4-Team Trade Idea to Help Bulls, Suns Deal Overpaid Stars
There are a number of NBA teams that shouldn't be satisfied with their rosters heading into the 2024-25 season.
The Phoenix Suns are loaded with talent, yet the addition of Tyus Jones as the likely starter at point guard means moving Bradley Beal to the bench or starting Devin Booker at small forward. Neither are desirable options and could hurt Phoenix's defense, one that already ranked 13th overall last season.
The Chicago Bulls still have 29-year-old Zach LaVine on the books, yet have committed to a rebuild after trading Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey and watching DeMar DeRozan leave in a sign-and-trade.
Swapping the two for each other doesn't make sense, as both play the same position and bring similar skill sets to the table.
To move both Beal and LaVine, we'll need the help of some extra teams, ones that are desperate to add a third star (even if they are overpaid), collect draft picks, or both.
The Deal
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The Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs stand out as two likely trade partners, albeit for different reasons.
Los Angeles is probably going to fall out of the playoffs in a loaded West with Paul George gone. San Antonio has some financial flexibility for the next three years until Victor Wembanyama signs his max rookie extension.
Both should be willing to take on talented players like Beal or LaVine, especially if the price is low and there's some draft incentive thrown in.
Here's what a framework for the three-team trade would look like:
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: SG Bradley Beal, 2031 first-round pick (unprotected via Phoenix Suns), 2025 second-round pick (via Sacramento Kings), 2028 second-round pick (via Chicago Bulls)
San Antonio Spurs Receive: G/F Zach LaVine, 2029 first-round pick (unprotected via Chicago Bulls)
Phoenix Suns Receive: SG Norman Powell, F/C Zach Collins, F/C P.J. Tucker
Chicago Bulls Receive: F Keldon Johnson, G/F Terance Mann, G Bones Hyland, SG Amir Coffey
Let's break down what this trade would mean for all four teams.
Clippers Add Third Star in Bradley Beal, Pick Up a Future Unprotected 1st
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Los Angeles Clippers Receive: SG Bradley Beal, 2031 first-round pick (unprotected via Phoenix Suns), 2025 second-round pick (via Sacramento Kings), 2028 second-round pick (via Chicago Bulls)
Los Angeles Clippers Lose: SG Norman Powell, G/F Terance Mann, F/C P.J. Tucker, G Bones Hyland, SG Amir Coffey
We may be underestimating just how much the Clippers will miss Paul George and having a third star.
Los Angeles had a net rating of minus-4.7 without George last season and need some more offensive firepower to stay competitive in the West.
Beal's reputation took a hit last season as his contract (three years, $161 million) didn't match his production playing next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, although the 31-year-old is still a really good NBA player.
The three-time All-Star averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists on terrific shooting splits (51.3/43.0/81.3) last season and should be willing to waive his no-trade clause for a bigger role in Los Angeles with the Clippers, especially with Tyus Jones now likely starting in Phoenix and taking the ball out of Beal's hands even more.
A new starting five of James Harden, Beal, Nic Batum, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac with Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, Kobe Brown, Kevin Porter Jr., Mo Bamba and others off the bench keeps the Clippers in the playoff hunt and fans packed into the brand new Intuit Dome every night.
The Clippers are one of just four NBA teams without a single draft pick owed to them from another team, and are currently scheduled to pay out 11 future first-and-second round picks and swaps to other franchises.
Los Angeles gets the best overall player in the trade in Beal, a future unprotected first-round pick from the Suns that will convey after Durant has almost certainly retired and a pair of seconds from the Bulls.
Spurs Make a Playoff Push with Zach LaVine, Add Another 1st-Round Pick to Stash
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San Antonio Spurs Receive: G/F Zach LaVine, 2029 first-round pick (unprotected via Chicago Bulls)
San Antonio Spurs Lose: F Keldon Johnson, F/C Zach Collins
The Spurs signaled to Victor Wembanyama that this team is ready to start assembling veterans around him and trying to win now, as highlighted by the signing of Chris Paul and trade for Harrison Barnes.
LaVine's stock is low right now, although a reunion with Gregg Popovich, his coach on the 2020 Olympic team that won a gold medal, would bring out the best in the two-time All-Star.
