Shams: Lonzo for Okoro

[kulaz3000]

Doesn’t move the needle, however, this is a move that we are continuing the youth movement and that’s a direction I can get behind.

[RastaBull]

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Dam lol

This post does not make sense . The giddey for Caruso trade was a win - win for both teams and Lonzo Ball barely is always injured

My favorite part of this post is what it means when … bull and kings trade with each other?

Are the both just on other line acting the same way haha

[sco]

I asked this earlier, but I'll ask it again because I forgot that some of you think Giddey should play SF (on defense).

What do the minutes/rotation look like for the Bulls forwards next year?

Tre 24 Ayo 24
Coby 32 Okoro 16
Giddey 32 Huerter 16
Buz 32 Pat 16 Noa DNP Blowout mins
Vuc 24 Collins 12 Smith 12

It’s a deep roster of 12 very average guys. Our best player is easily the worst #1 option out of all 30 NBA teams.

It's a bet that 2 of Matas, Giddey, or Coby step up to all star level, once all of the debris of the old roster is removed.

[Dan Z]

I asked this earlier, but I'll ask it again because I forgot that some of you think Giddey should play SF (on defense).

What do the minutes/rotation look like for the Bulls forwards next year?

Tre 24 Ayo 24
Coby 32 Okoro 16
Giddey 32 Huerter 16
Buz 32 Pat 16 Noa DNP Blowout mins
Vuc 24 Collins 12 Smith 12

It’s a deep roster of 12 very average guys. Our best player is easily the worst #1 option out of all 30 NBA teams.

I just looked at a list of NBA teams and you're right except for the Nets (who is their #1? Cam Thomas? Cam Johnson?). Sad.

[vxmike]

Tre 24 Ayo 24
Coby 32 Okoro 16
Giddey 32 Huerter 16
Buz 32 Pat 16 Noa DNP Blowout mins
Vuc 24 Collins 12 Smith 12

It’s a deep roster of 12 very average guys. Our best player is easily the worst #1 option out of all 30 NBA teams.

I just looked at a list of NBA teams and you're right except for the Nets (who is their #1? Cam Thomas? Cam Johnson?). Sad.

Yup forgot about BKN but they have like $80m to spend this summer and might end up with someone.

[Peelboy]

Benn reading about how absolutely stacked the '26 draft is.....so of course instead of trying to get a superstar, AK is trading for potential guys who can improve to be marginal rotation players! #WINNING

[RastaBull]

I like this trade. Honestly, in an alternate universe with slightly different context, the Ball, Lavine, DeRozan, and Caruso trades are all solid, reasonable, quality trades.

AKME is doing solid job of tear down and rebuild. Sure, they are sacrificing value, but they are operating the market like a team with a strategy of full rebuild.

Things is, I would give them solid-to-high marks on all trades if they were a FO coming in new and having to deal with the team dealt to them by the prior FO. Sadly, they are their own prior FO haha. So I can’t really give to many pats on back for this year down and rebuild, even though I do appreciate the direction. They’ll get their accolades if/when it turns into a legit deep playoff team.

[kulaz3000]

Okoro is going to have more value than Lonzo eventually, just because Lonzo is just not going to be able to play more than 40 or so games per season.

Plus, Okoro is improving his shot, young, athletic and on a dirt cheap contract. It’s not like we won’t be able to move him again if required.

I’m betting when it’s all said and done, we are going to get a lot more production out of Okoro over Lonzo the next 2-3 seasons, whether it be on the floor or as a future trade asset.

[Dan Z]

I like this trade. Honestly, in an alternate universe with slightly different context, the Ball, Lavine, DeRozan, and Caruso trades are all solid, reasonable, quality trades.

AKME is doing solid job of tear down and rebuild. Sure, they are sacrificing value, but they are operating the market like a team with a strategy of full rebuild.

Things is, I would give them solid-to-high marks on all trades if they were a FO coming in new and having to deal with the team dealt to them by the prior FO. Sadly, they are their own prior FO haha. So I can’t really give to many pats on back for this year down and rebuild, even though I do appreciate the direction. They’ll get their accolades if/when it turns into a legit deep playoff team.

