New three-team blockbuster trade proposal sends Zach LaVine to Lakers, Atlanta builds depth with new pieces

Things have slowed down around the NBA, but there are still some big moves that could be in the works.

The two big names currently circulating in trade rumors are Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen and Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine. The difference between the two is that Markkanen is highly sought after around the league while the Bulls have been unable to find a trade partner for LaVine due to his massive contract and inability to stay healthy. With the Bulls losing Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan, Chicago is clearly going from bad to worse and would like to get rid of LaVine so they can put themselves in position to land the next generation NBA prospect, Duke forward Cooper Flagg.

The Lakers, meanwhile, missed out on all the big names in the trade market. They didn’t trade Hawks point guard Dejounte Murray and Atlanta doesn’t seem to want to trade Trae Young. They don’t have the assets to bring in Markkanen and don’t seem to have made a serious trade for DeRozan. Most Western Conference teams can say they’ve improved this season, but it’s hard to make that argument for the Lakers. Could they try to buy LaVine cheap to get a top-tier point guard around LeBron James and Anthony Davis?

Atlanta made a big move to start the offseason, but has been quiet since. The Hawks traded Murray to New Orleans for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, EJ Liddell, Cody Zeller and two first-round picks, one of which was the Lakers’ unprotected 2025 pick. There were rumors before the draft that the Hawks might move De’Andre Hunter and/or Clint Capela, but those rumors have been quiet lately. The Hawks are under the tax, and it’s not hard to imagine them staying put for the rest of the offseason.

But what if all three of these teams made some improvements through a three-way trade?

It should be noted that this is just speculation and a fun exercise to see what kinds of moves can be made, not what I think the Hawks should or will do. That’s all.

Here is the trade:

Atlanta hosts: Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt

Los Angeles receives: Zach LaVine, Torrey Craig, 2028 second-round pick and 2030 second-round pick

Bulls receive: D’Angelo Russell, De’Andre Hunter and Jalen Hood Schifino

Why the Hawks are doing this deal: For Atlanta, they would trade Hunter and turn him into Vincent and Vanderbilt. When Atlanta traded Murray, they were left without a backup point guard and a clear option at backup point guard. Could second-year point guard Kobe Bufkin take that spot? It’s possible, but Quin Snyder gets a veteran option in Vincent until Bufkin is ready. Vanderbilt is a very good defender, though he’s not a great shooter or floor spacer. He would add depth to the Hawks and be a replacement for Jalen Johnson.

Why the Hawks aren’t doing this deal: As mentioned above, the Hawks own the Lakers’ unprotected 2025 pick. While I don’t think adding LaVine makes the Lakers a title contender, it does make them a bit better and would hurt the Hawks’ chances of getting a higher pick. Are the Hawks willing to part ways with Hunter and is that enough? Maybe the Hawks like Bufkin enough that they don’t want Vincent. Vincent is good, but he’s not a top-tier offensive player. Vanderbilt would be the best thing in this deal. This trade might not make the Hawks worse, but are they better because of it? One could argue that they aren’t.

Why the Bulls are doing this deal: It’s simple. They’re getting rid of the LaVine deal and heading straight to the bottom of the standings. I’m sure the Bulls would love to move him and Nikola Vucevic if they could to put themselves in the best possible position to land Flagg. While Chicago isn’t getting a true top-tier player in return, it shows the market for LaVine. The Bulls also don’t have players with Hunter’s skill set as a 3-man and defensive end.

Why the Bulls aren’t doing this: I think the Bulls would take any deal for LaVine at this point. It seems like they’re not looking for a high return on investment.

Why the Lakers are doing this: This is the best move they could make to add a talented player. While I also hate LaVine’s contract and injury history, I think people forget how good he can be when healthy. He would be a good third guy around James and Davis. He can be a dynamic scorer when healthy. Craig is a solid defender and three-point shooter who could come off the bench for the Lakers and he’s on a cheap contract.

Why the Lakers aren’t doing this: While I think LaVine is at a point where he’s underrated, his contract is really bad and he’s had a hard time staying healthy. This trade would also leave the Lakers without a reliable bench without Vincent or Vanderbilt. Are the Lakers better off going back to the same team and hoping JJ Redick can help them fix their problems? Can Dalton Knecht make a big impact as a rookie? The Lakers would need him if they moved those other players.