Acting on the Bulls rumors involving Lauri Markkanen
If the Bulls are going to send off Markkanen, then it might have to be involving a third team along with the Spurs. In this particular trade deal, the Bulls ship off the likes of point guard Ryan Arcidiacono and Markkanen to the Spurs for a return of athletic guard Lonnie Walker. The Golden State Warriors also get involved in the deal to get things finalized.
What head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors get out of the deal is a future second round draft pick from the Bulls and forward Al-Farouq Aminu. There is one year left on the current contract of Aminu. And the Bulls have only played Aminu in one game since the trade deadline when they landed him and star big man Nikola Vucevic from the Orlando Magic.
What the Bulls get back from the Warriors is the fifth-year big man and former UCLA Bruins power forward Kevon Looney.
The Spurs might be able to get more out of the likes of Markkanen and Arcidiacono than Donovan and the Bulls have this season. Markkanen never really found consistent traction with the Bulls under the current head coach Donovan or former head coach Jim Boylen. Maybe the Spurs could make better use of him too.
Meanwhile, the Bulls get to bolster the frontcourt rotation depth in Looney and add some athleticism and depth to the backcourt rotation in Walker. It could be a good move for all parties involved in the end.