Bulls-Lakers-Pelicans

[zimpy27]

Bulls get Ingram, Theis, Hayes
Bulls give Ayo, Lonzo, Smith
Coby, LaVine, Ingram, PatWill, Vuc -- Giddey, THT, Buz, Phillips, Theis -- Carter, Terry, Duarte, Craig, Hayes
Bulls give some rotation players to get Ingram while filling out bigs depth.

Lakers get Lonzo, Smith
Lakers give Rui, Vincent, Hayes, LAL28swap
Reaves, Christie, DFS, LeBron, Davis -- Lonzo, Shake, Knecht, Vando, Smith
Lakers do the trade to get backup PG and C that fits their needs.

Pelicans get Ayo, Rui, Vincent, LAL28swap
Pelicans give Ingram, Theis
Pelicans don't get expiring players but they do get Ayo and Rui as useful rotation pieces and they get an unprotected swap option from Lakers after Davis and LeBron contracts end.

[Euphonetiks]

I think the Pelicans can do better for Ingram. If this is all that’s available then I think the Pelicans would cut the Lakers out and just take the lowered salaried Smith and Ayo along with Lonzo’s expiring instead of Rui/Vincent’s $30M next year.

I like Smith’s fit with 2 cheap years left. See if Lonzo and Zion can connect again. Maybe Ayo can give you some of the bench mentality we lost with Naji’s departure.

[nzahir]

Why does CHI want BI? They need to rebuild and bottom out and move Lavine

If we did a cleaner deal with CHI and sent out Rui and Vando/Vincent and JHS, could also work. But I value Rui

I wonder if CHI would bite on Vando, Vincent, JHS, Wood, and Melton/Hayes/Cam. Likely a 3 teamer

Maybe for a 29 1st with some protections?

The issue with losing Rui is the offense may not be good enough in the starting 5 for long stretches

Rui has been a solid catch and shoot guy, but he also can score in transition, in the paint, has that midrange shot, and can attack closeouts

DFS doesnt do those things as well

If CHI accepts that trade though and we stay healthy, I like the roster a lot

Other option is to see if we can get Zo and Kessler somehow

[zimpy27]

Why does CHI want BI? They need to rebuild and bottom out and move Lavine

If we did a cleaner deal with CHI and sent out Rui and Vando/Vincent and JHS, could also work. But I value Rui

I wonder if CHI would bite on Vando, Vincent, JHS, Wood, and Melton/Hayes/Cam. Likely a 3 teamer

Maybe for a 29 1st with some protections?

The issue with losing Rui is the offense may not be good enough in the starting 5 for long stretches

Rui has been a solid catch and shoot guy, but he also can score in transition, in the paint, has that midrange shot, and can attack closeouts

DFS doesnt do those things as well

If CHI accepts that trade though and we stay healthy, I like the roster a lot

Other option is to see if we can get Zo and Kessler somehow

If Lakers get Smith or Vuc or Kessler then Rui doesn't have minutes anyway, may as well move him in the deal.

Vincent+Vando+pick for Lonzo is clean and Lakers keep Rui

[nzahir]

Why does CHI want BI? They need to rebuild and bottom out and move Lavine

If we did a cleaner deal with CHI and sent out Rui and Vando/Vincent and JHS, could also work. But I value Rui

I wonder if CHI would bite on Vando, Vincent, JHS, Wood, and Melton/Hayes/Cam. Likely a 3 teamer

Maybe for a 29 1st with some protections?

The issue with losing Rui is the offense may not be good enough in the starting 5 for long stretches

Rui has been a solid catch and shoot guy, but he also can score in transition, in the paint, has that midrange shot, and can attack closeouts

DFS doesnt do those things as well

If CHI accepts that trade though and we stay healthy, I like the roster a lot

Other option is to see if we can get Zo and Kessler somehow

If Lakers get Smith or Vuc or Kessler then Rui doesn't have minutes anyway, may as well move him in the deal.

