The New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls are involved in a complicated negotiation for Lauri Markkanen according to reports.
Marc Stein reported that the Bulls were seeking a first-round pick in exchange for sending Markkanen to New Orleans as part of the sign-and-trade for Lonzo Ball.
The Pelicans have expressed interest in Lauri Markkanen and hold a sizable trade exception ($17 million) to take the restricted free agent in on a contract he seeks, sources say.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 8, 2021
The Bulls, though, are said to want a first-round pick to facilitate. More: https://t.co/A6ycVmnrjq
The Pelicans can use their massive trade exception to take on Markkanen’s salary, but this deal has been complicated by the ongoing tampering investigation into the Ball sign-and-trade as well as the Bulls’ desire to play hard ball when they really have no leverage.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Bulls are trying to play hard ball
Let’s make something clear now, if the Pelicans did not sign-and-trade Lonzo Ball to the Bulls, then he would not be headed to Chicago.
The Bulls did not have the cap space to take on Ball, and have even less now after trading for DeMar DeRozan.
The only way he was going to Chicago is via sign-and-trade, which the Pelicans had zero obligation to do, so they were doing both Chicago and Ball a favor by orchestrating one, otherwise they could have just let him walk in free agency and Chicago wouldn’t have had a chance.
The Bulls sent back journeyman Garrett Temple and Tomas Satoransky, who is s decent bench player, along with a 2nd-round pick, so not only were the Pels doing them a favor, but they sent back a garbage return.
To me, adding Markkanen to that deal actually makes it fair, especially when you consider the Pelicans were the ones helping the Bulls.
I hope David Griffin plays hardball right back, as there is no way he should have to pile on a first-round pick after already sending them Ball for practically nothing but cap space.
I love Markkanen as a fit on the Pelicans, but not if it is going to cost another first-round pick, as Griffin has been giving them away like candy and the Pels might lose another one if this joke of a tampering investigation does not go their way.
David Griffin hasn’t managed his assets very well and should hold his ground against the Bulls on this one before his largess of draft assets goes up in smoke.