Trade season is officially upon us. As soon as most trade restrictions were lifted on December 15, a flurry of moves were subsequently made. First, the Brooklyn Nets agreed to send point guard Dennis Schroder and a future second-round pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for De'Anthony Melton and three future second-rounders.
Second, the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers agreed to a trade, sending big man Thomas Bryant to Indiana in exchange for a 2031 second-round pick swap. Bryant is set to reinforce an injury-depleted frontcourt for the Pacers.
While neither of the trades included any Chicago Bulls, past or present, both exchanges either affect the Bulls or foreshadow future moves. Melton was recently mentioned as a potential trade candidate for Chicago. NBA Insider Jake Fischer linked forward Patrick Williams to Golden State as a replacement for the injured Melton. However, with Golden State adding a guard, it's more likely the Warriors will zero in on a big man if another trade occurs.
The Schroder for Melton swap means two things for Chicago
Despite Melton's season-ending injury, he was a valuable trade asset. The 26-year-old's value was ultimately tied to his expiring $12 million deal. Although acquiring a player who will never suit up for his new team isn't a winning strategy, several squads whose rebuilds are contingent on losing likely inquired about Melton's availability as a salary-matching component to pair with future draft picks.
The Nets, who traded for Melton, are one of the said squads. After compiling a 10-15 record to begin the season, there was no reason to keep 31-year-old Schroder around. Acquiring future draft capital for a player on an expiring contract was of the utmost priority. Plus, Schroder's strong start to the season (18.4 points and 6.6 assists) made him a desirable candidate.
Now, with Melton off the table and the Warriors' need for a Melton replacement satisfied, both Williams and perhaps Lonzo Ball are likely off Golden State's radar. Neither player was officially linked to Golden State, but both made sense as the veteran-laden Warriors' losses began to pile up and reinforcements became a non-negotiable.
Besides the ramifications of the trade itself, we now have a decent understanding of Ball's trade value. Sure, Lonzo was considered a much better player than Schroder a few years ago, but injuries have surely zapped the former second-overall pick's hypothetical trade value. Nevertheless, a 6-foot-6 playmaking guard who's a career 36.4 percent three-point shooter is valuable.
Chicago might not be able to recoup three second-rounders and an expiring contract for Ball, but a couple of future seconds and an exorbitant multi-year contract seem in play. Think of Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson as a logical trade companion. The 30-year-old is still on the books for an additional season and nearly $20 million more.
Trading the minimum contract of Bryant hints at a future Craig trade
The Bryant trade is far less significant than the Schroder for Melton swap, but Indiana acquiring Bryant's minimum-level contract is a precursor of what's to come for the rest of the league. Because of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), trading is much more difficult for most of the NBA's contenders.
Teams such as the Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Phoenix Suns cannot take back more in salary than they can shell out in any future trade. Thus, making minimum-level contracts so desirable. Instead of working salary-cap magic to acquire a player who's earning north of the minimum-level salary, contending teams can acquire minimum contracts restriction-free.
Limitations on trading for a minimum contract are non-existent. For instance, the Suns can trade for a minimum-level player without even having to shed any salary whatsoever. That means Chicago could theoretically send veteran Torrey Craig to the Suns in exchange for only a future second-rounder. Since Bryant was the first domino to fall, expect numerous veterans earning under $3 million to be traded to contenders and teams needing injury replacements.