Chicago Bulls Receive: G Tim Hardaway Jr. ($18.9M 2020-21 Salary), G Josh Green ($2.8M), DAL 2022 1st Round Pick (Top 10 Protected), DAL 2026 1st Round Pick (Unprotected)

Dallas Mavericks Receive: G Zach LaVine ($19.5M)

In this scenario, the Chicago Bulls would be taking on more financially than they would be giving up, but would be receiving two valuable first-round picks for future drafts. The Bulls need to continue building their team through the draft and acquiring future draft assets allows them the opportunity to acquire a first-round pick for the 2021 NBA Draft which has plenty of projected talent. 

Adding two guards in Tim Hardaway Jr. and Josh Green would be beneficial to the Bulls as well. Hardaway is now a veteran guard who has proven he can be a reliable wing-shooter over the years and Green is a first-round prospect from this year’s draft who can contribute down the road. This past year at Arizona, Green averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and shot 42.4% from the field and 36.1% from deep. The Australian guard has a lot of upside as a catch-and-shoot wing player and standing 6’6”, has the size to score over smaller defenders. 

As for the Dallas Mavericks, giving up a player they just drafted in the first-round may be easier than it appears. If they can move Green and Hardaway Jr. in exchange for Zach LaVine, it would be a picture-perfect move. Granted it would cost them two future first-round selections, possessing a young core of Doncic (21-years old), Porzingis (25-years old) and LaVine (25-years old) takes a load of stress off of the front office.

Those three guys can be built around for over a decade to come and all are reliable scoring options who are still growing skill-wise believe it or not. Doncic is not even close to the prime of his career and is already being talked about as a favorite to win the 2020-21 NBA MVP, Kristaps Porzingis has only played three and a half seasons in the NBA, already being an All-Star in the 2017-18 season, and Zach LaVine is coming off his best statistical season in the NBA. LaVine has turned into an all-around scoring threat as opposed to just a high-flying, dunk contest contender. 

By going out and acquiring Zach LaVine in this trade scenario, the Mavericks really are not losing much, but are gaining a whole lot. They may not win the NBA Championship immediately, but to say that this team with LaVine, Doncic and Porzingis would not win a title is absolutely crazy. They would win at least one title over the next five seasons, which is exactly what the Mavericks should be looking to do.