3-Team Bulls Trade Pitch Lands $62 Million Former All-Star Duo for….

The Chicago Bulls have not been successful in their attempts to move Zach LaVine.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks on June 30, they have attempted in vain to tie first-round draft money to his contract. NBC Sports On the July 7 edition of the “Bulls Talk Podcast,” Chicago’s K.C. Johnson proposed using the second-round picks they acquired in exchange for DeMar DeRozan to reward a club that faces LaVine.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report offers a “win-win” three-team trade proposal to seal a deal:

– Kevon Looney – Gary Payton II – Nikola Vucevic

– 2025 first-round selection (CHI protects the top-14 from POR)
— Picks in the second round (2028 & 2029)

“The Bulls can treat Ingram like an expiring $36 million salary if he doesn’t fit, holds out for a max deal next summer, and/or suffers more injuries,” Swartz said on July 9. Naturally, the Bulls may have a higher chance of keeping Ingram if he has another All-Star season in 2024–2025 as they are the only team able to extend an offer to him for five years.

“Although Andrew Wiggins is owed $53.3 million less than LaVine over the next three years ($84.7 million compared to $138 million), the Bulls still need to sign him.”

NBA Champion and Former All-Star Joins Bulls While Reducing Pay in the Suggested Trade
LaVine is currently in Year 3 of a $215.1 million, five-year contract. His 2024–2025 cap cost is $43 million, and he has a $48.9 million player option for the 2026–2027 season. In the second year of a three-year, $60 million contract, Vucevic, 33, will receive $20 million in 2024–2025.