This is the most interesting of the four trade packages on this list since the Kings and Chicago Bulls would both be parting ways with a good portion of each team’s young core. But both the Bulls and Kings need to re-shape a lot of parts of their franchises heading into the offseason. For the Kings, that could taking shape for the future with power forward Lauri Markkanen and LaVine.
The good part about this trade packages is that a handful of players that need a change of scenery get to do so. For the Kings, really the only part of this trade package that has a piece very much worth retaining by now is former Duke Blue Devils forward/center Marvin Bagley. Fellow former Duke big man Harry Giles could also be on the move soon.
The swap that involves sending LaVine to the Kings for Hield makes sense since the Bulls are essentially also getting Giles and a future first round draft pick in return. And landing Bagley in exchange for Markkanen looks to make sense on the surface for both sides. Bagley is a tremendous young big man that could be a star down the road if he’s able to stay healthy for the next year or two.
Salary matching is fairly easy here since LaVine and Hield will have roughly equal contract sizes after this season. Hield has that poison pill provision that will make him worth around $18-19 million at the conclusion of the 2019-20 regular season.
This is interesting also since the Kings were the team that seemed to be the biggest threat to snag LaVine from the Bulls when they had the chance to match his offer sheet two years ago.