Long shot, questionable major trade targets this off-season

[League Circles]

In the spirit of leaving no stone unturned, I was thinking whether there are any major impact players that we might try to trade for this summer. I'm not particularly advocating for it or anything, just asking the question of whether it's possible, and if it is, would it even be worth it. These guys have their flaws, but might be available. Here are some of the guys I'm wondering about:

Durant
Zion
Lauri
Kawhi
Curry

I could see each of these guys available for relatively little, compared to their talent/impact, for obvious reasons.

Any thoughts? I'm very aware that even if we could swing a trade for one of these guys, we may not want to. Just thought it would be a fun thought exercise.

[sco]

Of that list, only Zion marginally appeals to me. He's a perpetual injury risk, BUT he is young, AND despite the injury risk, if he can manage his weight, his risk is largely mitigated and you have a true #1 option in his prime.

Lauri isn't a #1 option, but A) no way can he be had for a resonable price (i.e. a young asset plus a 1st), B) no way would AK bring him back and admit his mistake, C) no way Lauri would want to come back here after how he was treated.

The rest are too old.

[MrSparkle]

We're such a flawed team with so few assets, and these guys are all on sub-500 teams with arguably similar (if not much better) complimentary talent... and they're turning another year older, declining more...

My argument is that they'd be a bad pickup signed in unrestricted free agency, without giving up any asset other than cap... Let alone trading even 1 of our FRPs.

I mean, I'll trade Collins, Huerter, Williams and the POR 1st for one of these guys, if that's the price. Obviously that won't fly, and even then, the Bulls would still be a play-in team IMHO. And knowing Arturas, he'll throw in some future FRPs for no reason whatsoever, cause he can't negotiate an NBA trade without getting fleeced.

The ship sailed for this risky but half-palatable route when we dumped Zach Lavine for a trio of fringe NBA players making as much money as him.

[HomoSapien]

If we still had Zach, then I'd be open to Durant. Now that doesn't make sense. Durant, Vuc, and Giddey/White isn't doing anything meaningful. I posted about Giannis. He's 30, so a little older, but still likely has at least half a decade of elite play in him. If Cousins is right that Chicago could appeal to him, I'd roll the dice an try and pour assets into finding a real number two to compliment him.

Zion makes sense because he can at least be part of a rebuild. I would keep an eye on Luka... I just can't shake the feeling that he's not happy being Laker but I can't tell if that's entirely because he's hurt by Dallas or because partly he doesn't want to be a Laker/play with James.

[CROBulls]

Zion is only one you have chance go after. At some point Pelicans will want get rid of his contract. Possibly willing to take less assets give we have none. But are you willing give away few of your future picks to take chance on Zion? He is only one on list who can still be basketball player after 2027.

Ainge wont let Lauri be traded for less than mega combo of lottery unprotected 1sts. Lauri will spend his contract with Jazz. I dont see anybody paying Jazz what Ainge wants for Lauri. And Lauri despite being pretty good he is not worth that amount of assets.

[drosestruts]

It's a good topic and one I was thinking about.

We have $85mm in expiring contracts next year and we control all our own 1sts, plus have the Portland 1st.

Of your list:

Durant - still great, but I don't think we'd have enough skill around him to make it worthwhile on what is likely a small window for him

Zion - intrigues me

Lauri - just tall Zach

Kawhi - Similar thoughts as the ones I have about KD. In both instances I suppose I feel a secondary move would also be required.

Curry - don't see him asking out or Golden State trading him.


Some other players I've thought about:

Giannis - would love for the rumors of him being interested in Chicago to be true

Devin Booker - similar thinking to Durant with the Suns being expensive and a bit of a failure. Would cost more due to his age, but would be interesting to add.

Ja Morant - Grizzlies already struck down the rumor, but hey, where there's smoke there's fire. If they're worried his next deal will be too rich for their tastes, let it become our problem.

Anrthony Edwards - how long till he asks out of Minnesota?

[HomoSapien]

I

Ja Morant - Grizzlies already struck down the rumor, but hey, where there's smoke there's fire. If they're worried his next deal will be too rich for their tastes, let it become our problem.

