Bill Simmons has an interesting proposal that could see Draymond Green end up as a Laker in a three-team deal with the Warriors and Bulls.
With the January 15 trade restrictions lifted, the NBA trade deadline is approaching, and it’s expected to bring some excitement to teams like the Lakers, Warriors, and Bulls. Bill Simmons has proposed a tantalizing 3-team trade scenario, centered around the Lakers acquiring Draymond Green.
Here are the trade details:
- Bulls Receive: Rui Hachimura, 2029 First-Round Pick (from the Lakers)
- Warriors Receive: Nikola Vucevic
- Lakers Receive: Draymond Green
Simmons argues, “They gotta end the Draymond era. Send him to the Lakers, he’ll be super happy… LeBron keeps him in check, it makes too much sense.”
To make this deal work, the Lakers might need to include another player, with Jaxson Hayes being a potential candidate, especially with Christian Wood’s recent addition to the lineup.
In this proposed trade, the Bulls would offload Nikola Vucevic and receive assets in the form of Rui Hachimura and a first-round pick from the Lakers. The Warriors would acquire Vucevic, addressing their frontcourt needs.
However, despite Simmons’ endorsement, this trade is unlikely to materialize because it doesn’t align with the Lakers’ needs. The Lakers may face the potential departure of LeBron James soon and need to focus on keeping young pieces on their roster for a potential rebuild. Draymond Green, with his long-term contract and past his prime, may not be the ideal fit.
For the Lakers, the priority should be acquiring a guard to bolster their scoring, and trading valuable assets like Hachimura and a future first-round pick for anything less than an All-Star guard would be a lateral move they don’t need.
The Warriors, while benefiting from this trade in the short term, would face the emotional challenge of parting ways with a loyal franchise player like Draymond Green. Still, they would gain a valuable contributor in Nikola Vucevic.
The Bulls, on the other hand, would add Rui Hachimura and a valuable draft pick, which could be a significant gain for their future development, although they already have young forward prospects.
Overall, while the trade proposal may seem enticing, it’s unlikely to happen given the Lakers’ current needs and long-term considerations.
