NBA Trade Thread #11

[Muzbar]

I would absolutely take a swing at Zion if they just wanted off the contract.

He either gets his body right and plays at his superstar level or he stays injured and we go on our merry way racking up losses.

Win/win.

A player on a large contract that his injury issues? Sounds exactly what the Bulls need... again.

Take a punt and it works out or he gets injured and we go deeper in the lottery for Flagg or Bailey.

And then you're stuck with another bad contract.

Sounds dreadful.

[Dez]

A player on a large contract that his injury issues? Sounds exactly what the Bulls need... again.

Take a punt and it works out or he gets injured and we go deeper in the lottery for Flagg or Bailey.

And then you're stuck with another bad contract.

Sounds dreadful.

His contract is one year longer and less per year.

[Infinity2152]

If you look at Zion's long lasting injuries: Torn meniscus, fractured thumb, Jones fracture in right foot, strained right hamstring. Couple of injuries banging knees into other knees. None of those are related, and most could happen to any player. Embid missed the first 2 seasons, and played 31 games his third. Zion played 61 games his second season, and 70 games his fourth, last season. He's 24 now in his fifth season, so his body wasn't fully developed when he entered the league, no matter how he looked. I'd certainly take the gamble on Zion, more likely he can be reasonably healthy than us drafting a player of his caliber, even with multiple top 10 picks.

If our current goal is to find a 1A type player, especially a young one, getting one with warts with a deal centered around Zach seems a no-brainer. Difficult to say he's not one of the most unstoppable guys in the league when healthy. I'd get him and do everything I could to make him a disciple of Lebron, lol. Think they're casual friends, but that guy knows how to keep a muscular, explosive athletic body healthy. He needs to study Lebron's habits the way Kobe studied MJ.

[Dan Z]

If you look at Zion's long lasting injuries: Torn meniscus, fractured thumb, Jones fracture in right foot, strained right hamstring. Couple of injuries banging knees into other knees. None of those are related, and most could happen to any player. Embid missed the first 2 seasons, and played 31 games his third. Zion played 61 games his second season, and 70 games his fourth, last season. He's 24 now in his fifth season, so his body wasn't fully developed when he entered the league, no matter how he looked. I'd certainly take the gamble on Zion, more likely he can be reasonably healthy than us drafting a player of his caliber, even with multiple top 10 picks.

If our current goal is to find a 1A type player, especially a young one, getting one with warts with a deal centered around Zach seems a no-brainer. Difficult to say he's not one of the most unstoppable guys in the league when healthy. I'd get him and do everything I could to make him a disciple of Lebron, lol. Think they're casual friends, but that guy knows how to keep a muscular, explosive athletic body healthy. He needs to study Lebron's habits the way Kobe studied MJ.

I'd hate to be the team that pays a high price (or semi high price) for Zion only to wait around for him to get healthy or, if healthy, become the kind of leader you'd like your #1 player to be.

[Infinity2152]

Nothing about Zion screams leader, would never expect him to be that. He is an amazing top 10 talent, though. There are very few opportunities to get players at Zion's ability level, especially in their 20's. If that player has no concerns (injury, attitude, etc) it will cost half your team and all your draft picks. A top 5 pick has incredible value, even in trade. Most teams give up that extreme value every year based on the chance that this college player can excel at the NBA level. We already know Zion can. The injury risk is the only reason he's available in the first place. You're always taking gambles in the NBA.

Pelicans in a tough situation. Brandon Ingram out for unspecified time, ankle injury before the deadline a couple of days after saying he wants to play for a winning, competitive team. Could be looking at re-sign or lose him for little or nothing.

