1) Chicago Bulls draft night trades with the Sixers
This is the lone trade on the list that, while it is impactful, doesn’t involve any pick exchange going between both the Bulls and Sixers. The Sixers are likely looking to get rid of the contract of the max-contract paid standout forward Tobias Harris in any fashion that they can without mortgaging too much of their future.
It is pretty mind-boggling the amount of money that Harris is due over the course of the next four or five years. There are a couple of years through the remainder of the life of Harris’ current contract that give him north of $38 million. That is a lot for the Bulls to take on, but could it be worth it in the end in any fashion?
Karnisovas and Eversley would have to proceed with caution in this regard, but tabulating so much future draft capital isn’t the worst idea.
In this particular trade package, the Bulls ship off the veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr. and to-be third-year small forward Chandler Hutchison to the Sixers for a return of Harris and a few first round draft picks. The Bulls get the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2020 draft from the Sixers, and a future lottery protected first round pick.
Harris does still offer a lot of value as a potential starter in the frontcourt rotation for the Bulls. It would create a bit of a logjam for the Bulls if they had Markkanen, WCJ, and Harris, all present in the frontcourt rotation. But it would at least provide more options and an insurance policy for the new front office and coaching staff if WCJ and/or Markkanen don’t pan out.