NBA Trade Deadline 2020: 5 trades that could change the NBA draft

2. Zach LaVine to the Magic

The Chicago Bulls have had a disappointing season, dealing with an assortment of injuries to key players that have prevented them from competing the way the organization had likely hoped for at the beginning of the year. Their brightest star this season has been Zach LaVine, who has had to shoulder a huge load for the Bulls, and has performed at an All-Star level with the responsibility that has been given to him. But that shouldn’t deter the Bulls from making a move to help them rebuild.

The Bulls took a scoring point guard in the 2019 NBA Draft in Coby White, and if they feel like they’re a few years away, they should explore building around some of their younger players. That opens a door for them to explore getting draft assets from a team that is looking to compete now. Chicago doesn’t have any future first round picks coming in, and if this team is going to rebuild, it needs draft assets. Trading LaVine would crater the offense, and put the Bulls on course for getting a top-five pick. They may already have too many wins to finish with the worst record in the league, but pulling off this move would put them in a prime position to get the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

The Orlando Magic would have to be considered so lucky to have a chance to add LaVine to their team. They’ve found a great defensive talent in Jonathan Isaac, have a great center in Nikola Vucevic and a versatile forward in Aaron Gordon. If they wanted to commit to being a team that maximizes possessions, gets defensive stops, then lets Vucevic and LaVine get buckets, that would give them a chance to be one of the best Magic teams in years. Fournier has been good for the Magic this season as a scoring guard, but LaVine is a better player.

Plus, how fun would it be to pair LaVine and Gordon on the same team? They’d be able to draw crowds just for the layup lines before the games.