Chicago Bulls Receive: F Tobias Harris, G/F Matisse Thybulle, 2023 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2026 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2028 First-Round Pick (PHI)
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: G Zach LaVine
Daryl Morey loves stars. In fairness, most NBA general managers do. Daryl Morey really loves stars.
On the other hand, he’s relatively indifferent to role players and draft picks. They are, to him, a means to an end. That end, obviously, is acquiring star players.
He already landed one at this year’s trade deadline. Still, James Harden looks like a compromised version of himself. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid is one of the league’s most dominant forces, but his proneness to injury is a concern. These Sixers could probably use one more star player.
Some would suggest that they already have one in Tyrese Maxey. Fair enough. Still, relying on such a young player in the biggest moments may prove untenable. Plus, at 21, Maxey shouldn’t be above manning the sixth man role for a season while Philadelphia runs a potentially dominant Harden/Lavine backcourt.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine Sounds Very Open To Leaving Chicago Bulls
Meanwhile, this deal gives the Chicago Bulls an opportunity to stop and think. If they’re losing LaVine, that’s probably for the best. They could continue to aim for wins with DeRozan, Vucevic, and Harris on the roster.
If that’s the plan, they can flip their newfound draft capital for an impact player or two. Alternatively, they can rebuild. If that’s their course of action, they’ll be happy to have an elite defender in Thybulle as well as that draft capital.
