Chicago Bulls Land James Harden For Zach LaVine And A First Round Pick In A Proposed Trade

• The Chicago Bulls can go for a one-year playoff push by swapping out Zach LaVine for James Harden

• The 76ers get an electric scorer under contract to add to their core of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid

• The Bulls put together a veteran duo of Harden and DeMar DeRozan for a playoff push

The Chicago Bulls have been stuck in the middle of the NBA for years now. Even when it looked like they were primed and ready to become a contender, questionable trades and horrible injury luck put a stop to it. Now they have a wing duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan that isn’t translating to winning with Lonzo Ball spending another year on the injury list.

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a worse cycle than the Bulls, because they are a team with title expectations every season that ends with a second-round exit. It has got to be frustrating to be a Philly fan and now see the situation with James Harden continue to spiral. Given the best Philly is getting for Harden so far are expiring contracts of average players and a few picks, they can make a better win-now deal if they speak to the Bulls.

Trade Details:

Chicago Bulls Receive: James Harden, 2027 First-Round Pick (PHI)

Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Zach LaVine

LaVine will add the scoring punch the 76ers end up lacking in games, especially in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Bulls get a genuine point guard that can not only run their offense but help unlock new dimensions from DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and even Patrick Williams.

The Chicago Bulls Try A New Strategy

On paper, this move may seem ridiculous in the short term. Harden isn’t the same caliber of scorer that LaVine is anymore, which is a pretty shocking statement. Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists last season, showing his real strength at this point in his career is his uncanny distribution abilities. 

For every criticism about Harden, it’s unquestionable that there are no other guards in the NBA who can run an offense like he can. He maximized the questionable role-players in Houston, dominated with the ball in his hands in Brooklyn, and led the league in assists last season with the 76ers.

While he won’t have a partner like Joel Embiid, Nikola Vucevic could be a fantastic offensive tandem given his ability to attack the rim as well as make a jumper. The attention DeRozan attracts to the Bulls will also allow Harden to maximize deliveries to other players on the court like Patrick Williams. Given the improvement Williams’ has shown as a corner shooter so far in his career, adding Harden could especially unlock his production.

The Bulls won’t become a title contender, but they become more flexible by shedding LaVine’s long-term contract for Harden’s expiring deal. Given DeRozan could also leave at the end of this season, this gives the Bulls a way to fast-track their way into a rebuild or use their available cap space to make a marquee addition.

The Philadelphia 76ers Maximize Their Winning Window

The 76ers are on the clock if they want to keep Joel Embiid around. From the way the market is shaping up, the only realistic asset the 76ers could get is a 2028 first-round pick from the Clippers that could yield high value. Losing Harden for that as the prime returning asset would be a massive mistake, given Philly’s desire to win now. So, if it takes attaching a pick to an expiring Harden contract to secure an offensive talent like Zach LaVine, so be it.

Lavine averaged 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds. and 4.2 assists last season and has shown that his health has become more stable. In addition, he is one of the best off-ball offensive options in the league with his activity and uncanny ability to make shots. The former All-Star has been lost on the Bulls, especially with DeRozan also joining him on the wing. 

Sending LaVine to the 76ers where he could form an incredible offensive trio alongside Maxey and Embiid would be the best case for the player and the team. There isn’t a player as good available to them, and they need to show Embiid they’ll do whatever they can to keep him in a winning situation. 

LaVine’s contract and injury history are question marks, but the 76ers need to look over them and allow him to cook as a primary guard scoring option under a Nick Nurse offense. Given the defensive growth he showed in the 2021/22 season, there’s no doubt in my mind that LaVine can be an average to good defender with his length when the team needs him. 

A Trade That Sends Two Teams On Different Paths

The 76ers take a step to not only win now but win for the foreseeable future by adding a player of LaVine’s caliber. If his contract was different, the 76ers may have had to give up more picks given what LaVine can do on the court. But with a player on offer like James Harden, the Bulls could make great use of him. They get one pick for their trouble which could be a key asset if the 76ers fail to ascend to a title after this trade.

LaVine will be the scoring option this team has needed, as Harden started handing more scoring responsibilities to Tyrese Maxey. While he will still have a massive role, having LaVine to split it up with will make the game easier for everyone. This includes Joel Embiid as well, who won’t have to lead the league in scoring just to burn out by the time the playoffs roll around.

This would be an audacious deal, but it may be one that both franchises end up discussing given the amount of things it sets into motion for them.

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