If they were doing a full rebuild then they'd figure out a way to get additional picks to work with (by either using them to draft someone or in a trade).

For example, if they did the Memphis trade (not sure if that was true....Ball for a contract plus pick) then maybe they draft a 3&D guy and have no interest in Okoro? Now they'd have a rookie to develop who is on a rookie contract (cheap) and has potential to be better than Okoro (obviously we won't know that...I haven't named a possible player the Bulls would draft and whoever it is also has a possibility of not working out).

I see this trade not as a full rebuild, but as a way to eek out a few more wins.

[RastaBull]

I also like this trade because it feels like it is an extension of Lavine trade. I’m hoping this trade means Bulls are seriously trying to bring back Tre Jones (an asset from Lavine trade). He looked really good in the Billy-Giddey system. He brings balance that system needs: defense, second ball handlers with high IQ decision making, maximizing shot efficiency.

After seeing Giddey’s ascension (I didn’t expect this) I love idea of finding guys that clearly had raw talent and theoretically have attributes that fit around Giddey, and giving them a new opportunity here.

Okoro fits that, much like I think Tre fit it. Here’s to hoping he capitalizes similarly.

[Dan Z]

Okoro is going to have more value than Lonzo eventually, just because Lonzo is just not going to be able to play more than 40 or so games per season.

Plus, Okoro is improving his shot, young, athletic and on a dirt cheap contract. It’s not like we won’t be able to move him again if required.

I’m betting when it’s all said and done, we are going to get a lot more production out of Okoro over Lonzo the next 2-3 seasons, whether it be on the floor or as a future trade asset.

Part of Lonzo's value was his contract.

Okoro will probably give the Bulls more production this year than Lonzo, but what does that do? Increase our chances of getting into the play-in?

[pipfan]

I've come around on this deal and now I like it. I think we start Okoro possibly, for defense

White/Jones/Carter
Okoro/Ayo/Terry
Giddey/Huerter/Phillips
Matas/PWill/Noa
Vuc (please deal him)/Collins/JSmith

Pretty good lineup, well balanced and should be fun to watch. Still tons of 2026 cap space, with all our picks and the Port pick. I eventually would like to see Matas/Noa start at the forwards

[Dez]

It's hard to get angry over a meh move.

Lonzo isn't worth s*** right now and the 1st round pick from Memphis involved Smart with his contract and unless that was only lightly protected/unprotected it's hard to get upset over it.

Meh all round.

[Dominator83]

Or....Lonzo is viewed as a bigger negative asset than Okoro around the league. Quite frankly, the cap situation is probably the only reason Cleveland even entertained this idea.

Lonzo is on effectively 1 year deal. And even with his injury issues, and with struggles last season (though an amazing come back and still looked damned good considering the layoff, still showed his bball IQ and could hand on D)… you can hope the shot fully returns to form.

Okoro averaged 6 ppg in 20 minutes and his D wasn’t that great, either…. And you have to pay him not just 11 M this year but 12 M next.

It is stupid and unjustifiable. Unused cap space is better than Isaac Okoro at 11.8 M - unless he takes a huge leap forward.

It's completely justifiable. You just don't like it. Okoro is the better, younger player who still has some upside and is signed to a team friendly contract. He doesn't need to make a huge leap forward to be worth a below average contract. He just needs to be a little bit better, which isn't a huge ask for someone as young as him.

And if the Bulls need to clear a 11 million dollar expiring contract it won't be that hard.

Yea i really don't hate this trade. As i mentioned in an earlier post, we're looking for other Team's Markkanens. High picks who underperfromed for their drafting teams, then the lightbulb turned on later. *IF* Giddey continues to play like post-ASB Giddey, then they've already found one taking that avenue. I don't really have an issue taking a similiar swing with Okoro here especially considering its a low-risk move. Lonzo will never be the guy from 2021. Okoro MIGHT turn out to be what AKME thought Pat would be.