Vincent+Vando+pick for Lonzo is clean and Lakers keep Rui

I still think there is time for Rui, we will just be playing bigger or depends on the matchup

Reaves, Christie, Rui, Bron, AD
Milton? Lonzo, Knecht, DFS, C

AD will still start at the 5

Even if theres a time we say lets start 2 bigs together, say it Kessler, I still see time for him. Lonzo and Knecht become the 1 and 2s. Rui and DFS the 3/4 wings

I dont see a role for Vando though if we have a 2nd C, unless its Olynyk or maybe Vuc. Then Rui may make less sense and would need Vando's defense

Pelinka has to make the next move with a lot of thought. Do it right and maybe we can contend for the next couple years

The safer bet is a traditional C if you think the team is good enough

A big like Vuc has a lot of potential, but a big change to the team and can ruin the team

[zimpy27]

Why does CHI want BI? They need to rebuild and bottom out and move Lavine

If we did a cleaner deal with CHI and sent out Rui and Vando/Vincent and JHS, could also work. But I value Rui

I wonder if CHI would bite on Vando, Vincent, JHS, Wood, and Melton/Hayes/Cam. Likely a 3 teamer

Maybe for a 29 1st with some protections?

The issue with losing Rui is the offense may not be good enough in the starting 5 for long stretches

Rui has been a solid catch and shoot guy, but he also can score in transition, in the paint, has that midrange shot, and can attack closeouts

DFS doesnt do those things as well

If CHI accepts that trade though and we stay healthy, I like the roster a lot

Other option is to see if we can get Zo and Kessler somehow

If Lakers get Smith or Vuc or Kessler then Rui doesn't have minutes anyway, may as well move him in the deal.

Vincent+Vando+pick for Lonzo is clean and Lakers keep Rui

I still think there is time for Rui, we will just be playing bigger or depends on the matchup

Reaves, Christie, Rui, Bron, AD
Milton? Lonzo, Knecht, DFS, C

AD will still start at the 5

Even if theres a time we say lets start 2 bigs together, say it Kessler, I still see time for him. Lonzo and Knecht become the 1 and 2s. Rui and DFS the 3/4 wings

I dont see a role for Vando though if we have a 2nd C, unless its Olynyk or maybe Vuc. Then Rui may make less sense and would need Vando's defense

Pelinka has to make the next move with a lot of thought. Do it right and maybe we can contend for the next couple years

The safer bet is a traditional C if you think the team is good enough

A big like Vuc has a lot of potential, but a big change to the team and can ruin the team

He really doesn't have a role in the playoffs when rotation reduces and main guys play big minutes:
PG: Reaves (38) | Playmaker (10)
SG: Christie (32) | Playmaker (16)
SF: DFS (38) | LeBron (10)
PF: LeBron (28) | Davis (20)
C : Davis (20) | Big (28)

Lakers technically only need 54-60 minutes to be covered half for a Big and half for a Playmaker.
Right now that Big is Rui, but if they upgrade then Rui is out IMO.
I think Rui is good so I think main need right now is another playmaker otherwise Lakers have to play Milton or Gabe, which I doubt they want.


If Lakers just did Vincent+Vando for Lonzo then:

PG: Lonzo (30) | Reaves (18)
SG: Reaves (18) | Christie (30)
SF: DFS (36) | LeBron (12)
PF: LeBron (24) | Rui (24)
C : Davis (38) | Wood/Hayes/Rui (10)
Backup: Milton, Reddish, Knecht

I think this is fine tbh defense will be awesome with everyone outside of Rui being a good defender. Backup 10 minutes is matchup dependent out of Rui, Wood or Hayes.

[nzahir]

If Lakers get Smith or Vuc or Kessler then Rui doesn't have minutes anyway, may as well move him in the deal.

Vincent+Vando+pick for Lonzo is clean and Lakers keep Rui

I still think there is time for Rui, we will just be playing bigger or depends on the matchup

Reaves, Christie, Rui, Bron, AD
Milton? Lonzo, Knecht, DFS, C

AD will still start at the 5

Even if theres a time we say lets start 2 bigs together, say it Kessler, I still see time for him. Lonzo and Knecht become the 1 and 2s. Rui and DFS the 3/4 wings

I dont see a role for Vando though if we have a 2nd C, unless its Olynyk or maybe Vuc. Then Rui may make less sense and would need Vando's defense

Pelinka has to make the next move with a lot of thought. Do it right and maybe we can contend for the next couple years

The safer bet is a traditional C if you think the team is good enough

A big like Vuc has a lot of potential, but a big change to the team and can ruin the team

He really doesn't have a role in the playoffs when rotation reduces and main guys play big minutes:
PG: Reaves (38) | Playmaker (10)
SG: Christie (32) | Playmaker (16)
SF: DFS (38) | LeBron (10)
PF: LeBron (28) | Davis (20)
C : Davis (20) | Big (28)

Lakers technically only need 54-60 minutes to be covered half for a Big and half for a Playmaker.
Right now that Big is Rui, but if they upgrade then Rui is out IMO.
I think Rui is good so I think main need right now is another playmaker otherwise Lakers have to play Milton or Gabe, which I doubt they want.


