This Potential Three-Team Deal May Save Every Team Involved

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With the start of free agency passing earlier this month, almost every big-name free agent is off the board. Several teams have struggled during the beginning of free agency with the Golden State Warriors suffering the biggest losses. Losing Klay Thompson was one of the biggest blows to the team as they lost a member of their championship core. The team would also miss out on Paul George as well.

The New Orleans Pelicans would make a big splash prior to free agency, trading for Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. This would come after Executive VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin said there would be changes to the team after seeing the team together healthy and not succeed. With Zion Williamson being the superstar to build around, Brandon Ingram has been named in numerous reports as the player most likely to be traded, especially following the Murray trade.

In Chicago, the Bulls are finally being forced into the rebuild that Executive VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas has avoided the last couple of seasons. Alex Caruso would be the first piece traded for Josh Giddey and then DeMar DeRozan would join the Sacramento Kings as a part of a sign-and-trade that would land the Bulls Chris Duarte. The biggest domino still to fall for the Bulls is Zach Lavine. With Lavine and the Bulls agreeing to look for a trade during the 2023-24 season, the Bulls have not been able to find a trade partner for Lavine. The expectation is that the Bulls would need to attach picks to move off Lavine and fully embrace the rebuild they desperately need.

In an article from Bleacher Report, Greg Swartz proposed the following three-team deal:

Golden State Warriors Receive:

Zach Lavine (Via Chicago)

Chicago Bulls Receive:

Brandon Ingram (Via New Orleans)
Andrew Wiggins (Via Golden State)

New Orleans Pelicans Receive:

Nikola Vucevic (Via Chicago)
Gary Payton II (Via Golden State)
Kevon Looney (Via Golden State)
2025 first-round pick, lottery protected (Via Portland Trailblazers)
2028 and 2029 second-round picks (Via Chicago)

While teams like the Golden State Warriors have been linked to other players, this trade may just be the most realistic move for every team involved.

For the Golden State Warriors, they would be getting a high-risk, high-reward player in Zach Lavine. Even though he had a very rough 2023-24 season that ended early with surgery, Lavine is still a two-time All-Star. When healthy, Lavine is one of the better shooters in the league, putting up 24.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 4.2 APG in 77 games during the 2022-23 season. With the Warriors, Lavine would be next to the best three-point shooter in NBA history Steph Curry, and another one of the best shooters in NBA history Steve Kerr, who could bring out the best in Lavine.

The Warriors would also be moving off several contracts with Andrew Wiggins being the biggest. Wiggins has fallen off since the 2021-22 championship season, with there being a lack of interest in Wiggins. The Warriors would also be moving off Kevon Looney and Gary Payton, who can both contribute but are taking up cap space for Golden State. While the Warriors have been linked to Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen for a while, Utah is asking for a haul in return for Markkanen. While Lavine still has another two seasons left on his contract at over $40 million (in addition to a player option for the 2026-27 season), it would be a hit for the Warriors’ salary cap but would give them a chance to keep a contending team around Curry.

For the Bulls, they would finally be forced into the rebuild they needed to go into. Rumors have suggested the Bulls have been looking to trade Lavine for several seasons. While his play and actions have not helped his trade value during the 2023-24 season, Lavine is still a two-time All-Star. Chicago still has a young star in Coby White and a rookie in Matas Buzelis who could lead the way for a rebuild. The biggest priority for the Bulls currently is to be bad enough to retain their 2025 draft pick that is currently owed to the San Antonio Spurs (as a part of the 2021 DeRozan sign-and-trade).

Adding Ingram and Wiggins would give the Bulls the potential to add future draft capital if played right. Set to become a free agent next offseason, Ingram could re-sign with the team, or the Bulls could flip him at the deadline for a draft pick if he has a good season. With Wiggins, joining the Bulls would be an opportunity to rehab his game after a rough couple of seasons. Like Ingram, the Bulls could try to flip him as he has several years left on his deal or keep him as a part of the roster during their rebuild.

Not only would the Bulls be moving off Lavine in this trade, but they would also be moving off Nikola Vucevic as well. Vooch had a down year as he nears his mid-30s, but he averages a double-double every night and has only missed 15 games in the last three seasons. For the Bulls, this trade would give them the fresh start the team is in desperate need of.

For the Pelicans, they would be moving off Ingram and getting a guaranteed return instead of letting him walk for nothing in the summer of 2025. Landing Vucevic would give New Orleans a solid big man who can space for the floor and can shoot from three. With the departure of Jonas Valanciunas, Vooch could fill that starting role. Landing all the draft picks in the trade, New Orleans could use those trades in any potential future trades to land more pieces.

While this trade is not perfect for every team involved, the trade keeps the Warriors in championship contention adding another star alongside Stephen Curry, finally pushes the Bulls into a full rebuild, and gives New Orleans reliable pieces to put around their star duo of Zion and Murray.