Note: Picks going to CHI - 2030 Swap/2031 Top-5 Protected
Lakers Land Zach Lavine
Clippers Offseason Moves
Draft Melvin Ajinca |SG/SF| (46th)
Re-sign Paul George
Re-sign James Harden
Re-sign Russell Westbrook
Trade PJ Tucker, a First-Round Pick Swap, and a First-Round Pick to CHI for Alex Caruso
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Trade Explanation
Los Angeles' motivation here needs little explanation. Assuming both Paul George (player option) and James Harden return, the Clippers will remain on the win-right-the-hell-now track. Shoot, that barely changes if one or both of them leaves. Los Angeles already extended Kawhi Leonard, and let's face it, Harden doesn't really have the market leverage to anywhere.
With or without George, the Clippers need some extra defensive gusto. They ranked 24th in points allowed per possession after the All-Star break and fared poorly in transition all year. Relying on Kawhi and PG will only get thornier as they continue to age. Caruso brings a tenacity capable of alleviating that curve and improving the entire team—all without needing a prescribed number of touches at the offensive end. His bandwidth for guarding up even helps weaponize their no-big configurations.
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LA Clippers Potential Rotation
PG James Harden/ Russell Westbrook/ Bones Hyland
SG Alex Caruso/ Terance Mann/ Melvin Ajinca
SF Paul George/ Norman Powell
PF Kawhi Leonard/ Amir Coffey/ Kobe Brown
C Ivica Zubac/ Daniel Theis
Bulls Offseason Moves
Draft Cody Williams |SF/PF| (11th)
Trade Zach Lavine to LAL for D'Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt
Trade Alex Caruso to LAC for PJ Tucker, a First-Round Pick Swap, and a First-Round Pick
Trade Lonzo Ball to SAC for Harrison Barnes
Re-sign DeMar DeRozan
Re-sign Patrick Williams
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Trade Explanation
Securing multiple first-rounders for Caruso is a pipe dream at this point. He just turned 30 and has only one year left on his contract before he'll be looking to cash in on All-Defense feistiness that scales from the 1 all the way up to, at times, the 4.
Landing an ultra-distant swap and pick from the Clippers in exchange for eating Tucker's money (assuming he picks up his player option) comes fairly close to qualifying as "multiple first-rounders." Whether executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas feels the same way is a separate matter.
The Bulls have their own uncertainties with DeMar DeRozan's free agency, but Barnes fills a need as a combo forward who can steady things on both ends. If Chicago doesn't want to risk another lost season from Ball ahead of his free agency in 2025, Barnes would be a sensible return in this straight-up swap.
Chicago likely won't be getting any great offers for LaVine given his recent injuries and the three years and $138 million remaining on his contract. Swapping LaVine for three starters/role players who all make under $20 million would give the Bulls far more flexibility moving forward no matter what direction they choose to go in.
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Chicago Bulls Potential Rotation
PG D'Angelo Russell/ Gabe Vincent/ Jevon Carter
SG Coby White/ Ayo Dosunmu/ Dalen Terry
SF Harrison Barnes/ Javonte Green/ Cody Williams
PF DeMar DeRozan/ Patrick Williams/ Julian Phillips
C Nikola Vucevic/ Jarred Vanderbilt/ PJ Tucker
Kings Offseason Moves
Draft Jared McCain |PG/SG| (13th)
Draft Cam Christie |SG| (45th)
Re-sign Alex Len
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Trade Explanation
Out since the 2021-22 season due to a major knee injury, Ball's future is beyond uncertain. When last healthy, the former No. 2 overall pick was an optimal two-way connective piece. An excellent facilitator whose vision and standstill three-point shooting helps offenses flow, Ball is also a clever, steal-hoarding defensive weapon. Though not a born scorer like Monk or the true shutdown stopper the Kings need, Ball is still a sneaky good (but obviously high-risk) option. Worst case: Sacramento gets nothing from Ball, and his $21.3 million salary comes off the books next summer, a year before Barnes' deal would have expired.
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Sacramento Kings Potential Rotation
PG De'Aaron Fox/ Lonzo Ball/ Davion Mitchell
SG Kevin Huerter/ Keon Ellis/ Chris Duarte
SF Sasha Vezenkov/ Colby Jones
PF Keegan Murray/ Trey Lyles
C Domantas Sabonis/ Alex Len
Lakers Offseason Moves
Trade D'Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt to CHI for Zach Lavine
Re-sign LeBron James
Re-sign Taurean Prince
Re-sign Max Christie
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Trade Explanation
A core of James, Davis, LaVine, Reaves and Rui Hachimura would be a great starting point, especially since Los Angeles would still have three first-round picks to use (either 2024 or 2025 along with 2029 and 2031) as well as some young talent to chase an additional star.
Russell doesn't look like he has a future in Los Angeles and would need to pick up his $18.7 million player option to help orchestrate this deal. Both Vincent and Vanderbilt battled injuries nearly all season.
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Los Angeles Lakers Potential Rotation
PG Austin Reaves/ Spencer Dinwiddie
SG Zach Lavine/ Max Christie/ Jalen Hood-Schifino
SF LeBron James/ Maxwell Lewis
PF Rui Hachimura/ Taurean Prince
C Anthony Davis/ Jaxson Hayes