CHA / CHI - Bring Lonzo To The Hive

[yosemiteben]

Inspired by this:

Read on Twitter

Framework is simple - Josh Green and Vasa Micic for Lonzo.

Why for Charlotte - perhaps obvious, but a healthy Lonzo is a perfect fit for this team. All our current injuries notwithstanding, we just dumped a ton of money and resources into a new athletic training staff and maybe they feel like rolling the dice on his health given that he's expiring.

Why for Chicago - gives them a functional backup PG that probably would play better in a more structured offense (does CHI have one of those?) and a useful wing. If they're looking to salary dump and rebuild, may not make sense.

I'm not that sharp on Chicago's team currently or their goals, is there a realistic framework here?

[psman2]

Don't think Josh Green has been playing up to his contract and likely viewed as negative. Likely better to ride it all with Ball or simply buy him out after the blowup.

[ChettheJet]

Daddy Ball has never been heard from in the Chicago media since Lonzo got to town and there's plenty with time to fill

Ayo Dosunmu outplays both of them on both ends even if he's starting at the PF right now. Neither rate over THT on offense and Duarte on defense. Green has too long a contract for what he brings or he wouldn't be on the block and Micic has more hype than results. The Bulls are a whole lot better off with Ball and seeing his contract expire.

[HornetJail]

We don't need even more mythical players. Green isn't special but fills a role and actually plays. I'd pass.

Micic, Richards, Jeffries, and maybe the latest of our 2nds if the Bulls need to pretend they got something. That's my offer.

Lonzo has played 4 games since January 14th 2022. I wasn't really a big fan even when he was healthy, but I don't mind him as a low-minute backup playing the role Micic is for us right now. But I wouldn't even bother trading Green for him.

*Jeffries can't actually be traded till early January, but I think Melo can wait a month, there's no on-court reason to do this. A pending trade might also be the only reason Jeffries made the roster despite his injury, we could otherwise really use his roster spot.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Micic, Richards, Jeffries, and maybe the latest of our 2nds if the Bulls need to pretend they got something. That's my offer.

I actually would prefer this trade if I were a Chicago fan to OP’s, I wouldn’t want Green in any situation.

Richards actually has some upside. Sprinkle a couple of SRP’s and call it a day.

[Mavrelous]

With Ball salary, post deadline buyout is more likely.

[Skybox]

That might be enough to make Lavar relocate to CHA full-time...which should be a deal-breaker, imo.

Lonzo actually makes a nice backcourt partner with LaMelo. Lonzo has an entirely different BBIQ & mindset...plus he can slap around his wild, goofy, but immensely talented little brother when he needs it. I love Lonzo's veteran game - he never became the Magic Johnson 2.0 he was drafted for...but he's really a great connector, defender, and shooter.

I'd love to pick him up cheap for ORL, if possible...he could be some playoff-ready team's BOS Bill Walton.

[GoBobs]

Nick Richards is not on the table...

[MasterIchiro]

Why the hell are the Hornets matching 20 million for a maimed player to add to an already-bloated injury list instead of replacing Richards with the stretch big on that roster, Vooch, who also makes 20 million?

Can Richard play a single game without setting a dumb screen? He's also shooting 59% on his FT. He fouled out in what, 24 minutes tonight?

Hornets fans are so creative.

[Chi town]

Don’t know that Zo will be traded there but I do think he will be traded.

Think he will sign with the Hornets this summer. Think he will actually help Melo a ton. Think he’s back to. It’s insane he can still play like he does.

[luciano-davidwesley]

I'd wait to see if we can sign him cheap in FA. If not happy to move on to other options

[Scoot McGroot]

I’m sure Lavar really means LiAngelo Ball as a free agent signing.

[yosemiteben]

Why the hell are the Hornets matching 20 million for a maimed player to add to an already-bloated injury list instead of replacing Richards with the stretch big on that roster, Vooch, who also makes 20 million?

I bet you could figure it out by reading the OP.

Unless you think Lavar Ball was referencing Vuc in that video, not sure why you came in here blasting the lack of creativity.