If hes not, well atleast his contract is short term and not anything crazy. Cuts into capspace a little, but capspace is wildly overrated these days, as the true A-listers almost never reach UFA anymore due to extensions being too lucrative to turn down. Capspace these days usually leads to overpaying guys like PG13 as if they're Lebron james. Now, if were investing capspace in Okoro while next summer was headed for a 2010 level star studded free agency of A-listers in their prime, then i would be pissed! Currently i believe Doncic is scheduled to be a FA next summer, but i would be really surprised if he ever reaches FA, he'll likely sign an extension. But if he does, then all we need is 1 MAX slot

[Dan Z]

I've come around on this deal and now I like it. I think we start Okoro possibly, for defense

White/Jones/Carter
Okoro/Ayo/Terry
Giddey/Huerter/Phillips
Matas/PWill/Noa
Vuc (please deal him)/Collins/JSmith

Pretty good lineup, well balanced and should be fun to watch. Still tons of 2026 cap space, with all our picks and the Port pick. I eventually would like to see Matas/Noa start at the forwards

The trade is fine...it's minor...but I wish AK would think bigger, such as taking the Memphis deal (if that was true). Same with the New Orleans deal in the draft.

[Dan Z]

It's hard to get angry over a meh move.

Lonzo isn't worth s*** right now and the 1st round pick from Memphis involved Smart with his contract and unless that was only lightly protected/unprotected it's hard to get upset over it.

Meh all round.

Marcus Smart would've been fine. He'd provide defense this year and then his contract expires, but that ship sailed.

[ShouldaPaidBG]

We have to remind ourselves that during the season, at least 2 players are always injured so it's nice to have some plug and play depth.

[Peelboy]

Read on Twitter

Dam lol

This post does not make sense . The giddey for Caruso trade was a win - win for both teams and Lonzo Ball barely is always injured

My favorite part of this post is what it means when … bull and kings trade with each other?

Are the both just on other line acting the same way haha

It's the sequel to dumb and dumberer.

[Dan Z]

Lonzo is on effectively 1 year deal. And even with his injury issues, and with struggles last season (though an amazing come back and still looked damned good considering the layoff, still showed his bball IQ and could hand on D)… you can hope the shot fully returns to form.

Okoro averaged 6 ppg in 20 minutes and his D wasn’t that great, either…. And you have to pay him not just 11 M this year but 12 M next.

It is stupid and unjustifiable. Unused cap space is better than Isaac Okoro at 11.8 M - unless he takes a huge leap forward.

It's completely justifiable. You just don't like it. Okoro is the better, younger player who still has some upside and is signed to a team friendly contract. He doesn't need to make a huge leap forward to be worth a below average contract. He just needs to be a little bit better, which isn't a huge ask for someone as young as him.

And if the Bulls need to clear a 11 million dollar expiring contract it won't be that hard.

Yea i really don't hate this trade. As i mentioned in an earlier post, we're looking for other Team's Markkanens. High picks who underperfromed for their drafting teams, then the lightbulb turned on later. *IF* Giddey continues to play like post-ASB Giddey, then they've already found one taking that avenue. I don't really have an issue taking a similiar swing with Okoro here especially considering its a low-risk move. Lonzo will never be the guy from 2021. Okoro MIGHT turn out to be what AKME thought Pat would be.

If hes not, well atleast his contract is short term and not anything crazy. Cuts into capspace a little, but capspace is wildly overrated these days, as the true A-listers almost never reach UFA anymore due to extensions being too lucrative to turn down. Capspace these days usually leads to overpaying guys like PG13 as if they're Lebron james. Now, if were investing capspace in Okoro while next summer was headed for a 2010 level star studded free agency of A-listers in their prime, then i would be pissed! Currently i believe Doncic is scheduled to be a FA next summer, but i would be really surprised if he ever reaches FA, he'll likely sign an extension. But if he does, then all we need is 1 MAX slot

If AK thinks that Okoro is going to take a leap forward like Markkanen did then he's fooling himself. At this point I bet he is what he is (which isn't bad...he's solid)

It's a minor move, so it's not a big deal to me. However, like I said in a previous reply, I'd like AK to think bigger (such as the Memphis trade if it was offered...another example is the New Orleans deal in this past draft, but that one didn't involve Lonzo).

[t-time]

I don’t understand what the big deal is here. Let’s give him a chance.

It’s like the Giddey trade thread which was full of ridiculous takes and comments which turned out to be completely wrong and premature.