The Chicago Bulls are a team that often gets floated into trade rumors despite the front office owning a track record of staying quiet and content in mediocrity. This year, they've been included in the scuttlebutt surrounding Anthony Davis, Jonathan Kuminga and Domantas Sabonis, among others.
There's a slimmer than slim-to-none chance that the Bulls can pry Giannis Antetokounmpo away from the Milwaukee Bucks -- but that doesn't mean they can't be included in a deal and make a blockbuster move of their own.
Perhaps getting into a 3-teamer that includes the Indiana Pacers and coming away with All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, for instance.
Bulls land Pascal Siakam in 3-team Giannis Antetokounmpo trade proposal
Yossi Gozlan, host and creator of the Third Apron Podcast, along with Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, outlined a trade that would include the Bulls, Bucks and Pacers headlined by Antetokounmpo's move to Indiana, Siakam going to Chicago and five first-round picks heading to Milwaukee.
In its entirety, the trade looks like this:
Why the Bucks make this trade
The idea for Milwaukee here is simple: Should Antetokounmpo ask out, landing a few proven young players, some expiring contracts and five firsts seems like a "best you can hope for" type of package.
Mathurin and Toppin were key pieces of Indiana's Finals run last season. Okoro is a strong wing defender on an affordable contract. Collins and Huerter add up to about $40 million in expiring salary.
Why the Pacers make this trade
Because they get one of the top four players in the NBA. And a Tyrese Haliburton-Antetokounmpo pick-and-roll sounds like a downright nightmare to defend.
Indiana would keep Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, along with Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard, Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff and Johnny Furphy, to place around one of the league's best duos.
Grading this Siakam-Giannis mock trade for the Bulls
To sum the deal up from Chicago's perspective, the Bulls send out Vucevic, Collins, Huerter, Okoro and a pair of first-round picks to land Siakam, Kuzma and McConnell.
Antetokounmpo is the best player in this trade. But Siakam is the obvious choice for second.
And if all the Bulls have to give up are a pair of future firsts and four non-essential players -- three of whom may be out the door this summer anyway -- it's a clear win.
Siakam is a three-time All-Star, has been named to two All-NBA teams, won the 2019 NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors and just helped bring the Pacers within one game of winning another. Even at age 31, he's been a constant force for Indiana, averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists and starting 25 of his team's 26 games this year. He's a legitimate second option on a title contender.
In Chicago, he'd give a young Bulls team -- especially with Vucevic headed out the door -- a strong veteran presence. His ability to play off the ball and as a secondary creator would mesh well with Josh Giddey's playmaking and Coby White's shooting. Putting him on the wing next to Matas Buzelis would provide the Bulls with a two-way punch they've been desperate for. Pairing him with Ayo Dosunmu would give them an actual defensive backbone at the point of attack.
To state the obvious, Bulls Executive VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas is likely going nowhere near this trade. It would be shocking if he went anywhere near any trade at all at February's deadline. But squeezing his way into a potential Giannis deal like this would be a shrewd piece of business.