Chicago Bulls
Realistically, the Bulls shouldn’t be opposed to a rebuild this offseason. With the inner turmoil that plagued the team this past season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see several players no longer on the roster come October.
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So why not move some pieces around? One way to do that would be to make a deal for Russell. That deal would likely include Jimmy Butler, but it would also entail the Lakers sending more assets. Maybe Los Angeles gives up Luol Deng to make the trade work financially, along with the No. 28 pick in this year’s draft and other assets Chicago might want.
Either way, there are options available if the Lakers want this to happen. They were rumored to have had interest in Butler prior to the trade deadline, but obviously a deal never came to fruition. If the Bulls are ready to move on from Rajon Rondo and find a cheaper alternative at point guard, Russell could be the solution.
Rondo’s 2017-18 is non-guaranteed, but the Bulls will likely keep him. He was a positive voice in the locker room for the young players and could mentor Russell as well. It’s not a solve-all for a team that needs a lot of help, but it gives them a fresh start at point guard on a number of levels.
As for the Lakers, they get their star scorer. Butler lands with a team that actually wants him. Russell isn’t forced into shooting guard duties with the pending addition of Fultz or Ball. Seems like this situation solves a lot of problems.