Lakers players the Chicago Bulls could steal away this summer: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
If the Bulls managed to get in trade talks with the Lakers this summer, it could involve either of the two players on this list. Horton-Tucker could make for an interesting piece in a sign-and-trade deal, and shooting guard/small forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be a good piece in a player swap. The difference is the cost that it would come at for the Bulls to keep on their books.
Horton-Tucker would obviously want a longer term deal, while KCP is about to have two years remaining on his current contract. KCP is about to get paid around $14 million annually through the last two years of his contract. That will be a more expensive contract annually in all likelihood than whatever dollar figure Horton-Tucker is signed down to next, but less of a time commitment.
Moreover, if the Bulls were to acquire KCP, that would likely mean he either starts at the three for them, or takes on a sixth man role.
An interesting trade scenario could form between the Lakers and Bulls if there’s draw for LA to have combo guard Tomas Satoransky and/or veteran forward Thaddeus Young join them. Salaries would come close to matching in this scenario.
If this hypothetical trade were to involve Sato, it feels like a player swap (with maybe a few other smaller pieces involved) could work for all sides. Trading Young would need more from the Lakers with KCP involved. Or, maybe the Bulls could even work Al-Farouq Aminu’s contract into trade talks like this, but that would be a more difficult feat.
The Bulls are going to need to add depth at the two-guard and/or on the wing this summer. Depending on what they decide to do with impending free agents like Denzel Valentine and the veteran Garrett Temple, the need to add someone like KCP could grow.