Bulls' Hypothetical Blockbuster Trades to Shake up NBA Offseason

If the 2024 NBA offseason produces some major shake-ups, the Chicago Bulls just might be at the center of them.

The question, though, is which direction they would take.

Back-to-back exits from the Play-In Tournament will only increase the external calls to blow-up this roster. But if Chicago wants to continue chasing maximum competitiveness, then it probably needs to make an aggressive move for a difference-maker.

We'll explore several possibilities with three blockbuster trade ideas for the Bulls.

Resetting with a Zach LaVine Trade

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TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 18: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls looks on against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on January 18, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

A divorce between the Bulls and Zach LaVine has felt inevitable for a while now. As tricky as he is to trade given his huge contract, detailed injury history and lack of team success, Chicago seems determined to do everything in his power to find him a new home.

"A team source reiterated that trading the two-time All-Star remains priority one, two, and three this summer, with the hope to not only get off the remaining three years, nearly $138 million left on the max contract, but also to make sure the runway remained clear for the continued emergence of Coby White as a lead guard," Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

If Chicago can find a taker, it shouldn't need much in return. Some draft considerations would be nice, though anything more than a protected first-round pick seems optimistic. Financial relief would help, too. As far as incoming players go, plug-and-play veterans at any of the frontcourt spots should work.

In the end, though, it's more about moving LaVine (and his money) than it is bringing back whatever he'd command. That won't be easily done, but with teams like the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons having both financial flexibility and a need for more perimeter scoring, there should be a LaVine trade out there that satisfies all parties.

Adding Frontcourt Athleticism with Mitchell Robinson

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 02: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of game six of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on May 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

With off-the-dribble scoring threats like Coby White and DeMar DeRozan (assuming he's re-signed), the Bulls could get a ton of mileage out of a dynamic pick-and-roll screener like Mitchell Robinson.

There's at least a chance he'll be available this offseason, too. If the New York Knicks cough up the coin needed to re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein, they might need to find a way to unload Robinson and the $27.2 million he's owed over the next two seasons, per Spotrac.

Ideally, Chicago would find a way to bring a third team into the fold, so it could route Nikola Vučević elsewhere and replace him with Robinson. The Bulls would sacrifice some scoring in the process, but they'd become more dynamic at—and especially above—the rim.

Chicago might have to part with some draft considerations in the deal, but it shouldn't take a premier pick. Not when Robinson is finding it increasingly difficult to stay on the floor, having just undergone his second surgical procedure on his left ankle this season, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst. There is some risk with Robinson's health woes, obviously, but the reward could be substantial.

Getting Jerami Grant out of Portland

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PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 06: Jerami Grant #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers gestures during the fourth quarter of the game \V at the Moda Center on March 06, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 128-120. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

A big, two-way wing has to top the wish list for Chicago this summer. Basically, the Bulls need the kind of player they hoped Patrick Williams would've become by now.

Jerami Grant comes close enough for Chicago to feel out his trade market, especially if his pricey pact (four years, $132.4 million remaining, per Spotrac) keeps his trade cost down. There has to be a universe in which the Bulls cobble together a multi-team swap sending LaVine to a third team, Grant to Chicago and long-term assets to the post-Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers.

That's not Chicago's only path to a deal. Lonzo Ball's expiring contract plus filler and a couple of draft assets might make Portland think.

At the right price, Grant could be an interesting get. He isn't the primary scoring option he's been on a few bottom-feeders in recent years, but he's an athletic, defensively versatile forward who can shine in a tertiary offensive role.