Morant's a great name if the rumor has legs. They're playing great, but he's featured less offensively than the past. He's also not as big of a star as he should be due to being in Memphis. Not sure if Chicago is the best place for him given his issues, but his popularity would explode here.

[ChettheJet]

The Bulls don't have the player assets to even get on the conversation. AKME get fired if they try to trade another pick.

The longest shot that a team would look this way would be NOP and Zion. The others are considering the Bulls.

[meekrab]

None of those guys make a single iota of sense for us to pursue.

[Dan Z]

Durant won't want to come here (he'll have some say in where he's traded). Plus, as others have pointed out the Bulls with KD won't have enough to go very far.

Zion..maybe, but I bet he'll cost more than I'd be willing to trade for him plus I don't trust his health. I'd hate for the Bulls to have another injured player that we keep waiting and waiting to get healthy again.

Kawhi...also health. Maybe the Clippers trade him to move on, but why? I'm not sure what their situation is with their picks, but I don't think they're ready to rebuild.

I'd be surprised if Curry was traded. They just got Butler and want to win now.

Ainge will want more for Lauri than I'd be willing to give up. But if the deal was okay then sure.

[nitetrain8603]

I wanted Zion at the deadline. I think you will see him motivated in a big city.

The others don't make sense unless you have a way to clear cap and sign all of them as mercenaries.

[Michael Jackson]

None of those guys make a single iota of sense for us to pursue.

I agree but I also can't think of any player that really does make sense at this point. It is really dismal because almost every move seems stupid... Wemby won't be available, SGA won't etc... Evwrryone else is too old or not anything near a #1. Do we scream back to mediocrity? YEah likely. Whatever the Bulls do will be depressing (unless gifted Cooper). That being said a first move has to be made to make other ones. There has to be some logic to them though and I don't have much faith.

[meekrab]

None of those guys make a single iota of sense for us to pursue.

I agree but I also can't think of any player that really does make sense at this point. It is really dismal because almost every move seems stupid... Wemby won't be available, SGA won't etc... Evwrryone else is too old or not anything near a #1. Do we scream back to mediocrity? YEah likely. Whatever the Bulls do will be depressing (unless gifted Cooper). That being said a first move has to be made to make other ones. There has to be some logic to them though and I don't have much faith.

Yeah I mean the thing that "makes sense" for this team to do this offseason is trade our expiring contracts like Vucevic Huerter Collins and White for multi-year contracts from teams that think they're going to be free agency players next summer and picks. Sadly AK is the wrong GM to handle that process because he sucks at trading and constantly gets owned by other front offices.

[kodo]

Even if we had the assets, why would those players want to come here? We're not close to a championship.
We know the drill, if any of these teams decide to move on, those superstars will have a list of maybe 4 teams (or as small as 1).

Lauri is not in that group, but we know Ainge is holding out for a king's ransom. Which we shouldn't pay (or can pay).

[nomorezorro]

a really silly shoot the moon idea that would at least be conceptually fun is going after both lamelo and zion

you'd have to be able to get em both for pennies on the dollar and go back into the hole on draft picks, so it would be dreadful team building, but there's like a 1% chance all the stars align and you have a sick complementary core duo

[meekrab]

a really silly shoot the moon idea that would at least be conceptually fun is going after both lamelo and zion

you'd have to be able to get em both for pennies on the dollar and go back into the hole on draft picks, so it would be dreadful team building, but there's like a 1% chance all the stars align and you have a sick complementary core duo

With older brother Lonzo off on the side shooting threes and stealing passes... gonna do this in 2K with injuries turned off maybe

[Muzbar]

a really silly shoot the moon idea that would at least be conceptually fun is going after both lamelo and zion

you'd have to be able to get em both for pennies on the dollar and go back into the hole on draft picks, so it would be dreadful team building, but there's like a 1% chance all the stars align and you have a sick complementary core duo

Maybe get Kawhi and Embiid also, so we can see if all of them combined can play a full 82 games.

[ImSlower]

I want another big body on this roster, and Eddy Curry is only two years older than LeBron! Do it, AK!

[SalmonsSuperfan]

maybe luka doncic is available??


the only realistic answer is lamelo. he'll clearly be a bull.

[WesPeace]

With this ownership, management and coach forget all scenarios where we can be very good and important again.. AKME is total failure