Every team in the NBA would like to win the championship in a given season. Only one can. 

With that in mind, many question the mentality of “rings culture”. Do we place too much emphasis on the championship when evaluating players and teams? How much should other measures of success count for? 

The Chicago Bulls had to be asking themselves these questions when they put their current group together.

The trio of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic were always likely to have defensive limitations, but they were supposed to have enough combined firepower to be competitive. At 6-10, that hasn’t been the case in 2022-23. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Sacramento Kings Updates

Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings don’t look the part of championship contenders, either. Still, at 9-6, their playoff hopes look real. Could they make a trade that aims to solidify them? 

If so, here’s a deal that has them acquiring LaVine from the Bulls.