With the new season about to begin, it doesn't seem like there is much big news breaking out at the moment, but combined with previous years, there are usually some unexpected trades before the start of the season. The Lillard trade last year, for example, also happened just before training camp for the new season.
With that in mind, let's discuss a few of the stars who could be put on the trade shelf before the start of the season, as well as the possibility of subsequent trades.
The first is Zach LaVine.
LaVine is already one of the ones we can't avoid in almost every trading forecast. Especially considering the rookie Bouzelis playing well in Summer League, LaVine has almost no effect on the Bulls right now.
The 29-year-old is also completely out of step with the team's future planning route, and continuing to keep him in the team will also have a significant impact on the future development of the newcomers. When it comes to LaVine's deal, the most critical point is how to deal with his 43 million annual salary contract.
There have been multiple media reports on the Bulls' willingness to trade LaVine, but most teams have shrugged away from this huge salary. Referring to the previous discussion, the closest to this deal is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Assuming that the Lakers are seen as a potential trade home, the most suitable chip package for Hachimura + Russell + Vincent in exchange for LaVine from the Bulls.
The value of the deal is clear, and the Bulls' intent is to dispose of LaVine's big contract. And the Lakers' motives are not difficult to understand. Of course, the key point is that this trade point may come after a dozen games in the new season, and the Lakers will have to wait until LaVine is enough to prove that he is healthy and capable of playing before the Lakers can make a move.
LaVine's style evaluation in recent years is really bad, but judging from the actual situation, as long as he can maintain a healthy state, the overall ability is still quite good.
Referring to the last three years, when he played healthy, he averaged about 25 points per game, and his shooting rate could even reach 47%. The highlight of his performance was the 2020-21 season, where he averaged 27 points per game, shooting 53% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
If this deal can be done, LaVine will naturally join the Lakers as a third star, and considering the two cores of James and Davis, LaVine's team role may be more focused on off-ball offense.
Compared to Hachimura and Russell, LaVine is obviously a more valuable option when healthy, after all, he belongs to the star player level.
If this deal can be completed, the Lakers could have James as the point guard, LaVine as the second position, and Vanderbilt, Christie and Davis at the frontcourt.
This lineup is relatively capable of taking into account both offensive and defensive ends, and can even be significantly upgraded compared to the original lineup. While losing Hachimura up front is a bit risky, a deal could be a deal if it could be traded for a scoring player who could play both with the ball and without the ball.
The second trade protagonist is from Brandon Ingram.
From a personal perspective, Ingram should have to be traded.
In particular, the Pelicans acquired Murray through a trade, and the team may rebuild their offensive and defensive systems in the new season. Judging from the original team, McCollum, Murray, Williamson, and Ingram seem to have no conflict in the team's positions, but combined with individual offensive and defensive skills, there is considerable overlap and mutual exclusivity.
As for why Ingram would be the first victim of the four.
Combined with last year's performances, we have been able to see the coexistence of Ingram and McCollum, and with the emergence of a Murray of the same type, the offensive system problems will naturally be more troublesome in the new season.
If he had to make adjustments, McCollum could barely handle off-ball offense, but Ingram wasn't a proper off-ball finisher. While he's good at taking on offense, it's not the best way for him to attack, and it can have some additional negative effects on the players and the team.
In particular, Ingram has already expressed personal dissatisfaction with the problem of reduced ball possession, and the team is even less likely to meet his ball expectations after trading to Murray in the new season. With these issues in mind, trading Ingram has become imperative.
Combined with the team's almost no success in the playoffs in recent years, management also needs an opportunity to restructure the framework, and this trade to Murray is a great opportunity.
Discussing the Ingram trade, I personally think the Spurs would be a good choice.
With Wembanyama in hand, the Spurs are still lacking a consistent wing scorer, and if management is willing to pack up Keldon Johnson and Collins, or even add two second-round picks, I personally think there is still a chance to impress the Pelicans.
Combined with Ingram's player status, the chips paid by the Spurs are actually not too big, but at this stage, it happens to be the trough of Ingram's trade, and it is actually a better choice to enter at this node. The Pelicans can not only deal with Ingram's reorganized roster, but also be able to add some character combat power, and there is not much to lose for both sides.
From the Pelicans' point of view, if this deal can be completed, they can completely promote Herbert Jones to the starting lineup in the future, ensuring a balance between defense and off-ball offense. At the same time, the ball is concentrated in the hands of Williamson and Murray, and the center of gravity of the team's offensive system is clearly demarcated.
Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins are among the additions to his power rotation. The former is a high-quality wing, whether it is a starter or a substitute, it can improve the team's rotation depth; The latter, as a big man with outside shooting, will not have too many space problems when he partners with Williamson, but can open up space and play more inside impact advantages.
From Spurs' point of view, the comparison trade is mainly focused on these two purposes.
First of all, looking at the rotation of the team, head coach Popovich doesn't seem to give Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins too many opportunities, and instead of letting them occupy a place in the team, it is better to switch to some better options. Especially considering that the two of them have contracts that are not small, they can also free up more salary space for the team in the future and prepare for the rebuilding in advance.
The second is to try to diversify the lineup around Wembanyama.
As a top-level ball-handling small forward at this stage, Ingram's combination with Wembanyama can bring a lot of valuable data to provide a model for the team's future squad construction and Wembanyama's development and development.
Although Devin Vassell has the same type of squad at this stage, he has not been able to reach Ingram's level of individual ball handling relatively speaking. If the deal goes through, it will not only test Wembanyama's potential on the wings with the ball, but also provide Vassell with a high-level learning target.
And Ingram's current short-term contract can also be used as a short-term transition option for the Spurs, and subsequent teams can decide whether to renew the contract based on chemistry. If it can be operated according to this idea, the team's salary space has been cleared, ensuring future maneuvering, and at the same time, it can also explore Wemban's lineup compatibility, which is quite cost-effective for the Spurs.