If Lakers just did Vincent+Vando for Lonzo then:

PG: Lonzo (30) | Reaves (18)
SG: Reaves (18) | Christie (30)
SF: DFS (36) | LeBron (12)
PF: LeBron (24) | Rui (24)
C : Davis (38) | Wood/Hayes/Rui (10)
Backup: Milton, Reddish, Knecht

I think this is fine tbh defense will be awesome with everyone outside of Rui being a good defender. Backup 10 minutes is matchup dependent out of Rui, Wood or Hayes.

Lonzo wouldn't be a 30 min a game guy, closer to low 20s (may also be the same for Bruce Brown off the knee injury). But thats fine if Knecht can play some shifts or put DFS at the 2 in certain matchups?

Maybe DFS plays 30 min in the playoffs and some more time for a C?

Its also matchup dependent

In 2020 we had the flexibility to play with 2 bigs or go smaller

We dont have that flexibility with 2 bigs and that will hurt us vs teams like the Cavs, Denver, maybe OKC if they want to go back with iHart and Chet, and Celtics if they want to ever be big

[zimpy27]

I still think there is time for Rui, we will just be playing bigger or depends on the matchup

Reaves, Christie, Rui, Bron, AD
Milton? Lonzo, Knecht, DFS, C

AD will still start at the 5

Even if theres a time we say lets start 2 bigs together, say it Kessler, I still see time for him. Lonzo and Knecht become the 1 and 2s. Rui and DFS the 3/4 wings

I dont see a role for Vando though if we have a 2nd C, unless its Olynyk or maybe Vuc. Then Rui may make less sense and would need Vando's defense

Pelinka has to make the next move with a lot of thought. Do it right and maybe we can contend for the next couple years

The safer bet is a traditional C if you think the team is good enough

A big like Vuc has a lot of potential, but a big change to the team and can ruin the team

He really doesn't have a role in the playoffs when rotation reduces and main guys play big minutes:
PG: Reaves (38) | Playmaker (10)
SG: Christie (32) | Playmaker (16)
SF: DFS (38) | LeBron (10)
PF: LeBron (28) | Davis (20)
C : Davis (20) | Big (28)

Lakers technically only need 54-60 minutes to be covered half for a Big and half for a Playmaker.
Right now that Big is Rui, but if they upgrade then Rui is out IMO.
I think Rui is good so I think main need right now is another playmaker otherwise Lakers have to play Milton or Gabe, which I doubt they want.


If Lakers just did Vincent+Vando for Lonzo then:

PG: Lonzo (30) | Reaves (18)
SG: Reaves (18) | Christie (30)
SF: DFS (36) | LeBron (12)
PF: LeBron (24) | Rui (24)
C : Davis (38) | Wood/Hayes/Rui (10)
Backup: Milton, Reddish, Knecht

I think this is fine tbh defense will be awesome with everyone outside of Rui being a good defender. Backup 10 minutes is matchup dependent out of Rui, Wood or Hayes.

Lonzo wouldn't be a 30 min a game guy, closer to low 20s (may also be the same for Bruce Brown off the knee injury). But thats fine if Knecht can play some shifts or put DFS at the 2 in certain matchups?

Maybe DFS plays 30 min in the playoffs and some more time for a C?

Its also matchup dependent

In 2020 we had the flexibility to play with 2 bigs or go smaller

We dont have that flexibility with 2 bigs and that will hurt us vs teams like the Cavs, Denver, maybe OKC if they want to go back with iHart and Chet, and Celtics if they want to ever be big

Yeah sure Knecht/Reddish can play some minutes or Wood/Hayes plays more minutes.

I'm not sure Knecht is ready for anything other spot minute play. I'm shaky on Christie too.

Well it depends on what Wood looks like now especially with DFS.
Reaves, DFS, LeBron, Wood, Davis
That team could be great and big enough to play on the double big lineups.

[ChettheJet]

Bulls say No.

Huge step down from Smith long term deal to expiring Hayes and Theis. You dump aging veterans for expirings, not your young new FA signee.

Ayo might need a new contract and Lonzo is an expiring but both are solid contributors and Ball is getting better every game. Ingram is probably one and done so there's no real cap space gain. In fact he isn't leading them deep in the payoffs or even the play in so why bring him in to take minutes from Phillips and Buzelis?