{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"index":"","title":"Not that Pelicans guard","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2021/03/23/Bledsoe_E_Getty_0.jpg","caption":"

Bulls receive: Eric Bledsoe, Top-8 protected first-round pick (2021)

Pelicans receive: Lauri Markkanen, Tomáš Satoranský

Not the Bulls-Pelicans trade I was expecting to see first.

If Artūras Karnišovas’ public comments are a smokescreen and the front office isn’t sold on Markkanen as a long-term fit, there’s a ton of logic to pursuing trading him by Thursday to avoid losing him for nothing (or matching an uncomfortable offer sheet) in restricted free agency.

In that scenario, a potential late lottery pick in a stacked draft is enticing. And it would be necessary as a sweetener to take on Bledsoe, who is a sizable downgrade from Satoranský -- at a position at which the Bulls are already weak -- and due north of $18 million in 2021-22. But this move would run counter to Karnišovas saying publicly he values the team’s cap flexibility in the 2021 offseason, and the Bulls’ apparent desire to maximize the current roster, which they signaled by inserting Satoranský and Thad Young into the starting lineup six games ago.

From the Pelicans’ side… While getting off that Bledsoe money would be nice, that first is a hefty tag-on, even for a draft-asset-rich-team. Their frontcourt rotation is already crowded, and Markkanen hardly helps their 28th-rated defense. Plus, they’d be saddled with decisions on Markkanen and Lonzo Ball in restricted free agency this summer.

Grade: C. In the end, I think both sides pass.

Via @pvaperate

","credit":"Getty Images"},{"index":"1","title":"Lonzo Bull?","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2021/03/23/app-210116-Lonzo-Ball-DeAaron-fox.jpg","caption":"

Bulls receive: Lonzo Ball, second-round pick

Pelicans receive: Coby White, Cristiano Felício, first-round pick

That’s more like it!

The Bulls are reportedly in on Ball, and it makes sense given his surge in production and the team’s need for defense and reliable playmaking at the guard spot.

To me, though, the Ball trade that’s always made the most sense for the Bulls -- if they were to do one -- is a swap of he and Markkanen. Dealing with one of those guys’ restricted free agency is one thing, but both? That’s a frightening proposition. (But, again, Markkanen’s fit in New Orleans isn’t tidy, and the Bulls may value him more than that.)

Back to the trade at hand. I like Ball and think he’d be a good fit in Chicago, but he’s not a sure thing to be the guy long-term, and the Bulls would need to pay him like one soon. For that boring, pragmatic reason, parting with a first and White feels reckless (the Bulls own all their future firsts as of now, which can’t be taken for granted). Plus, you’d need to know what New Orleans thinks of White. They just used a lottery pick on Kira Lewis Jr., who they presumably would want to develop at the point guard spot upon moving Ball.

I will say: The young-player-plus-first-round-pick construction makes this deal a bit more plausible from the Pelicans' side than the Coby-plus-a-second variations I also received (or the Satoranský-plus-seconds package the Bulls have reportedly offered). Still not quite there.

Grade: C+. Might be too rich for Bulls, unsure about Pelicans.

Via @E_Odi

","credit":"USA Today"},{"index":2,"title":"Two-Step Plan","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2021/03/23/app-201012-Andre-Drummond%20%281%29.jpg","caption":"

PART 1

Bulls receive: Bismack Biymobo, lottery-protected first-round pick (2021)

Hornets receive: Wendell Carter Jr.

PART 2

Bulls receive: Andre Drummond

Cavaliers receive: Otto Porter Jr.

Part 1 falls apart pretty quickly for me. As much as the Hornets could use a center to develop alongside their other core members, I have a hard time believing Carter could fetch a first right now, even lottery-protected. And Biyombo has been solid in a limited role.

Part 2 is a construction K.C. Johnson, Jason Goff and I actually discussed on a recent Bulls Talk Podcast (while Porter was still sidelined with a back ailment and Carter was still starting). Porter and Drummond are playing on identical, expiring salaries right now, making for an easier money-match than most teams can cobble together. It’s really about what you value for the next two months. Neither would figure to factor into either franchise’s long-term plans, at least at anything close to their current salary.

My gut tells me, even as unreliable as he is availability-wise, Porter’s wing defense and 3-point shooting would be more coveted by the front office. He just played crunch time power forward minutes over Markkanen in a recent loss to the Nuggets. But Drummond was productive early in the season, and his size and rebounding would definitely help up front in some capacity. So, again, I could see it.

Rendering all this relatively moot: With his time on the Cavaliers’ sideline dragging, Drummond appears destined for the buyout market, where he’d have his pick between a number of different contenders.

Grades: D for Part 1.

B- for Part 2. I see the logic, but not sure it’s a needle-mover.

Via @GreekBullsFan

","credit":"USA Today"},{"index":3,"title":"Tear It Down","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2021/03/23/App-210311-Zach-LaVine-finalist.jpg","caption":"

Bulls receive: Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, three first-round picks (2021 via MIN, top-3 protected; 2021 via GSW; 2025 via GSW, top-3 protected)

Warriors receive: Zach LaVine, Thad Young, Garrett Temple

This one is a certified doozy.

