LAL-CHI (not Vucevic or Lonzo)

[KuzControl]

LAL receive: Jalen Smith, Jevon Carter

CHI receive: Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood, 2025 LAL 2nd, 2025 LAC 2nd

Why for LAL: get an upgrade at backup C that can rebound, and can play next to AD if need (floor spacer)

Why for CHI: get off of 4mil next year and 9.5mil the year after, don't lose positional depth, and gain some pick capital

[gswhoops]

Chicago gives up the two best players in this deal for a big pile of nothing. I have them passing easily

[KuzControl]

Chicago gives up the two best players in this deal for a big pile of nothing. I have them passing easily

Not sure the current version of Carter is better than how Vincent has been looking for the last little while, he’s started to get back to his best production since the start of December (7ppg off the bench, 38% from three, solid defense). He can probably get some value as an expiring deal next year, provided he keeps this form up

Two seconds might be not enough, though, I get that. Could look to expand it in some way which means they get some combination of Rui/Knecht/swap(s)?

[scoobs07]

Chicago gives up the two best players in this deal for a big pile of nothing. I have them passing easily

It's a great idea for Chicago if they are looking to clear cap space and get assets back.

[Texas Chuck]

Chicago gives up the two best players in this deal for a big pile of nothing. I have them passing easily

It's a great idea for Chicago if they are looking to clear cap space and get assets back.

They could likely move those players for one 2nd rounder without having to take back a guy like Vincent though.

They could certainly move Smith for an expiring and 2nd(s) leaving them with the cheaper Carter.

Targets make sense, but LA needs to pay a fair price.

[oldncreaky]

Chicago gives up the two best players in this deal for a big pile of nothing. I have them passing easily

It's a great idea for Chicago if they are looking to clear cap space and get assets back.

They could likely move those players for one 2nd rounder without having to take back a guy like Vincent though.

They could certainly move Smith for an expiring and 2nd(s) leaving them with the cheaper Carter.

Targets make sense, but LA needs to pay a fair price.

CHI could probably move Smith for a SRP and take back little or no salary.

I wouldn't hate that move for either TOR (for a min salary guy) or DET (for pure cap space), and both teams need another big and could do it easily

[ChettheJet]

The Bulls take a REAL step DOWN in Smith for Hayes and if you think Carter and Vincent are about the same on the court there's no upside for the Bulls adding $5M for next year for a guy who won't play. So neither of those SRP's is good enough to overcome two downsides.

[KuzControl]

Chicago gives up the two best players in this deal for a big pile of nothing. I have them passing easily

It's a great idea for Chicago if they are looking to clear cap space and get assets back.

They could likely move those players for one 2nd rounder without having to take back a guy like Vincent though.

They could certainly move Smith for an expiring and 2nd(s) leaving them with the cheaper Carter.

Targets make sense, but LA needs to pay a fair price.

If Vincent is viewed as a ‘have to take back’, then you’d probably have to use Rui as the outgoing salary. Obviously he makes more than Smith, so you’d need to find a salary match

Carter/Smith for Rui is clearly not enough (something that I just don’t see LAL wanting), while Ayo/Smith for Rui is clearly too much, so you’d need to find a decent balance using picks and/or Knecht

[Texas Chuck]

I think you could fix the OP by just adding more 2nds right? I wouldn't include Rui who has more value to LA than he would to Chicago.

[KuzControl]

I think you could fix the OP by just adding more 2nds right? I wouldn't include Rui who has more value to LA than he would to Chicago.

Problem is that’s the only 2nds LAL have

So then you have to go look at swaps, or trading swaps for extra picks

[Texas Chuck]

I think you could fix the OP by just adding more 2nds right? I wouldn't include Rui who has more value to LA than he would to Chicago.

Problem is that’s the only 2nds LAL have

So then you have to go look at swaps, or trading swaps for extra picks

Ahh didn't realize they are so bare... Yeah add Knecht and have Chicago send a 2nd or two back to LA maybe?

