The NBA world is still reeling from the historic punishment handed down to the Los Angeles Clippers for their role in the Kawhi Leonard cap circumvention scandal, and the fallout has created a can't-miss opportunity for the Chicago Bulls.
After losing five consecutive first-round picks, LA should be desperate to replenish its draft cupboard — and the Bulls must be ready to take advantage by sending picks to the Clippers in exchange for valuable young talent.
The Clips and owner Steve Ballmer, who was fined $30 million and suspended from attending his team's games for a year, are in the middle of a basketball desert.
The Bulls can provide them with a path to water, but it will come at a price for Los Angeles.
Clippers short on draft picks after Kawhi cap circumvention punishment
Ballmer's organization was docked first-round picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 as part of the Kawhi fallout. Combined with the haul they sent to Oklahoma City in the Paul George trade — which was necessary at the time to entice Leonard to sign — it cost the Clippers 12 first-rounders/swaps to land the now-35-year-old.
They won three playoff series and never made the finals.
The only comparable punishment in NBA history was the one levied against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2000. That ended up costing Minnesota a chance to make a title push with a prime Kevin Garnett.
With picks coming in 2027, 2029, 2031 and 2033 from various trades they've made over the past few years, the Clippers aren't in as dire a situation as the Timberwolves found themselves in a quarter century ago.
But they're not in a great spot, either.
Bulls must take advantage of Clippers sad new reality
Los Angeles doesn't have a roster good enough to compete, even with the assets incoming from the likely trade that will send Leonard to Toronto.
So what's the point in keeping players like Darius Garland, Rui Hachimura or even the fifth pick in the 2026 draft, Keaton Wagler? None of them are likely to be around the next time the Clippers are a contender.
It would make more sense for them to trade their best players, recoup some of the draft capital they've been stripped of and start completely from scratch.
The Bulls should be willing to help them with that.
The big prize would be Wagler, a 19-year-old point guard prospect who's been compared to Tyrese Haliburton. He was a star at Illinois, for whatever that's worth.
Hachimura would be a good frontcourt addition alongside Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis. Garland has a lengthy injury history, but if the Bulls can land him for something like a lottery-protected first-round pick, the 26-year-old two-time All-Star could be a long-term answer in the backcourt.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders are young players worth taking a flier on as well.
The Clippers can't fix their new reality without acquiring more draft picks. The Bulls should toss them a few and put their own rebuild into overdrive.
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