The Chicago Bulls appear to be active this summer, as they should. Changes are in order after two consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs entirely. If moves are coming to Chicago in the next few weeks, it seems like they will begin with Zach LaVine. Chicago had trade talks with the Detroit Pistons involving the former UCLA guard before the trade deadline, but those fizzled. Now, the Bulls have reportedly sent 15 different trade offers involving LaVine to teams like the Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings, among others.
The Magic would be an interesting landing spot in a trade for LaVine. Not only do they have over $36 million in cap space to help facilitate a potential deal, but they could really use LaVine. They don't really have a guard who can score and create his own shot the way LaVine can. There seems to be a path to a potential deal. The question then becomes: what does the deal look like?
Trade offer
The Chicago Bulls trade Zach LaVine and Jevon Carter to the Orlando Magic for Cole Anthony, Caleb Houstan, and a 2024 first-round pick (18th overall).
Why the Bulls do it
Not only are the Bulls not competitive enough to make the playoffs, but they're about to become expensive. Bringing back the same team and re-signing DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams would put the Bulls in the luxury tax. The Bulls don't like being in the tax anyway, let alone for a mediocre team like this one.
This trade would save Chicago's brass roughly $34.6 million against the cap and luxury tax this season. If they wanted to retain DeRozan and Williams, they'd be able to without much of a threat regarding the tax.
The Bulls wouldn't be getting a marquee player in this trade. Cole Anthony is a fine sixth-man type, but he shot 31.7% from the field in his first playoff series. Caleb Houstan can shoot and stretch the floor, but that's about it. There will be an intriguing prospect available with the 18th overall pick, but no one that should knock the Bulls' socks off.
However, they would gain a lot of flexibility with this trade. They could package the 18th pick with the 11th pick they have and potentially move up. Matas Buzelis is reportedly someone the Bulls are trying to trade up into the top five of the draft to acquire according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. 11 and 18 would not be a bad starting point to do so.
Or, this could be the first domino of a full-fledged teardown that is sorely needed in Chicago. They aren't going anywhere, so they might as well rebuild around their rising star in Coby White. The Bulls are stuck at the moment with Zach LaVine on their roster. This trade would give them better options than what they have right now.
Why the Magic do it
The Magic need a jolt in their offense. They finished 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating this season with a mark of 112.9. That continues a decade-long run of offensive ineptitude in Orlando. The Magic haven't finished inside the top 20 in offensive rating since the 2011-12 season. They were even worse in the playoffs. Orlando had an offensive rating of 104.7 in their seven-game series loss at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Just about every Magic player outside of Paolo Banchero struggled on that end against Cleveland, but they got almost no punch from their guards in particular. Markelle Fultz was the only backcourt player with an effective field goal percentage above 50% in that series. For all of LaVine's flaws as a player, he can remedy that problem right away.
LaVine has averaged at least 19.5 points per game with an effective field goal percentage of 52% or better in each of the last six seasons. The Magic would have to use up all their cap space and a pick to get him, but Anthony would be the only rotation player they'd have to squander. It's great value for a player who has been an All-Star in two of the last four seasons.
LaVine also has injury concerns, but this trade is still worth pursuing for the Magic. LaVine can help the Magic contend in the Eastern Conference for years to come if they can land him in this deal.
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