[scottyg]

Make it a 3 way trade sending those players to a 3rd team ! And get the bulls a defensive center liken ( Mitchell Robinson, Robert Williams,

4 team trade ( blazers, bucks , bulls, hornets )

Blazers get - Kris Middleton + Pat Caunnington + 1st rd pick back from chi and turn a pic swap from Mil into a real pick with protections on it from Mil

Bucks get Jeremy Grant + Torey Craig + Javon Carter

Bulls get- Robert Williams + Missic + Josh Green

Hornets get - Lonzo Ball + 2nd rd pic

[Rich4114]

Nick Richards + Vasilie Micic + DaQuan Jefferies for Lonzo works as well. Depends on what Chicago is after. Maybe they just want seconds but would still need to make the salary work.

[JMAC3]

A buyout makes more sense just because from Chicago standpoint what deals are they getting for Lonzo that are worth taking back long term salary?

No contender is feeling very confident to send out a player making Lonzo type of money and then counting on him in the playoffs....

For example take the Lakers.

DLo is just more valuable than Lonzo right now because at the least you know he plays. So there is no world where they do a 1:1 swap for Lonzo. Then you move to someone like Gabe Vincent and filler... but is it even worth it for Chicago to take on a player like Vincent and more salary for a 2nd or 2? or is better to just waive him, save the money on the buyout and not have to worry about any salary for next year?

What makes more sense is that Charlotte gives Lonzo a decent sized multi-year deal and saves Chicago a chunk on the buyout for this year. Something like 3/21 and Lonzo gets to play with his brother.

[drosestruts]

There's some financial trickiness to any Bulls related trade, especially one involving Lonzo.

Bulls are about $4.5mm below the tax line.

In the summer they'll need to re-sign Josh Giddey.

Their only expiring contracts are:

Ball - $20m
Giddey - $8.3
Duarte - $5.8
Craig - $2.8
THT - $2

So if Giddey plays well enough to earn a raise you have to ask "where is that money coming from?" Because again they don't have much space under the tax.

So if they take on long-term contracts like Green and Micic that extend into next season it becomes even more difficult.

Granted we're a quarter into the season and I'm not sure Giddey has exactly played himself into a big raise yet. But there's 3/4 of the season remaining.

TL/DR trading Ball for long-term salary hurts our very limited financial flexibility in the summer of 2025

[JMAC3]

A buyout makes more sense just because from Chicago standpoint what deals are they getting for Lonzo that are worth taking back long term salary?

No contender is feeling very confident to send out a player making Lonzo type of money and then counting on him in the playoffs....

For example take the Lakers.

DLo is just more valuable than Lonzo right now because at the least you know he plays. So there is no world where they do a 1:1 swap for Lonzo. Then you move to someone like Gabe Vincent and filler... but is it even worth it for Chicago to take on a player like Vincent and more salary for a 2nd or 2? or is better to just waive him, save the money on the buyout and not have to worry about any salary for next year?

What makes more sense is that Charlotte gives Lonzo a decent sized multi-year deal and saves Chicago a chunk on the buyout for this year. Something like 3/21 and Lonzo gets to play with his brother.

Hornets are about to get a 6.5 million injury exception for Grant Williams. I wonder if the Bulls buy him out, then Charlotte gives Lonzo that money. Which saves Chicago a good chunk of coin on the buyout.

That is my latest theory. Chicago takes on no long term money and saves probably 7-8 million this year between money given back and the new contract Charlotte gives him.

[Texas Chuck]

There's some financial trickiness to any Bulls related trade, especially one involving Lonzo.

Good post.

I would say that the team should pretty much know what they want to do with Giddey by the deadline and if they are unsure about paying him, I think they should at least test the market for flipping him to a team with free agent interest but no cap space and don't want to have to overpay to prevent a Chicago match. We see these kinds of trades involving pending RFA's every year.

But I would agree that today I wouldn't rush to trade Lonzo for long-term money unless the return was simply too good to pass on.

[luciano-davidwesley]

There's some financial trickiness to any Bulls related trade, especially one involving Lonzo.

Bulls are about $4.5mm below the tax line.

In the summer they'll need to re-sign Josh Giddey.

Their only expiring contracts are:

Ball - $20m
Giddey - $8.3
Duarte - $5.8
Craig - $2.8
THT - $2

So if Giddey plays well enough to earn a raise you have to ask "where is that money coming from?" Because again they don't have much space under the tax.

So if they take on long-term contracts like Green and Micic that extend into next season it becomes even more difficult.

Granted we're a quarter into the season and I'm not sure Giddey has exactly played himself into a big raise yet. But there's 3/4 of the season remaining.

TL/DR trading Ball for long-term salary hurts our very limited financial flexibility in the summer of 2025

JMAC's option above is probably the best solution to this problem.