The Chicago Bulls are considered a team on the rise by much of the NBA community. With Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Coby White, and Otto Porter Jr., the franchise is loaded with young and promising talent that is expected to get better.
Still, the Bulls have never been a team with low aspirations and since the departure of Michael Jordan, they’ve been working to bring home another title.
Considering the current situation happening with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, you can expect the Bucks to be keeping close tabs on the situation. In fact, in the event that Giannis becomes available before his free-agency begins next summer, Chicago could put together a really strong offer.
Andrew Miller of Fansided’s Pippen Ain’t Easy laid out what it might look like.
The final trade package on this list is one that might be the most realistic of the three if the Bucks are willing to part ways with Giannis entering their 2020 offseason. Since the Bulls have a key player of their own in Markkanen that is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and should be more expensive to re-sign next year, then this is a deal that makes some sense.
The Bulls to give up LaVine to the Bucks, mostly for talent and salary matching purposes. They also have to give up two future unprotected first round draft picks, which would hopefully be lower in the teens or 20’s since the Bulls would be a much bigger contender in the East with Giannis on the roster.
LaVine and Markkanen would still give the Bucks a good enough combination to start their own rebuild with a solid foundation. They would also get a good amount of future draft capital by getting two of the Bulls future first round pick with no caveats. All the Bulls get in return is Giannis.
Even with Giannis, the Bulls would have work to do if want to secure a Championship, but having him is certainly a great place to start.
For the Bucks, a haul of LaVine and Mark would be great to help with the rebuilding effort. Both players, LaVine especially, have great talent and seem to have much more growth left in them.
Regardless of what happens with the Bulls, though, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a major game-changer throughout the next season and into next summer. Keep an eye on him and the Bucks, because there’s no guarantee he’ll be staying for long.
