2) Chicago Bulls trades with the Pels for Lonzo Ball
If the Bulls want to make a legit playoff run this season, then it could all start with getting more veteran depth at key positions coming off the bench. A recent lift from the Bulls rejuvenated veteran set of role players coming off the bench was huge thus far since the turn of the calendar year for first-year head coach Billy Donovan.
And while this particular trade package does see the Bulls part ways with the veteran forward Thaddeus Young, a key piece to Donovan’s bench, they do get a lot of value in return from the Pels. In this particular trade deal, the Bulls get the former Duke Blue Devil and veteran shooting guard Redick, along with Lonzo and floor-spacing big man Nicolo Melli.
The most important piece that the Bulls ship off to the Pels in this trade deal is the fourth-year seven-footer and former Arizona Wildcats power forward Lauri Markkanen. The 23-year-old Finnish big man Markkanen is having a solid season out of the gates in the midst of the final year of his rookie contract. But Markkanen might not be in favor to get re-signed after all come next offseason.
A recent episode of “The Lowe Post Podcast” where Nick Friedell was interviewed, he mentioned that the Bulls might be leaning against handing Markkanen a contract extension in the near future.
With that in mind, Markkanen could at least be on the market for trade discussion ahead of the deadline this year. The Bulls would also get to send off the Brazilian big man Cristiano Felicio to make salaries match, and improve the rotation as a whole, in this trade with the Pels.