The 29-year-old has averaged 24.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and shot 38.9 percent from three over the last four seasons. Any defensive concerns surrounding LaVine would help be negated by sharing the floor with Wembanyama, perhaps the greatest defensive prospect we've ever seen.
San Antonio is one of the few teams that can digest LaVine's three-year, $138 million contract, as his current deal will go hand-in-hand with Wembanyama's rookie contract. When Wembanyama is due for a massive raise in the summer of 2027, LaVine's $48.9 million player option will come off the books.
A starting five of Chris Paul, LaVine, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan and Wembanyama with Stephon Castle, Barnes, Tre Jones, Malaki Branham and others off the bench could make the play-in tournament in the West given its blend of young talent and proven vets.
For the cost of just two reserve players and with a future unprotected first-round pick from the Chicago Bulls thrown in, taking on LaVine would be well worth it for Popovich and company.
Suns Get Deeper and Could Escape Second Apron Next Season
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Phoenix Suns Receive: SG Norman Powell, F/C Zach Collins, F/C P.J. Tucker
Phoenix Suns Lose: SG Bradley Beal, 2031 first-round pick
Beal was already an awkward fit in Phoenix with Devin Booker. The addition of Tyus Jones as a likely starter and Monte Morris as a rotation point guard are going to reduce Beal's role further and make his contract look even more egregious.
Beal still owns a no-trade clause in his contract, although pitching him on a move to Los Angeles to play for Tyronn Lue and alongside two future Hall of Famers in Kawhi Leonard and James Harden shouldn't be a hard sell.
The Suns aren't going to make a move simply to shred salary, as this is a team that desperately wants to win. This trade makes Phoenix deeper overall, eliminates an awkward-fitting starting five and trims significant money off future cap sheets.
Beal is going to be the NBA's fourth-highest paid player next season, only behind MVPs like Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić. He'll be making $57.1 million in 2026-27, or an estimated 33.9 percent of the cap. For a Suns team that's estimated to cost over $419 million in salaries and luxury tax this season, getting off Beal's contract (while bringing in other talent) needs to be a priority.
Powell has finished fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting each of the past two seasons, giving the Los Angeles Clippers 13.9 points on 43.5 percent shooting from three in 2023-24. With a starting five of Jones, Booker, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkić, Powell would be the perfect sixth man for this group with his elite outside shooting and overall scoring chops.
Collins, 26, averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.8 blocks in only 22.1 minutes a game for the San Antonio Spurs last season and would give the Suns a big that can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting. Tucker brings defense, toughness and 104 games of playoff experience.
By swapping Beal for these three, Phoenix will save $15.2 million in cap space next summer when the team is projected to be $16 million over the second luxury tax line. Some minor roster maneuvering could get the Suns below the second apron, even with Durant and Booker still under contract.
Bulls Add Young Talent, Open Up $28.5 Million in 2025 Salary Cap
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Chicago Bulls Receive: F Keldon Johnson, G/F Terance Mann, G Bones Hyland, SG Amir Coffey
Chicago Bulls Lose: G/F Zach LaVine, 2029 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick (via Sacramento Kings), 2028 second-round pick
Both the Bulls and LaVine should feel good about going their separate ways, especially as Chicago looks to get younger and free up future cap space.
Johnson, 24, would be a potential starter in Chicago and averaged 16.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his 27 starts for the San Antonio Spurs last season. He hit 36.0 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes for the Spurs, a number that should rise playing alongside playmakers like Josh Giddey and Coby White.
Johnson is on a terrific contract, with $19 million owed to him this upcoming season and $17.5 million in each of the next two. By the end of the deal, Johnson will only be taking up about 10.3 percent of the cap and could be a 20-point-per-game scorer for the Bulls.
Mann, Hyland and Coffey are all 27 and younger and on expiring contracts. If they don't fit in with a new-look core in Chicago, the Bulls could shop all three for picks or young players at the deadline or enjoy the cap space coming next summer.
Swapping LaVine out for these four players means a savings of $28.5 million in 2025 cap space, along with another $21.3 million coming off the books from Lonzo Ball's expiring deal.
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