Trade Mechanics and Challenges
Due to new CBA restrictions affecting teams over the second apron, the Suns can only acquire Jimmy Butler if they send out Bradley Beal (or Kevin Durant or Devin Booker, but that’s unlikely).
Beal has two years and $110 million remaining on his contract after this season, whereas LaVine has two years and $95.5 million left. Both players have an option for the 2026-27 season, but Beal also has a no-trade clause, giving him the power to block any trade.
In the proposed deal, the Suns would acquire Butler. However, according to Jake Fischer, the Miami Heat are reportedly “against acquiring players in exchange for Butler who have significant future money,” eliminating Beal and LaVine as potential options.
A fourth team needs to be involved, with Sam Vecenie reporting that “the Bucks are thought to be on the periphery of the Butler trade discussions by other teams” and may have interest in exploring potential deals involving Butler, LaVine, and Beal.
So, the structure would look like this: Butler to the Suns, Beal to the Bulls, LaVine to the Bucks, and potentially Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis to Miami. Sounds simple, right?
Not so fast.
The Bucks are also above the second apron, meaning they would need to offload Pat Connaughton’s $9.4 million to one of these teams to comply with the cap restrictions. But none of the teams in the deal can legally absorb that money.
The Solution
To make the trade work, a fifth team must be included to absorb Connaughton’s salary and facilitate the deal. Teams like the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards are potential candidates, as they have space to absorb the salary without hitting their salary cap limits.
Incentives to Seal the Deal
The Bulls would likely receive draft picks in exchange for taking on Beal’s contract, while the Heat would likely seek picks for Butler. The mystery fifth team would also receive something in return for taking on Connaughton.
The Suns would probably offer the three picks they just acquired in a trade involving their own 2031 pick: the worst of Utah, Cleveland, and Minnesota’s picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029. Alternatively, they could offer picks in 2026 (worst of Phoenix, Orlando, Washington), 2028 (worst of Phoenix, Washington, Brooklyn), and 2030 (worst of Phoenix, Memphis, and Washington).
The Bucks can trade their 2031 first-round and second-round picks and swap picks in 2026 (worst of their own and New Orleans), 2028, and 2030 (worst of their own and Portland).
While Milwaukee’s 2031 first-round pick could be valuable, these picks overall hold limited upside. The exact distribution of picks would depend on the involvement of the Heat and the fifth team.
Drawbacks for the Bulls
LaVine is currently playing his best basketball. He entered the season focused and has consistently performed. If the Bulls can’t get positive value for him at the trade deadline, assuming he stays on track and avoids injury, they may have better luck in the summer when teams have more flexibility.
Beal is older than LaVine, has the same contract length, and makes more money. He is more injury-prone and not as skilled as LaVine. Beal’s no-trade clause would make it more difficult to trade him if the Bulls acquire him. His contract also adds more complications to the Bulls’ salary cap and is widely considered one of the worst deals in the league.
Acquiring Beal could lock the Bulls into another bad contract, which would hinder their future flexibility. While it would likely draw criticism, there are some valid reasons to consider the trade.
Benefits for the Bulls
Despite the limited upside of picks from Phoenix, the 2031 pick from Milwaukee could be extremely valuable. Though it’s far in the future, the Bulls could potentially use it to get two or three picks from another team looking for a long-term play.
The Bucks’ pick should be a non-negotiable asset. Adding two of the Suns’ picks would also strengthen the Bulls’ haul. Not bad for a player considered a negative asset just a few months ago.
Another factor is the Bulls’ own pick. Moving LaVine could improve their chances of retaining and maximizing the pick owed to the Spurs if it falls outside the top-10 in the draft. After their win over the Denver Nuggets, the Bulls are 20-27, in 10th place in the East, and have work to do to secure a bottom-six finish to guarantee keeping their pick.
The Bulls could also look to rehabilitate Beal’s value, allowing him to put up strong numbers before flipping him again in the offseason or at the next trade deadline. With a year or two left on his deal, a desperate team might come calling.
If nothing works out, the Bulls could absorb the $53.6 million on Beal’s deal next season, buy out the $57.1 million final year of his contract, or waive and stretch it, spreading the cap hit over multiple years, from 2026 through 2029.
Conclusion
The gap between LaVine, who has played his way into positive value, and Beal, whose deal is considered one of the worst in the league, is significant. The return would need to include both quality and quantity of picks for the Bulls, and the combination of Suns’ picks and the Bucks’ 2031 pick is on the borderline of being sufficient. Anything less would be too hard to accept.
If this is the only option, it’s worth considering. The opportunity cost isn’t what’s available now at the trade deadline, but what might become available if they wait until summer.
While LaVine’s performance could regress or he could get injured, acquiring protected first-round picks and shorter-term, less damaging contracts could be preferable. However, this would also put the Bulls’ own pick at risk.
If the Bulls want to secure draft picks and move on from LaVine to protect their pick, this might be the only way. Beal would need to accept, and being stuck with him would present a series of issues, but it would also push the Bulls in a new direction, with additional picks in their possession.