[sco]

If you look at Zion's long lasting injuries: Torn meniscus, fractured thumb, Jones fracture in right foot, strained right hamstring. Couple of injuries banging knees into other knees. None of those are related, and most could happen to any player. Embid missed the first 2 seasons, and played 31 games his third. Zion played 61 games his second season, and 70 games his fourth, last season. He's 24 now in his fifth season, so his body wasn't fully developed when he entered the league, no matter how he looked. I'd certainly take the gamble on Zion, more likely he can be reasonably healthy than us drafting a player of his caliber, even with multiple top 10 picks.

If our current goal is to find a 1A type player, especially a young one, getting one with warts with a deal centered around Zach seems a no-brainer. Difficult to say he's not one of the most unstoppable guys in the league when healthy. I'd get him and do everything I could to make him a disciple of Lebron, lol. Think they're casual friends, but that guy knows how to keep a muscular, explosive athletic body healthy. He needs to study Lebron's habits the way Kobe studied MJ.

I'd hate to be the team that pays a high price (or semi high price) for Zion only to wait around for him to get healthy or, if healthy, become the kind of leader you'd like your #1 player to be.

If we take AK at his word, I could see him make a move for Zion. Not what I would do, but there is internally consistent logic there. The idea of finding a flawed, but potential #1 scorer at the 3 or 4 could work in the BOS model. We could use Pat in a deal like that as additional compensation. I also sorta like the alternative idea of going for Kuminga who seems to thrive as a primary scoring option. Either guy could play next to Matas. We could roll with a future rotation of:

Ball (who I'd keep if he makes it through the season on that knee)/Coby (back-up PG/6th man), Ayo, Mata, Zion/Kuminga, Smith

[Chi town]

With Ingram out it makes Lavine and Vuc even more attractive and likely to be moved.

[ChettheJet]

I'm looking at Wagner being injured in ORL, evaluated in 4-6 weeks and that they were often a destination mentioned for Zach. I guess it might take a couple of weeks and see how they play without Wagner and what his prognosis is. Then they might have two ways to go they could still be a playoff contender so Zach looks attractive, or Wagner might take longer to return so they move some other guys and give up on this year.

[sco]

I'm looking at Wagner being injured in ORL, evaluated in 4-6 weeks and that they were often a destination mentioned for Zach. I guess it might take a couple of weeks and see how they play without Wagner and what his prognosis is. Then they might have two ways to go they could still be a playoff contender so Zach looks attractive, or Wagner might take longer to return so they move some other guys and give up on this year.

Banchero will be back soon, but they are still elite defensively without Wagner. Zach would be a great addition to a team like that (on paper...I'd expect him to be frustrated not being the #1 guy). Maybe we can get Carter back .

[HomoSapien]

There's a part of me that feels less optimistic about Zach getting traded. Not because his trade value hasn't improved, it clearly has ... but just because of the complicated nature of teams trying to avoid the apron. I think Vuc is going to have a bigger trade market.

[jnrjr79]

There's a part of me that feels less optimistic about Zach getting traded. Not because his trade value hasn't improved, it clearly has ... but just because of the complicated nature of teams trying to avoid the apron. I think Vuc is going to have a bigger trade market.

I dunno. There's nothing less complicated about Vooch vis a vis the apron than Zach. There's just more salary to match. But I think you're right that Vooch will have the bigger market just due to his salary and it being less of a commitment.

[sco]

There's a part of me that feels less optimistic about Zach getting traded. Not because his trade value hasn't improved, it clearly has ... but just because of the complicated nature of teams trying to avoid the apron. I think Vuc is going to have a bigger trade market.

I dunno. There's nothing less complicated about Vooch vis a vis the apron than Zach. There's just more salary to match. But I think you're right that Vooch will have the bigger market just due to his salary and it being less of a commitment.

To be sure if one considers teams at the second apron, it is much harder to do a deal for Zach because of the non-aggregation rule.

[jnrjr79]

There's a part of me that feels less optimistic about Zach getting traded. Not because his trade value hasn't improved, it clearly has ... but just because of the complicated nature of teams trying to avoid the apron. I think Vuc is going to have a bigger trade market.

