The Chicago Bulls are currently a team that is in dire need of a change. They have not had a good start to the season, and it is hard to see them turn things around. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are a good team that is in need of some upgrades around the roster. Perhaps the two teams could help one another out by making a trade with each other.
- Chicago Bulls Get Two Younger Players For Their Rebuild
- The Phoenix Suns Get Two Win-Now Players
- This Trade Can Help Both Teams
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Our trade scenario features the Phoenix Suns sending Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges to the Chicago Bulls in a win-now move. This would get them Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic in return.
Chicago Bulls Receive: Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges
Phoenix Suns Receive: Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic
There is no doubt that this trade could potentially help both teams achieve their goals and be a solid move considering both teams’ current situations. Here is why the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns should make this trade.
Chicago Bulls Get Two Younger Players For Their Rebuild
The Chicago Bulls’ current roster clearly is not close to winning a championship as of right now. Though they have some really good players, the team simply hasn’t been able to produce the results on the court. They are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference, with a 14-18 record on the season. Perhaps it would be better for them to change things around, get younger and less injury prone, and start a rebuilding process.
Moving their veteran stars is obviously the easiest way for the Chicago Bulls to get valuable players that are on the younger side. Zach LaVine is a prime candidate to get moved in this scenario: he has had some injury issues but is clearly a talented and effective player when healthy. Currently, Zach LaVine is averaging 22.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.2 APG while shooting 37.0% from beyond the arc. The Chicago Bulls could elect to trade him to a team that needs a secondary scorer, like the Phoenix Suns.
Nikola Vucevic is also a trade candidate, as he is on an expiring contract as of right now. Though he is having a good season for the Chicago Bulls, it makes sense for them to move on so they can get a return for him rather than letting him walk in free agency without getting anything. As of right now, Nikola Vucevic is showing that he is a solid stretch big man this year, putting up 16.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG, and 2.9 APG while shooting 37.4% from the 3PT range.
In this trade scenario, the Chicago Bulls would be receiving Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges for their two veteran stars. Deandre Ayton would likely be a building block for the franchise in the future, and he can put up a double-double on any given night, is a solid rim protector, and is mobile enough to guard some players on the perimeter. He’s had a solid year, averaging 17.8 PPG and 9.7 RPG for the Phoenix Suns. Deandre Ayton is a solid center that could potentially do well in a bigger role, and he is a “star potential” player that could help the Chicago Bulls usher in their next era.
Getting Mikal Bridges would get the Phoenix Suns a quintessential 3 and D wing player who can guard the best opposing player while also spacing the floor and providing complementary offense. Mikal Bridges is averaging a career-high 15.7 PPG while shooting lights out from deep, converting 3PT shots at a 39.2% clip.
There is no doubt that this deal would see the Chicago Bulls up for the near future and give them two players that have not even entered their prime. Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges could be the building blocks for the team’s next iteration, and acquiring them would not be a bad move at all for the Chicago Bulls.
The Phoenix Suns Get Two Win-Now Players
For the Phoenix Suns, the motivation for this trade is simple: they would be able to get back to being a legitimate contending team. As of right now, the Phoenix Suns have a solid roster, but they will likely not be able to win the championship with only one elite scorer in Devin Booker. They need to make a move, and with Mat Ishbia purchasing the team, they finally have the stability needed to make big moves such as this one.
Zach LaVine would be the perfect secondary scorer to pair with Devin Booker. He is an elite off-ball player and has shown that he can thrive with a ball-dominant player such as DeMar DeRozan. He can also win games on his own at times if he gets hot, and he would definitely take some of the scoring responsibility off of Chris Paul’s shoulders as well. Perhaps Devin Booker and Zach LaVine can be a similar tandem to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, where the team is built around their scoring ability and playmaking. Obviously, trading for Zach LaVine would be a risk due to his injury history, but it is one worth taking because of the player’s talent and ability.
Nikola Vucevic is solid in the pick and roll, which would make him a good fit with Chris Paul. He can also space the floor, providing more room for his teammates’ drives rather than clogging the point. His offensive versatility could help the Phoenix Suns immensely, and his high-level 3PT shooting should make him a good fit within coach Monty Williams’ system.
Both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are players that can help the Phoenix Suns become a championship team. Adding a dynamic three-level scorer and a versatile offensive big man could be just what the team needs to get to the next level. The Western Conference is wide open as of right now, and the time to make a win-now move is right now.
This Trade Can Help Both Teams
There is no doubt that this move could potentially be helpful for both teams involved. For a blockbuster deal to happen, both sides need to feel like they are walking away with a win for their franchise, and this is a trade that will allow them to do that.
The Chicago Bulls would be able to kickstart their rebuilding process by acquiring two good players from the Suns. Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges are still young enough to be part of the next version of the Chicago Bulls, and maybe they could even play key roles in it.
The Phoenix Suns would immediately become one of the favorites in the Western Conference to make the Finals once again. Adding Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic will give them some extra offensive firepower and give them two players that complement Devin Booker and Chris Paul well.
It remains to be seen if the two teams do end up trying to make this deal happen in the future. This is definitely one of those deals that can be a winning move for both teams, and we’ll see if there’s any traction on this before the trade deadline.
