2) Early season Chicago Bulls trades with Sixers for Simmons
It won’t be easy for the Bulls to get Simmons from the Sixers, no matter what. A star that has as bright of a future, assuming he’s able to stay healthy over the long haul, as Simmons is going to carry a hefty price tag on the trade market. Thus, the Bulls are going to have to get serious in these hypothetical trade talks with who they give up.
Two of the most valuable trade chips that the Bulls have on the current roster are definitely LaVine and fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen. Although it might not be the most appealing to a prospective trade partner like the Sixers that Markkanen is in the final year of his rookie contract, they would at least control his offer sheet next offseason.
As previously mentioned, the Sixers likely could find a nice fit for LaVine. Morey could model LaVine’s game similar with the Sixers to how he used superstar guard James Harden with the Houston Rockets. And Markkanen is a very versatile stretch big man that might just need a change of scenery to get his game going again.
The Bulls would also have to part ways with two future lottery protected first round picks to get the Sixers enough draft capital to get this deal done. It likely wouldn’t be enough to seal the trade deal to just send LaVine and Markkanen, hence the two future first round draft picks.
It’s still worth exploring this trade for the Bulls and Sixers since it could benefit each side in their own right.