The Chicago Bulls can't find a home for Zach LaVine as the franchise looks ahead to a rebuild, starting with a high pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. LaVine's contract means most teams won't take the risk on him, but if the Bulls offer up an asset, there's a chance someone will take him, someone like the Indiana Pacers, who need to add firepower as the top of the East has gotten more challenging.
The Pacers would need to part with a player who they have relied upon like T.J. McConnell, but a healthy LaVine could make the Pacers unstoppable offensively. The Bulls would have no use for McConnell, so they could move him onto the Nuggets, who are looking for a backup guard after salary-dumping Reggie Jackson to the Hornets.
Trade Details
Chicago Bulls Receive: Jarace Walker, Zeke Nnaji, Jalen Pickett
Denver Nuggets Receive: T.J. McConnell
Indiana Pacers Receive: Zach LaVine, 2027 First-Round Pick (CHI), 2027 Second-Round Pick (DEN)
The Pacers receive the best player in the trade and a first-round pick for their trouble, whereas the Nuggets add a much-needed bench piece to help their hopes of contending in a stacked West next season.
The Chicago Bulls Continue Stockpiling Young Assets
The Bulls have shown that they do not value acquiring draft picks when they can look at tangible young players already in the NBA. This deal brings them three such players, including a lottery pick from the 2024 NBA Draft like Jarace Walker. Zeke Nnaji is a serviceable backup NBA center who is still just 23 years old, while Jalen Pickett has a high ceiling for a second-round draft pick selected last season.
The Bulls have reinforced their guard core with the addition of Josh Giddey on top of Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Jevon Carter, not even including LaVine. This deal brings them a longtime power forward option who can grow alongside Patrick Williams to create a defensive-forward tandem. Walker averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds on limited minutes in Indiana last season but is a promising prospect.
Nnaji hasn't been able to break into the Nuggets rotation but is a stretchable big man with versatility on the court. The Bulls can't ask for much in a LaVine trade, so getting these pieces back is a major win for the franchise.
The Denver Nuggets Add The Point Guard They Need
The Nuggets have allowed talent to be drained from their roster in recent years, as the franchise watched Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk for absolute no return. The Nuggets have hoped their young players pick up the slack, but they need some playable veterans off their bench soon. Becoming a part of this deal allows them to do that, as T.J. McConnell is arguably one of the best backup guards in the NBA.
The Nuggets had to salary-dump Reggie Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets with his $5 million contract becoming an albatross for the former champions. They need to replace those empty minutes and a player like McConnell would do the perfect job for them. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 assists last season and brings the defensive tenacity that the Nuggets have lost on the perimeter with their outgoing players.
Mike Malone could run Jamal Murray and McConnell as a backcourt tandem if required, with McConnell providing stable point guard play as Murray is left free to attack as a scorer. This would make them considerably better as they try not to be outpaced by the likes of the Thunder and Mavericks, let alone the Timberwolves.
The Indiana Pacers Take A Big Swing
The value for a player of LaVine's caliber is shockingly low at the moment. In the 2022-23 season, LaVine averaged 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists before struggling with injuries last season. The Bulls' lack of success can't be blamed on him alone, as they've had a flawed roster that has been hampered severely by injuries. We have seen LaVine at his best as an unstoppable scorer who could defend on the perimeter if he locked in.
LaVine is owed $43 million this year, $46 million next year, and $49 million in 2027 million, which is a huge red flag given the new apron restrictions. LaVine is a one-way player who is injury-prone, which could cause him to be acquired for cheaper than any star of his caliber. If it's health that's needed, the Pacers could run wild in the East if they have a healthy Zach as Tyrese Haliburton 's backcourt partner.
There would be defensive concerns to address, but the Pacers would be so electric offensively that no team might be able to stop them. They get a pick in this deal for accepting the LaVine contract as well as giving up a young prospect like Walker and a veteran like McConnell.
Could This Work For All Three Franchises?
This is a fascinating deal, but it's hard to envision a situation where one party doesn't feel hurt about what they're giving. The Nuggets have been trying to save money, but a deal for McConnell directly adds to their salary while giving up two prospects they've known to be invested in. That might not be a steep price for a backup guard, but the Nuggets need a move like this to keep themselves as relevant contenders.
The Bulls would feel miffed about giving up a pick and the best player, but what they're receiving with Jarace Walker should be worth the price. His ceiling is really high and if the Bulls can develop him correctly, they'll have a do-it-all defensive big with explosive athleticism making All-Star teams.
The Pacers will be uncomfortable with taking a chance on LaVine, but it could be a game-changer for their franchise's future. They're a young contender who can afford to take a chance on LaVine as their team coalesces around Haliburton. Getting him for such a low value will allow them to contend now, and give them the flexibility to move off him when the contract is closer to its end.
Related: 3-Team Blockbuster Trade Idea Between Lakers, Heat, And Bulls: LeBron James Would Approve This In A Heartbeat
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