2) Chicago Bulls trades with the Pacers for Oladipo
The one untouchable player likely on the Pacers roster in any trade discussion that goes on this offseason would be the first-time All-Star selection and two-way big man Domantas Sabonis. The Pacers seem to have a true emerging star in Sabonis. But they should continue to try and build around him and guard Malcolm Brogdon heading into next season.
It’s hard to tell how likely the Pacers are to trade the standout duo of Turner and Oladipo this offseason. It is easy to think that the Pacers would first depart with Turner and Oladipo before any other significant parts of their current roster this offseason, though. The Bulls can take advantage of that by bolstering either portion of their rotation on the trade block.
In this particular trade package, the Bulls ship off to-be fourth-year former Arizona Wildcats power forward Lauri Markkanen, along with former Pacers veteran forward Thaddeus Young and small forward Chandler Hutchison. They don’t send any draft picks in this exchange since the trade value of Markkanen is pretty great.
What the Pacers send in return is Oladipo and their 2021 first round draft pick. Who knows where that draft pick will fall, but the Pacers don’t have a 2020 first round draft pick to work with. So the soonest that the Bulls could capitalize on any Pacers future draft capital would be with a fully unprotected first rounder next year.