NBA Trade Predictions: Major Blockbuster Involving Pau Gasol to Chicago Bulls

With all the talk surrounding the NBA trade deadline, the biggest blockbuster rumor is Gasol to the Bulls. 

It has been reported that the Lakers and Bulls are at a standstill and perhaps a third team will need to come into play to make the terms of the deal work.

A straight up trade, of say, Boozer for Gasol, does not help these teams. Both teams feel they're good enough to compete, but not as the favorites in the postseason.

Adding a third team with the assets that both the Bulls and Lakers covet, is a necessity. That team happens to be the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Here is the proposed trade...

Trade

Three team trade: Bulls, Cavaliers, Lakers

Chicago Bulls

Gain: Pau Gasol (3yrs/$12.3M), Anthony Parker (2yrs/$4.3M), Antawan Jamison (1yr/$15.1M)

Lose: Luol Deng (3yrs/$12.3M), Carlos Boozer (4yrs/$13.5M), Ronnie Brewer (2yrs/$4.7M)

Cleveland Cavaliers

Gain: Luol Deng (3yrs/$12.3M), John Lucas (1yr/$1M), Lakers 1st Rd Pick (Dallas Mavericks)

Lose: Antawan Jamison (1yr/$15.1M), Ramon Sessions (2yrs/$4.3M)

Los Angeles Lakers

Gain: Carlos Boozer (4yrs/$13.5M), Ronnie Brewer (2yrs/$4.7M), Ramon Sessions (2yrs/$4.3M)

Lose: Pau Gasol (3yrs/$12.3M), 1st Rd Pick (Dallas Mavericks)

Why This Works for the Lakers

The Lakers give up one of their pillars in the middle with Gasol, but make up for his loss with the addition of two quality guards in Brewer and Sessions who are desperately needed in LA. Oh ya, and they get a 20/10 guy in Boozer to replace Gasol at PF.

The Lakers roster would look like this:

PG: Derek Fisher
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Metta World Peace
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Andrew Bynum
Bench: Ramon Sessions, Ronnie Brewer, Luke Walton, Steve Blake, Josh McRoberts

This starting lineup would dominate on the glass and be able to score at ease. Boozer is a guy who does not need plays run for him to get his stats but is capable of having a play run for him successfully.

The Lakers give up a first round pick as well, but they have two in the first round this season from the Lamar Odom signing with Dallas. As of now, NBADRAFT.net projects that pick to be No. 20. The Lakers would still hold on to their own pick.

By trading that pick to the Cavaliers, the Lakers are basically trading a player who left in free agency for Ramon Sessions. A pretty fair deal if you ask me.

All in all, Lakers improve!

Why This Trade Works for the Bulls

The Bulls are in the market for Pau Gasol, they have a quality team as of now but feel Gasol puts them over the top as title contenders.

They understand Gasol will not come cheaply. Because of this, the Cavaliers become an important part of the trade.

A trade of Gasol for Carlos Boozer is a no-brainer for the Bulls but probably not accepted by the Lakers. With the Cavaliers adding Antawan Jamison to fill the void left by trading Luol Deng and adding Anthony Parker to fill Ronnie Brewer's role, the Bulls get their man and improve on their championship caliber team.

The Bulls roster would look like this:

PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Richard Hamilton
SF: Antawan Jamison
PF: Pau Gasol
C: Joakim Noah 
Bench: Anthony Parker, Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson, Omer Asik

This roster is an upgrade over the current Bulls roster. The addition of Gasol, Jamison and Parker make up for or exceed  Boozer, Deng and Brewer. Fair trade and makes the Bulls the clear favorite in the Eastern Conference.

A side note to this trade: if the Bulls were able to make this trade, Antawan Jamison's contract will be coming off the books and allow the Bulls to make a run at Dwight Howard in the offseason. Gasol, Howard and Rose may be the best lineup Chicago has ever seen, yes, EVER. 

Why This Trade Works for the Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are openly shopping Antawan Jamison and Ramon Sessions. They are not in the plans for the rebuilding Cavaliers and will likely be shipped out for the best offer.

If this trade goes through, the Cavs would send these two players away in return for Luol Deng and a first round pick (projected 20th pick). This is as good as the Cavs can do with these two assets. Jamison for Deng won't happen and maybe, just maybe, Sessions for that draft pick would happen, but not both.

The Cavaliers would posses the 10th and 20th pick in the upcoming draft. In a deep draft, that may mean two starters.

Also, the Cavs have their SF to replace LeBron. This position has been a mess since he took his talents to South Beach and Deng fixes that immediately. He is under contract for three seasons and would be a great compliment to Irving and Varejao.

The Cavs roster would look like this:

PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Daniel Gibson
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Tristan Thompson
C: Anderson Varejao
Bench: Omri Casspi, Alonzo Gee, Samardo Samuels, John Lucas, Christian Eyenga, Semih Erden

Yes, this lineup does not compare to the Bulls or Lakers at this time, but it improves the Cavaliers tremendously. The Cavs are not giving up anything of too much value, they gain a star SF and hold two first round draft picks in a deep draft.

Wishful thinking perhaps, but the projected players to be drafted in those slots are: Bradley Beal (SG, Florida) and Fab Melo (C, Syracuse). This would make our team a force in the east. Irving, Beal and Deng teamed with Varejao, Thompson and Melo. Sounds good to me, wishful thinking perhaps!

Winner

The NBA trade deadline is less than 24 hrs away. If this trade is going to happen, the phones better keep ringing. 

As far as a winner here, the Bulls improve their team this season, and although they lose Deng and Boozer, Gasol is a unique weapon to have in the East and could be the difference.

Antawan Jamison will contribute immediately and leave in the offseason, allowing the Bulls to pursue whoever they feel is necessary. There are not many players who wouldn't want to play with Gasol and D-Rose in Chicago.

The Lakers end the controversy surrounding Gasol and pick up Carlos Boozer who is as under rated as any PF in the NBA. He will compliment Bynum well and be able to mesh with Kobe as the Lakers push towards another championship banner.

The Lakers have been searching for back court help and that also comes in the form of Ronnie Brewer and Ramon Sessions. Both are young, quality players who will become the first off the bench for the contending aging Lakers.

With the Cavaliers still in rebuilding mode, adding a draft pick and a stand out SF to the roster helps immensely. The Cavaliers may not be the winners in this deal but they improved the roster while not mortgaging the future, if anything, they added for the future.

Winner: Chicago Bulls