/Wiggins for Lavine and then just waived CP3 instead.

Cause CP3 in the deal would have threatened the plan to get out of the Lux tax. Per Bulls beatwriter KC Johnson, Warriors are still interested, but it likely becomes a Wiggins/Looney/GP2 package that would allow them to still likely dodge the tax

[gswhoops]

The problem is you are right to ask for compensation as the Hornets, but entering a rebuild you don't want to pay to dump salary. Maybe if Chicago still wants to sign DD and compete you could flip the Hornets pile of stuff to another team looking to shed long-term money who sends a solid but cheaper player to Chicago creating the room under the tax for them to bring back DD?

Yeah this is the catch-22 of trying to deal Lavine to a team that's also rebuilding. They will want compensation, but since Chicago is also starting a rebuild (or maybe retool) they shouldn't pay it. The only way I see Lavine getting dealt tbh is if a team that is underperforming at the deadline thinks he can give them a boost and is willing to eat his contract for salary relief.

But that being said, the Warriors are definitely a team that fits this mold, and turned down CP3/Wiggins for Lavine and then just waived CP3 instead.

Cause CP3 in the deal would have threatened the plan to get out of the Lux tax. Per Bulls beatwriter KC Johnson, Warriors are still interested, but it likely becomes a Wiggins/Looney/GP2 package that would allow them to still likely dodge the tax

I don't hate that outcome if we can't swing a deal for Lauri or someone else better than Lavine.

TJD/Post
Draymond
Kuminga/Moody
Lavine/Podz
Curry/Melton

Would definitely need to add some big man depth but on paper it's not terrible. Definitely wouldn't add any value though, outside of maybe a 2nd round pick or two.

[ChettheJet]

The Bulls are in get younger retool mode, not teardown with expiring players they don't want or waiving new acquisitions.

Who knows why the Hornets want Lavine much less Lonzo But the Bulls don't have that 2026 to give, they owe SAS a top 10 protected 2025 pick. So the tank move could get them below 10 or their current new young guys could step up to get to 11 or 12 so the pick rolls to top 1-8 protected for 2026 and 27

[letsgobulls23]

There's no reason for the Bulls, or any team entering a rebuild, to trade a future unprotected 1st to dump salary.

[Dez]

It's a non-starter with the Bulls attaching a first.

[Snakebites]

I know there was that indication the Bulls were willing to add a first to lose Lavine and nobody wanted to go for it, but I really hope for the Bulls sake that’s just a rumor.

To be clear, another team has every right to expect that type of compensation for taking on that deal. In fact, with the kicker, I’d want MORE than just a single pick to take it on- with the kicker that’s a ROUGH contract and becomes worse for another team than it is for Chicago.

But the Bulls may as well just hold onto him and their picks at this point. If he plays and becomes less negative, great. If not they’re stuck with him. Still better than not having picks.

Reminds me of us with Blake a few years ago. Teams wanted us to cough up all sorts of crazy value to dump him. And they were right. But it would have been stupid for us to do.

[meatwad4343]

Exactly why a lavine trade is so difficult and hasn't happened yet. They are trying to go rebuild, but moving him is going to require significant draft capital attached to him to do it as of right now. They are better off just holding on to him, either he can play and rehab his value to the point where he can be moved for a reasonable price or they just are stuck with him for at least the next two years until he becomes a giant expiring contract.

[amcoolio]

I honestly think the actual Bulls (not their fans) aren't trying to rebuild, they are just shocked no one will take Lavine so they can make win now moves