I dunno. There's nothing less complicated about Vooch vis a vis the apron than Zach. There's just more salary to match. But I think you're right that Vooch will have the bigger market just due to his salary and it being less of a commitment.

To be sure if one considers teams at the second apron, it is much harder to do a deal for Zach because of the non-aggregation rule.

There are only 4 teams over the 2nd apron and none of those has been discussed as a place that would want Zach, so I don't think it's much of an issue.

[Muzbar]

There's a part of me that feels less optimistic about Zach getting traded. Not because his trade value hasn't improved, it clearly has ... but just because of the complicated nature of teams trying to avoid the apron. I think Vuc is going to have a bigger trade market.

I haven't been optimistic about a Zach trade for some time, even with his perceived raised value I'm both confident he'll be traded.

[sco]

There's a part of me that feels less optimistic about Zach getting traded. Not because his trade value hasn't improved, it clearly has ... but just because of the complicated nature of teams trying to avoid the apron. I think Vuc is going to have a bigger trade market.

I haven't been optimistic about a Zach trade for some time, even with his perceived raised value I'm both confident he'll be traded.

RealGM Editor: Go look at the Bulls board and let their fans come up for article ideas for you...
WireTap Reporter: Looks like they don't think Zach will get traded soon.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278333/Bulls-Have-Yet-To-Generate-Any-Trade-Market-On-Zach-LaVine

[Dan Z]

There's a part of me that feels less optimistic about Zach getting traded. Not because his trade value hasn't improved, it clearly has ... but just because of the complicated nature of teams trying to avoid the apron. I think Vuc is going to have a bigger trade market.

I haven't been optimistic about a Zach trade for some time, even with his perceived raised value I'm both confident he'll be traded.

RealGM Editor: Go look at the Bulls board and let their fans come up for article ideas for you...
WireTap Reporter: Looks like they don't think Zach will get traded soon.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278333/Bulls-Have-Yet-To-Generate-Any-Trade-Market-On-Zach-LaVine

I wonder what deals have been discussed...? Is AK asking for too much? Or are the deals bad?

At some point isn't it a good idea to move on? Do the Bulls want Zach on the team for another year when everyone knows they want to trade him?

[ChettheJet]

Another from the Bleacher Report

I don't really see it for DET, even if Zach is playing well, he's still Zach and could be injured tomorrow. They decide to take on his contract because they, I don't know why. Does he really help their playoff chances? He's hardly seen the playoffs

Detroit Pistons Receive: G/F Zach LaVine

Chicago Bulls Receive: F/C Isaiah Stewart, G/F Tim Hardaway Jr., SF Simone Fontecchio, 2027 second-round pick

The pick is window dressing.
Fentecchio is a contract I wouldn't see him getting off the bench
THJ has a charming expiring contract, maybe he could get injured
You don't want either of them taking minutes from Buzelis or Phillips

Stewart is the reason to make the trade. He and Smith can split time at the 5 and even play a few minutes together at the 4-5
He also allows you to trade Vucevic and not get a center in return which opens up the list of potential trading partners.
The Bulls also trade 1 for 3 and have too many players, that could get corrected in a Vuc trade

[SirKaiser]

These Lavine trades always sound horrible as long as they are considered a salary dump. Get back to me when there's a combination of players and multiple picks (one of which needs to be a 1st).

Last year Lavine's stock took a hit for multiple reasons, and I applaud AK for not selling low. They know he's worth so much more than what we've been seeing in these "rumors"

[Future Coach]

I wonder what teams like the Nuggets, Pacers, Magic and Warriors are looking for in a trade. Trades with those teams and the Bulls may require multiple teams, but it seems like the Bulls could at least be involved in facilitating the trades.

[HomoSapien]

Pistons were the team most linked to Zach before he has his season ending surgery. I guess there's no reason to believe their initial reason for wanting him would have changed given that he's playing so much better.