[KuzControl]

I think you could fix the OP by just adding more 2nds right? I wouldn't include Rui who has more value to LA than he would to Chicago.

Problem is that’s the only 2nds LAL have

So then you have to go look at swaps, or trading swaps for extra picks

Ahh didn't realize they are so bare... Yeah add Knecht and have Chicago send a 2nd or two back to LA maybe?

I think Knecht has more value to LA than balancing out perceived negative value, especially given he’s cost-controlled for a while yet

[Texas Chuck]

Problem is that’s the only 2nds LAL have

So then you have to go look at swaps, or trading swaps for extra picks

Ahh didn't realize they are so bare... Yeah add Knecht and have Chicago send a 2nd or two back to LA maybe?

I think Knecht has more value to LA than balancing out perceived negative value, especially given he’s cost-controlled for a while yet

That's fair. I was just trying to balance out the value issue. I'll trust you on which pieces LA is willing to include or not in a move like this.

[gswhoops]

Problem is that’s the only 2nds LAL have

So then you have to go look at swaps, or trading swaps for extra picks

Ahh didn't realize they are so bare... Yeah add Knecht and have Chicago send a 2nd or two back to LA maybe?

I think Knecht has more value to LA than balancing out perceived negative value, especially given he’s cost-controlled for a while yet

As a fan of neither team, Ayo/Smith/Craig for Vincent/Knecht/whatever minimum salary LAL most wants rid of seems like it could have legs. Two proven cost-controlled role players for an upside swing.

[scoobs07]

Chicago gives up the two best players in this deal for a big pile of nothing. I have them passing easily

It's a great idea for Chicago if they are looking to clear cap space and get assets back.

They could likely move those players for one 2nd rounder without having to take back a guy like Vincent though.

They could certainly move Smith for an expiring and 2nd(s) leaving them with the cheaper Carter.

Targets make sense, but LA needs to pay a fair price.

I don't know if they could easily move Smith for an expiring, I mean, how many expiring are actually out there? Let alone expiring matching Smith's salary.

[scoobs07]

The Bulls take a REAL step DOWN in Smith for Hayes and if you think Carter and Vincent are about the same on the court there's no upside for the Bulls adding $5M for next year for a guy who won't play. So neither of those SRP's is good enough to overcome two downsides.

Are you guys trying not to take back salary. I though there was a real hang up about taking back that guy from Denver who is under contract for three years.

[OutsidetheNBA]

I like the framework. LA needs to add a swap or Knecht.

Maybe LA adds Knecht and CHI adds Craig? Craig probably more valuable in the playoffs this year anyway.

[psman2]

It's a great idea for Chicago if they are looking to clear cap space and get assets back.

They could likely move those players for one 2nd rounder without having to take back a guy like Vincent though.

They could certainly move Smith for an expiring and 2nd(s) leaving them with the cheaper Carter.

Targets make sense, but LA needs to pay a fair price.

I don't know if they could easily move Smith for an expiring, I mean, how many expiring are actually out there? Let alone expiring matching Smith's salary.

Doesn't have to be just one player. The majority of playoff teams could cobble together enough expiring salary if that is the requirement. Plus you have teams with cap space and exceptions that send nothing back too. Matching 8.6m is not really that hard for most teams.

[gswhoops]

They could likely move those players for one 2nd rounder without having to take back a guy like Vincent though.

They could certainly move Smith for an expiring and 2nd(s) leaving them with the cheaper Carter.

Targets make sense, but LA needs to pay a fair price.

I don't know if they could easily move Smith for an expiring, I mean, how many expiring are actually out there? Let alone expiring matching Smith's salary.

Doesn't have to be just one player. The majority of playoff teams could cobble together enough expiring salary if that is the requirement. Plus you have teams with cap space and exceptions that send nothing back too. Matching 8.6m is not really that hard for most teams.

To add onto this, the new rules allow teams with the MLE remaining to use it to match in a trade (provided that it complies with the other apron rules, etc.)