For the Bulls, it would signal the ground floor of a rebuild. Two potential first-round picks* -- including one possibly near the top of this loaded, upcoming draft -- would be uber-enticing. Wiseman has had his ups and downs but shows promise as a potential center of the future. Taking on Wiggins’ bloated contract -- he’s owed north of $65 million over the next two seasons -- is tough to swallow, but necessary to match salaries.

The Warriors, meanwhile, go full tilt on a title run when Klay Thompson returns next season. As the submitter writes: “You might not find a better four-man rotation than (Draymond) Green, (Steph) Curry, Thompson, and LaVine,” and it’s hard to argue that. Add Young and Temple to the depth pieces Golden State already has, and that’s a formidable group.

But the Bulls don’t appear eager to move LaVine -- understandable given his rapid rise -- taking this one just outside the realm of plausibility to me. Even three firsts (plus Wiseman, essentially a fourth) is less than the recent going rate of star analogs in Jrue Holiday, Paul George or James Harden when you factor in Wiggins’ contract and Young’s value. I do see the vision, though.

*Draft Pick Notes: That Timberwolves’ 2021 first would only convey if it fell outside the top three. Minnesota has the worst record in the NBA as of this writing. If it doesn’t convey this season, it becomes unprotected in 2022.

The Warriors actually owe their 2021 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder (top-20 protected) by way of the Kelly Oubre Jr. trade last offseason. Right now, it’s slated to fall No. 14, so it looks likely they’ll retain it for this draft, but they still can’t trade it.

For this deal to actually happen, the first would need to be Golden State’s 2023 (can’t trade firsts in back-to-back years), which probably makes this deal less palatable from their end. Alas.

Grade: B+ for inventiveness.

Via Nick Phillips

","credit":"USA Today"},{"index":4,"title":"Another Doozy","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2021/03/23/Grant_J_USATSI_15649571.jpg","caption":"

Bulls receive: Jerami Grant, Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Mason Plumlee

Pistons receive: Lauri Markkanen, Coby White, Wendell Carter Jr., Cristiano Felício, two second-round picks (2021 via Bulls, 2022 via Bulls)

Magic receive: Otto Porter Jr., Delon Wright, 2021 first-round pick (via Bulls)

Of course this trade is a good one for the Bulls (I think?). But it’s not doing it for me from a feasibility standpoint for a few reasons:

The Pistons trade a franchise cornerstone in Grant -- who signed with them for reasons bigger than basketball -- for basically the Bulls’ entire underwhelming young core and seconds? Slim chance.
The Magic can probably get more than an expiring contract, backup point guard and late-lottery first for Gordon and Fournier, especially if they flip them separately. The market for Gordon, specifically, appears robust.
Gordon and Fournier are also both due paydays soon.

Grade: D. Not seeing it, though the submitter's mission statement -- "Let's get weird" -- is both admired and appreciated.

Via @KevinDAdams

","credit":"USA Today"},{"index":5,"title":"Refurbished Frontcourt","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2021/03/23/Myles%20Turner%20USAT.jpg","caption":"

Bulls receive: Myles Turner

Pacers receive: Lauri Markkanen, Cristiano Felício

Turner, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and the league’s leading shot-blocker, would provide the Bulls some sorely needed interior presence, and recoup value for Markkanen if the new front office doesn’t view him as a long-term fit. It’s long been speculated the Pacers should break up their frontcourt tandem of Turner and Sabonis.

I’m just not sure Sabonis and Markkanen -- especially with the latter's restricted free agency looming -- are a compelling enough duo to make the leap from their end, especially defensively. The offensive side is interesting.

Grade: B-

Via Daniel Fink

","credit":"USA Today"},{"index":6,"title":"Another Lauri Deal","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2021/03/23/Lauri%20Markkanen%20crop%20GETTY%20%281%29%20%282%29%20%281%29_0_0_0.jpg","caption":"

Bulls receive: Ricky Rubio, Naz Reid, second-round pick (2022)

Timberwolves receive: Lauri Markkanen, Chandler Hutchison, Cristiano Felício

Again, if -- big if -- the Bulls want to recoup value for Markkanen before potentially losing him this summer, this is a decent swap. Though his shooting splits are at all time highs, Markkanen’s restricted free agency places a damper on his value.

The 21-year-old Reid, who is swatting 2.2 shots per 36 minutes and shooting 34 percent from distance this season, is an intriguing prospect and that 2022 second could be a high one. Two problems with Rubio: One, he glitches out the Bulls’ cap space this offseason with a nearly $18 million salary due in 2021-22. Two: Are we sure he’s an upgrade over Satoranský in terms of solving the point guard spot? I’m not. Getting off Hutchison’s roughly $4 million salary next season makes sense and Reid and the second would be solid gets. I’m just not sure it’s all worth using up the cap space bullet.

The Timberwolves, rumored to be in the market for a power forward, would also need to view Markkanen as worth long-term investment. His fit next to Towns seems solid on paper. Unclear how much they would value the opportunity to get off Rubio's money, or covet Reid.

Grade: B. Call me crazy, but not out of the realm of possibility.

Via @FelpstNBA

","credit":"Getty Images"}]}

NBA trade deadline 2021: Grading 7 Bulls trade ideas pre-deadline