The Chicago Bulls are a team seemingly in no man’s land right now, with a veteran core leading a team in a play-in tournament position. It is hard to see them become a consistent playoff time soon, and perhaps the best decision would be to blow things up and try to get younger.
Our trade features the Chicago Bulls acquiring two young stars, Brandon Ingram and Jaylen Brown. They would essentially blow up what is left of the current iteration of the team while trying to remain competitive.
Chicago Bulls Receive: Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Zach LaVine, 2029 First-Round Pick (CHI)
Boston Celtics Receive: DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Dalen Terry, 2023 First-Round Pick (POR via CHI)
This potential trade could potentially help all teams involved with their goals, and each team’s situation around the league suggests that this deal is relatively realistic. Here is why each side should consider making this deal.
Chicago Bulls Get Two Young Stars And Stay Competitive
The Chicago Bulls need a new direction, and their main priority should be to try and build a more competitive team. Getting two young wing players in Brandon Ingram and Jaylen Brown could give them a foundation to build on. While both players are on shorter-term deals, the Chicago Bulls could offer each player an extension to stay there long-term. They are a larger market and are a historic franchise, and playing there could have an appeal to two young players who are hungry to make their mark in this league.
Having Brandon Ingram and Jaylen Brown as your foundational pieces is a better option than what the Chicago Bulls have right now. Ingram is 25, Brown is 26, and their timelines match up with one another’s. You can build a competitive team around those two stars: Brown is a fantastic two-way wing who is an explosive scorer, while Ingram has shown that he can be a point-forward type player who is also a great scorer from the midrange area.
Though the Bulls would have to move a long-term All-Star level player in Zach LaVine as well as some of their young prospects in this 3-team deal, the opportunity to get two elite stars that are only now hitting their prime would put them in a better position than they are now. They would be able to remain a competitive team which is the key appeal, and if the stars remain there long-term, this could be a home run for the Bulls.
New Orleans Pelicans Get A Better-Fitting Star Next To Zion Williamson
The New Orleans Pelicans need to prioritize building a competitive team around Zion Williamson, and that could mean trading Brandon Ingram for a star that is better fitting around Williamson.
Zach LaVine seems like the perfect choice, as he is a dynamic scorer who is particularly proficient from the 3PT range. As of right now, Zach LaVine is averaging 25.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 4.2 APG for the Chicago Bulls while shooting 38.4% from the 3PT range. LaVine is also extremely proficient without the ball in his hands, which is important when playing with a ball-dominant superstar like Zion Williamson.
This deal makes sense for the New Orleans Pelicans beyond just the on-court aspect, as Zach LaVine is on a long-term deal, which means that he will be there for at least a large portion of Zion Williamson’s current contract. That can be their duo to build around in the coming years, and they could be a top-tier team if Zion Williamson plays at the level he did when he was healthy. The Pelicans would also get a first-round pick from the Bulls as well, as Brandon Ingram is considered a better player than Zach LaVine.
This trade would allow the New Orleans Pelicans to add another elite floor spacer next to Zion Williamson and try to make a deep run next season. They would have adequate players around Zion Williamson to help him succeed and potentially win their first championship as a franchise.
Boston Celtics Remain Competitive And Get Assets For An Expiring Contract
We have seen some reports that have suggested Jaylen Brown could leave the Boston Celtics if he doesn’t make an All-NBA team this season, as that determines whether he is eligible to get the supermax from the team. He is in the last year of his deal next season, and if he doesn’t end up signing an extension, trading him to get some sort of return makes sense for the Boston Celtics.
The Bulls’ package for Jaylen Brown would be centered on DeMar DeRozan. He could potentially be a good fit on the Celtics as a No. 2 option, as DeRozan is a solid offensive wing who is an elite midrange scorer. He is currently averaging 24.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 5.1 APG for the Chicago Bulls and would help the Boston Celtics remain a competitive team with Jayson Tatum.
Since DeMar DeRozan is an older player who is also on an expiring contract, the Boston Celtics will likely request some future assets from the Chicago Bulls as well to part ways with Jaylen Brown. In our trade scenario, the Bulls will give up Patrick Williams and Dalen Terry, as well as draft compensation to ensure that the Celtics get good value from the deal.
The Boston Celtics’ two main goals in the event of a Jaylen Brown trade request are to remain competitive and amass assets they can use to trade for a star in the future. This deal helps them with both of those things and would be a solid option for the team.
The New Era For The Chicago Bulls
Starting Lineup: Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, Andre Drummond (Player Option)
This deal could end up being a huge success for the Chicago Bulls, and there is no doubt that they would have an intriguing team in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown and Brandon Ingram could become one of the best duos in the league, and the team would have to add other elite players to the team to have a chance of winning a championship.
If the Chicago Bulls were to make a three-team deal to acquire Jaylen Brown and Brandon Ingram, they would likely target some other depth options to make the team more competitive. They do already have some solid role players on the roster, such as Alex Caruso.
However, this current starting lineup would be solid defensively already, and with better options at the SG and C positions, the Chicago Bulls could end up being a competitive team in the Eastern Conference.
This Deal Would Be A Win For All Three Teams
There is no doubt that this deal could end up working out for all three teams involved. The Bulls would get some elite young stars, the Pelicans would get a player to help them build around Zion Williamson, and the Celtics would remain competitive and acquire assets for a star on an expiring contract.
It remains to be seen if the three teams ever agree on a trade with this framework. This trade is clearly more unlikely than some, but stranger moves have happened in the NBA.
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