2) Chicago Bulls trades to get Kemba Walker
There’s actually a lot of possibilities in terms of player exchanges between the Bulls and Celtics, given Walker’s remaining salary around $33 million heading into next season, to that work out well for both sides. This trade deal doesn’t have a whole lot of uneven salary going both ways, just the Bulls having to invest some future draft capital.
In this particular trade deal, the Bulls ship off the likes of LaVine, veteran forward Thaddeus Young, and a future lottery protected first round draft pick. In return, they get just Kemba from the Celtics. The most valuable piece in this trade deal is definitely going to be LaVine. Young would get a shot to bolster his production back to what it was back in his days with the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, etc.
The fit between the Bulls and Young just has not gone very well since the start of last season. His fit with head coach Brad Stevens and the Celtics could be much better for him than it was under the direction of former head coach Jim Boylen and the Bulls. Even if he sticks around, Young might be better suited with former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan leading the way.
As far as the draft pick exchange is concerned, the Bulls likely would get closer to becoming a playoff caliber team if they landed Walker to immediately bolster the starting five. The lottery protected draft pick might not push it forward all that far for the Celtics. That could position them well in the immediate future in a not too distant draft.