Chicago Bulls sign-and-trade deals to send Lauri Markkanen to the Mavs
The first trade deal up here hinges on the idea that the former Philadelphia 76ers two-way shooting guard Josh Richardson doesn’t want to exercise his player option this offseason and wants to hit free agency. Since Richardson is facing a player option entering the summer, there’s a chance that the Mavericks won’t control where he lands next season.
But if a destination like Chicago sticks out to Richardson, and Dallas makes sense for Markkanen, then a sign-and-trade deal like this makes sense. To make it all work, the Bulls also ship off combo guard Tomas Satoransky with Markkanen to the Mavericks for a return of power forward Nico Melli and Richardson.
The main piece of the deal for the Bulls would be Richardson. Donovan and the Bulls would be able to improve their defense and bolster their overall depth in the backcourt rotation by getting Richardson to the Windy City. He would also bring some much-needed grit to the rotation that they don’t get out of the likes of Sato and second-year point guard Coby White.
The Mavericks got Melli and veteran shooting guard JJ Redick from the New Orleans Pelicans at the deadline, and they might be more willing to part ways with the former than the latter. Granted Redick is set to become a free agent himself this summer.
Getting this deal done pretty much hinges exclusively on how the process of Richardson determining his player option is going heading into the offseason. But it’s one possibility to note between the Bulls and Mavericks.