This is a trade that is simple in theory where all teams win, but complicated in reality since it probably won’t workout from what we learned from last season’s trade deadline. The New Orleans Pelicans rejected a trade that involved a ton of pieces from that young Lakers core to hang onto AD.
However, would anything change for the Pelicans with Zion Williamson potentially on his way to town and more lottery picks involved? The Chicago Bulls would toss Kris Dunn and the 2019 lottery pick into the mix along with a future second round pick. The Lakers also get the AD return they so desire while giving up key young pieces like Ingram and forward Kyle Kuzma.
It seems like the Bulls would come away with the least impact from this deal, but also mostly still come away a winner with Lonzo Ball. In a direct deal with the Lakers, a deal sending Lonzo to the Bulls for the return of Dunn and a seventh overall pick doesn’t look like it would workout. Getting the Pelicans involved is the way to make this deal happen.
Getting the opportunity to stack so many assets for the Pelicans would be fantastic with three picks in the first seven in this lottery and three new young players that could be long-term building blocks. The Pelicans would have to move around these draft picks and new young players, but this is clearly a positive if it all worked out.