Three NBA Trades We Need To See This Summer: Lakers Add Superstar, Bulls Move Zach LaVine, and More

Sure, we’re in the throes of the NBA Conference Finals, but the flip side means that some 87 percent of the league has fixed its focus on making offseason improvements.

There figures to be a flurry of moves this summer.

In a primer for the impending storm, let’s consider three trades we need to see -- for the betterment of the Association and your pondering pleasure.

Thunder swap youth for experience

With respect to the ad wizards at AT&T, Oklahoma City Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren would just as soon shoot a straightforward commercial telling western civilization they’re “going to Disney World.”

Making a leap to the top of the league may not be so far-fetched for these pros, who lead the Western Conference’s reigning top seed, should the front office work some magic.

Yes, the nucleus of the 57-win club is young -- much like its NBA Coach of the Year, Mark Daigneault, 39 -- but what’s the harm in adding a proven veteran presence if the payoff nets postseason paydirt? (Apologies, Gordon Hayward.)

OKC challenged eventual Western Conference finalist Dallas in the second round before a tight, six-game defeat. Still, it felt at times like the Thunder were one player away. Rebounding, size, and 3-point volume are areas of need.

Lakers add a Showman

Los Angeles is a place where supporting casts thrive -- some members even receive gold statuettes -- but that scarcely has been the case for the Lakers lately.

Despite having a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers needed to rally out of the play-in tournament to get into the first round of the West playoffs, where they were ousted by the Denver Nuggets in five games.

That’s the second first-round exit in four seasons since Los Angeles last was crowned NBA champs, contributing to the firing of coach Darvin Ham, who guided LA to the conference finals in 2022-23 after more play-in success.

Expect the new bench boss to work with general manager Rob Pelinka to add some glitz to the lineup, even as the organization waits to see whether New Orleans takes the Lakers’ first-round draft pick or defers it to 2025.

Still, with Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland) and DeJounte Murray and Trae Young (Atlanta) rumored to be on the trading block, a neo-Lakers Big Three could be coming to hardwood near you.

Bulls move Zach LaVine

Recent Census data shows Chicago’s population is falling while Houston’s trends the other way, sparking conjecture that The Windy City may soon relinquish its standing as the third-largest metropolis in the U.S.

Jettisoning a part-time resident wouldn’t count toward the tally. So, what are the Chicago Bulls waiting for with Zach LaVine?

The former All-Star guard has three years and $189 million remaining on a five-year max contract, an impediment as they team tries to flee proverbial NBA purgatory.  

To be sure, playing for play-in tournament seeding has seemed the Bulls’ lot for the past several seasons. It goes in step with playing without the oft-injured LaVine, who has logged at least 60 games six times in 10 seasons, including just 25 in 2023-24.

Moving LaVine is Chicago’s top offseason objective. A number of Eastern Conference counterparts who strained for scoring depth in the playoffs (remember those, Bulls fans?) could be willing to oblige.