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Lakers send Anthony Davis home in this potential trade with the Bulls

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 15: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls shoots a three-point basket against Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Staples Center on November 15, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 15: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls shoots a three-point basket against Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Staples Center on November 15, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Why the Chicago Bulls could say yes to this trade:

Any Bulls fan that is reading this article likely instantly rejected the idea of trading LaVine for Anthony Davis as the entire point of getting AD would be to pair him with LaVine to become a contender. As outlined in the previous slide, this is the only deal that the Lakers would say yes to from.

The Bulls would certainly push for a deal that did not include LaVine but I would not say that he is off the table. While LaVine has been a revelation in Chicago, he is not someone who can be the best player on a title-contending team. As we said last page, he is good enough to be the second-best player on a title-contending team.

So if you cannot get someone who is better than him without trading him then the conversation could be had that it is time to flip him and upgrade for a bigger star. This is the Toronto Raptors formula for Kawhi Leonard. DeMar DeRozan was an all-star in Toronto but the Raptors had their chance to improve and they won a title because of it.

The Bulls have a great nucleus with DeRozan, Vucevic, Williams, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. Add Anthony Davis to that nucleus and the Bulls could be a legitimate title contender. At his best, AD is still a top-10 player in the NBA and if he can just stay healthy then Chicago could have something special.

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That is the inherent risk that the Bulls would have to weigh (and the entire reason why the Lakers would trade him if they did). However, if the front office does not think the team is going to win a championship if they lock down LaVine for the max for four more years, then maybe, just maybe, they take the risk.

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