As the Chicago Bulls face a potential major rebuild, much attention has been focused on the futures of their former All-Stars, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. It’s easy to see why. For a successful rebuild, the Bulls may need to part ways with key players like LaVine and Vucevic. They’ve already moved on from DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso.
But there are more players with uncertain futures, and one of them is Lonzo Ball. Ball showed great promise early in his time with Chicago, but injuries soon derailed his progress and the team’s plans. He hasn’t played in over two seasons and has undergone multiple surgeries. While there’s hope for his return next season, there’s no guarantee.
A three-team trade proposal featured in an article by Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman suggests the Bulls could receive Brandon Ingram, Kobe Bufkin, Cody Zeller, and Garrison Matthews. The Atlanta Hawks would get Ayo Dosunmu and Jordan Hawkins, while the New Orleans Pelicans would take on Ball, Vucevic, and a 2028 second-round pick from Chicago.
However, this trade doesn’t seem like a big win for the Bulls. It feels like more of a lateral move that wouldn’t significantly improve their chances. As the article points out, “This trade doesn’t make Chicago better, and they’d still be fighting for a play-in spot. A lineup with Coby White, Josh Giddey, Zach LaVine, and Brandon Ingram lacks defensive strength, and they don’t have a clear option for center. Will the Bulls commit to paying Ingram if they make this trade? Dosunmu is a young talent they should probably hold on to.”
While Ingram is a high-level player and still in his prime, he’s reportedly seeking a $200 million contract extension. The upside for the Bulls would be shedding the contracts of Vucevic and Ball, but is that enough to make this trade worthwhile?
