Blockbuster trade pitch has Bulls moving both LaVine and Vucevic

Let's start by saying that not all mock trades hold the same merit. Of course, an insider or analyst's takes are likely held to a higher standard than a fan's. However, if financial requirements are met as a part of a mock trade, all bets are off. There's no telling what NBA teams will receive for certain players or how much teams are willing to give up to acquire a star or future draft compensation.

The Chicago Bulls fall on the latter end of said spectrum. Amid years of mediocracy, drastic changes are on the horizon in Chicago. Trade rumors have marred the Bulls to no end. Stalwarts like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are seemingly mentioned daily as high-profile trade candidates. In addition to Chicago's leading scorers being the center of trade chatter, Patrick Williams, Lonzo Ball, Torrey Craig, Dalen Terry, and Julian Phillips have all been brought up as of late.

There's no limit to the amount of Bulls who could be dealt by the February 6 trade deadline, and in a recent mock trade to hit social media and NBA trade machine and salary cap manager Fanspo, this theory was put to the test as five Bulls were included in a hypothetical three-team mega-deal. LaVine, Vucevic, Craig, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Jevon Carter are all included in the mock deal.

Four Orlando Magic players and three Golden State Warriors are included in the three-team swap besides the Chicago five. Furthermore, four second-rounders, two from each squad, are routed to the Bulls in the hypothetical. There's much to unpack and a full breakdown is provided below.

Golden State Warriors add floor-spacing big

The Warriors receive Vucevic, Carter, and Horton-Tucker from the Bulls and send out De'Anthony Melton, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2028 second-rounder via the Atlanta Hawks. Golden State aggregates three players worth $29.9 million in exchange for roughly $27.5 million of contracts.

Aside from the minimal salary cap flexibility added, the Warriors acquire a much-needed starting center playing on a modest, three-year, $60 million pact. Thus far, Golden State has opted to start 6-foot-8 Trayce Jackson-Davis in the middle. Jackson-Davis has held adequately considering his lack of size. However, Golden State is nearly seven points per 100 possessions worse with the 24-year-old on the floor. It's evident that Jackson-Davis is better as a reserve than a full-time starter.

Vucevic brings ample experience to a contending roster. The 34-year-old has 924 games, including 864 starts under his belt. This season, the 6-foot-10 big man is averaging 21.0 points and 9.8 rebounds while converting a career-high 47.4 percent of his three-pointers. Vucevic isn't the best defender or even a quality asset on the less glamorous end, but he's not a clear detriment. Vooch's opponents only shoot 0.5 percent better when he's the closest defender.

Adding a defensive liability wouldn't drastically affect Golden State. The Warriors rank fourth in the NBA in defensive rating thanks in part to a phenomenal team effort. Opponents shoot below 44 percent from the floor and 34 percent from beyond the arc in playing Golden State. All in all, Vucevic is a terrific addition, and Carter and Horton-Tucker are ideal throw-ins to replace the injured Melton and Payton II.

Orlando Magic complete star trio

The Magic receive one less player than the Warriors, acquiring LaVine and Craig. Moreover, Orlando ships out one more player than Golden State. Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, Goga Bitadze, and Jett Howard, alongside two second-rounders, are routed to Chicago in the trade.

This trade is all about adding shooting to one of the least prolific three-point shooting teams in the NBA. The Magic have performed quite well despite averaging the worst three-point percentage (30.9 percent) in the NBA. Orlando ranks 26th in the NBA in three-point makes yet 12th in attempts. Not one Orlando rotation player shoots it better than 38 percent from distance.

Enter LaVine, a career 38.5 percent marksman drilling 43.2 percent of his triples this season. He's also not just a shooter. LaVine is averaging 22.1 points per game this year and remains one of the NBA's best dunkers. He's already thrown down 19 dunks this season. The 29-year-old is comfortable scoring both off the dribble and spotting up. He's extremely versatile on the offensive end of the floor.

LaVine would fit seamlessly in Orlando's starting unit alongside Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. Although giving up Bitadze and Howard is not in Orlando's best interest, the Magic have suitable replacements, and Craig bolsters an already deep forward rotation. Acquiring LaVine without forking over a first-rounder should be considered a win—especially for a team on the verge of contending status.

Chicago Bulls pull the plug

Sending out five players and receiving seven screams rebuild. To further illustrate the magnitude of the hypothetical impending makeover, Chicago is shedding 57.1 or 47.9 percent of its total points per game. Trading LaVine and Vucevic ushers in a new pecking order in Chicago, likely handing Coby White the reigns of the offense.

Losing both the 20-plus point-per-game scorers will be a huge blow, but it's worth it to fast-forward the inevitable. There's no reason for the Bulls' Front Office to re-sign LaVine or Vucevic to contract extensions into their early and mid-30s, respectively. Thus, parting with the franchise pillars is in Chicago's best interest. Furthermore, shipping out Craig, Carter, and Horton-Tucker is equally plausible, as only one of the three (Carter) is guaranteed money beyond this season.

The gigantic return is intriguing. First and foremost, four second-rounders are the most appealing. The Bulls are surprisingly light on second-rounders, only possessing one over the next three drafts. Therefore, adding two 2026 second-rounders and a 2027 second-round pick is a big deal.

The player return is more so about matching salaries than anything. However, it must be noted that Chicago does add nearly $10 million in cap space in this mock deal. In this trade, the Bulls receive a mix of veterans on expiring contracts and younger players on longer, team-friendly deals.

Bitadze, Howard, and Anthony are the most intriguing of the seven. Bitadze would replace Vooch at the five, bringing a more physical, shot-blocking presence to a Chicago lineup in need of physicality. Howard, the 11th-overall pick in 2023, has failed to make much of an impact in Orlando, but he's a sharpshooter who, in an expanded role, could come close to replicating his Summer League stats (19.0 points, 3.3 threes, 47.6 three-point percentage). Finally, Anthony is likely due for a change of scenery. After averaging 16.2 points as a sophomore, he's down to 5.2 points per game in his fifth season.

In conclusion, it's a decent trade for the Bulls. A Dyson Daniels-like scenario could occur after acquiring Howard, which would really elevate this deal. However, it's more about acquiring promising assets and draft capital for two players who aren't in Chicago's long-term plans. Going from decent to great would mean the Bulls would acquire at least one first-rounder in exchange for its two best players.