Chicago Bulls Rumors: Potential trades involving Anthony Davis
No. 1: Acquire Lonzo Ball from the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade
This trade has the Bulls a little bit less involved, but heavily involved nonetheless.
Sources: Should Lakers/Pelicans trade talks pick up, point guard Lonzo Ball's camp prefers Ball to be moved to a third team that doesn't have an established point guard.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2019
As Stadium’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday, Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball would prefer to be moved to a third team that does not have an established point guard. If this season has been an indication of anything, the Bulls do not have an established point guard.
Therefore, they could be the perfect team to swipe in and buy low on Ball, banking on his potential. Additionally, Ball would not even really cost too much.
The Pelicans would need to receive a monster haul in return for Davis in any trade. That haul is shown above. Where the Bulls fit in, is by adding a pair of assets that the Lakers cannot offer.
First, the Bulls would be supplying the immediate replacement for Davis in Bobby Portis. Once Davis is gone, the Pelicans will have a great deal of cap room, and will be able to extend Portis immediately. Portis is a high-upside offensive player that would easily fill the defensive void left by Davis.
Additionally, the Bulls would be throwing in a protected 2020 first round pick, giving the Pelicans a total of three first rounders in exchange for Davis’ services.
Lonzo Ball’s “preference” would be for the Lakers to find a third team for him like Chicago or New York if he’s included in a trade deal for Anthony Davis, per @taniaganguli pic.twitter.com/Xi0Iq3yEVR
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2019
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Since the pick would be lottery protected, it allows the Bulls to take a low-risk move, if next season doesn’t work out well. If the Bulls were to miss the playoffs in 2020 after this trade, they would retain their first round pick, which obviously would be much more valuable to them after a down season.
There are a ton of moving parts in this trade, with the Bulls not necessarily contributing much other than adding their point guard of the future at a relatively low cost. Kris Dunn could be on his way out anyways, so Ball’s plus defense and steady offensive production could make him a slight upgrade over Dunn.
It’s been a long time since the Bulls have found themselves in a big trade like this, but there is a good chance that the Bulls could actually take an opportunity to get involved.