Many teams in the NBA are currently looking to put the finishing touches on their rosters ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season. Some are looking to add a few more winning players, while others are looking to consolidate their position as a tanking team for a loaded 2025 Draft Class. The Warriors, Bulls, and Hornets point in all three possible directions of a franchise in the NBA right now, with one looking to contend, one looking to enter the middle-of-the-pack after years of tanking, and one looking to bottom out and tank.
A trade enthusiast on Fanspo came up with a unique three-team deal that sees the Hornets bring franchise star LaMelo Ball's brother Lonzo Ball to Charlotte in an expensive trade package which also allows the Bulls to send Zach LaVine off to the Golden State Warriors.
Trade Details
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Lonzo Ball, Gui Santos
Golden State Warriors Receive: Zach LaVine, 2028 First-Round Pick (CHI), 2029 Second-Round Pick (DEN)
Chicago Bulls Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Grant Williams, Gary Payton II, Vasilije Mijic, Moses Moody, 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2027 Second-Round Pick (CHA)
This is quite an elaborate trade that helps all three teams move towards their goals. On paper, it's a winning move for the Warriors, a move that makes the Hornets stronger, and a move that helps the Bulls start tanking. However, there is definitely more than meets the eye in this trade.
The Hornets Invite Us To The 'Ball Homecoming'
Lonzo Ball will be eyeing a massive comeback season next year while on the final year of the four-year contract the Bulls handed him in the 2021 offseason before knee injuries sidelined him for the last two-and-a-half seasons . He averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 42.3% from three on 7.4 attempts per game in the 25 games he played before getting hurt and hasn't touched the floor again.
There's no guarantee on what caliber of player Ball is when he returns, so the Bulls would jump at the chance of offloading him, despite the potential of him being a similar 3-and-D guard when he returns.
The Hornets don't have much solid guard depth at the moment, with Tre Mann the only reliable player behind the injury-prone LaMelo Ball. Adding Lonzo to that mix from a competitive standpoint seems odd, but if he's even remotely healthy, he would be a solid backup option. Ball had incredible vision as a passer and had a much-improved shot on the Bulls, so if those skills translate, he should be serviceable. However, his defense was a specialty in his game, and that might be the trait that's regressed the most because of his injuries.
Gui Santos is a backup forward who could grow into a rotational role on the Hornets but will likely feature off the bench as the team tries to integrate No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaun in their forward line, opening up a starting spot for him by moving Grant Williams in this deal.
The Warriors Double-Down On Offense
The Warriors were a surprisingly decent defensive team last season, executing the well-established defensive principles the team has developed in the Steve Kerr era with Draymond Green. The offense beyond Stephen Curry held the team back, which they need to address even more with the departure of Klay Thompson.
Acquiring Zach LaVine from the Bulls is a major risk given the troubling patterns in his game, but if he can replicate his 22-23 averages of 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, Steph will have his most offensively-gifted teammate in years. It allows them to move off the inconsistent Andrew Wiggins, which is a blow defensively alongside losing Gary Payton II. Moses Moody hasn't found a consistent role in Golden State over three seasons, so a change of scenery to the Bulls might help him unlock his game.
The Warriors still have plenty of defensive pieces, likely relying more on new signing De'Anthony Melton and now-sophomore Brandin Podziemski to be the hustle guys on the roster. In addition, Draymond and Jonathan Kuminga will likely absorb most of the defensive pressure with a center like Trayce Jackson-Davis also available. If any team could make a LaVine trade work, it's the Warriors, especially if they're also receiving a first-round pick for taking on LaVine's contract.
The Bulls Continue Breaking Up Their Core
The Bulls are long overdue for a rebuild, letting DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso go this summer and showing the first signs of a possible teardown. They still have Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine to move, with moving LaVine proving to be tricky. Teams don't want to be liable for his $215-million contract, which lasts till 2027 and will pay him $48.9 million that season. They will likely have to give up a draft asset, but this deal brings them back players who are movable and could offset that cost.
Andrew Wiggins averaged 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds last season, looking like a shadow of the player we saw in the Warriors 2022 title run. He could bounce back in a new situation, so the Bulls could give him a season to re-establish his value before potentially moving off him later, as he can still be a valuable 3-and-D forward in the NBA.
Grant Williams averaged 10.3 points and 4.2 rebounds last season on the Mavs and Hornets, also a candidate for a future asset flip. Williams is considered a good leader, so he might become a rotational piece for the Bulls to help their soon-to-be young roster on a long-term and affordable contract. The other players will make up the numbers, with the Hornets even sending them a pick. Moving off LaVine and Lonzo would show the Bulls' commitment to rebuilding and making the most of the top-heavy 2025 Draft Class.
What Grade Should This Trade Be?
There are clear winners and losers in this trade, with my genuine opinion being that the Hornets need to stay as far away from this deal as possible. The Warriors and Bulls have a shape to work with, but the Hornets are getting fleeced in this mock trade.
Charlotte Hornets: F
Why? Why are they making a move for Lonzo Ball after he's spent two-and-a-half years trying to fix his knee for an NBA comeback? The story of having him alongside LaMelo is nice, but this deal makes no sense, especially for the price the Hornets are paying. Two rotational players, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick? That makes little to no sense and would be asinine for the Hornets.
If they really want Lonzo and LaMelo to be teammates for marketing purposes, they can easily do that next season when Lonzo is a free agent. No team should think of giving up any remotely useful assets for Lonzo until we've seen him back on the court. Ball needs to start the season on the Bulls, with this being a more realistic deal if Lonzo is still productive. But the price Charlotte's paying in this deal is completely insane and would be a horrible trade for them.
Golden State Warriors: B
The Warriors are under pressure to get better quickly to maximize Stephen Curry's final years, with the four-time champion already making public comments about possibly leaving Golden State if they stop being competitive. LaVine would add offensive firepower to a roster that hasn't had that outside Curry for years, though it's a risk.
The players they lose are major, but getting a draft asset in this mock trade would be a big win. It'll give Kuminga more opportunity on the wing but could hurt the team's depth if LaVine or anyone else is hurt. It's not a slam-dunk trade, especially with the long-term questions around LaVine's health, attitude, and contract.
Chicago Bulls: B
This could be a realistic return, as the Bulls will likely have to compromise and give up assets while acquiring multiple players. The players in this deal are solid enough for future trades, with only Wiggins proving to be problematic as a trade asset due to questions about his mentality. But as a taking team, the Bulls can give Wiggins a comeback year to improve his value around the league.
Getting a first-round pick from the Hornets here is an absolute steal, as they're heavily overpaying for Lonzo Ball. That detail alone makes this trade fall apart as a realistic scenario for me, but the Bulls GM would make up for years of mismanagement by getting such a ransom for Lonzo after two-and-a-half seasons of injury.
Related: Grade The Trade: Anfernee Simons To The Lakers For A Package Around Austin Reaves
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