2) Trades the Chicago Bulls could offer for Chris Paul:
If the Bulls want to try to get a deal done to get CP3 to the Windy City with him as the lone piece coming from the Thunder, it could be difficult to configure the proper return. Salary matching is once again the challenging feat in this scenario. But OPJ will be the key to making this happen again. He combined with the $13 million per year roughly that the Bulls owe veteran forward Thaddeus Young could get the Bulls to where they need to go to land Paul.
But the Thunder likely wouldn’t want to take on the money of Young and OPJ without anything else in return. This is where the Bulls would have to throw in some future draft capital. A good place to start would be with a future unprotected first round pick, hopefully if the Bulls improve their spot in the standings in the near future.
Landing Paul would definitely help to get them there.
And for good measure, the Bulls toss in their 2020 second round draft pick (originally from the Memphis Grizzlies). The Bulls made a tendency out of getting rid of second round draft picks anyway, and it might be well worth it in this hypothetical trade scenario. If that is the last piece to the puzzle, then the front office should make it happen.
Getting off of the money of Young and OPJ, and letting them thrive in what would be a more beneficial situation in OKC than they had last season with the Bulls under Boylen, is a good move for all parties involved. Sure the Bulls have to pay a lot to get CP3 to Chicago, but he could take this rebuild to the next level while mentoring former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard Coby White.