Despite the NBA Finals still needing to be played, NBA rumors are already heating up. Two teams that people will be keeping a close eye on during the 2024 NBA offseason are the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
The Chicago Bulls have a major decision to make with veteran DeMar DeRozan. Set to hit free agency, will they bring him back and run things back with a core that has not been able to find much success since Lonzo Ball was injured?
The goals of the Los Angeles Lakers are clear. They are on the hunt for another star, looking to upgrade around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. A new head coach will be in place to, as it is championship-or-bust for as long as James remains in the fold.
Plenty of mock trades between Chicago and Los Angeles have been shared. One of the players involved in such trade talks is former Lakers guard, Alex Caruso. However, don’t expect the teams to come together on a deal as long as James is donning the purple and gold.
According to Eric Pincus and Jovan Buha, via LegionHoops on X, the Chicago Bulls are unlikely to make any deals with the Los Angeles Lakers. And the reason for that is Michael Jordan’s legacy.
“Their owner doesn’t want LeBron infringing upon Michael’s legacy… the intel is that they’re just not gonna help LeBron.”
That is a level of pettiness people on social media can certainly respect. The Chicago Bulls have no interest in helping James strengthen his legacy and improve his standing in the GOAT debate against their own Jordan.
While Jordan’s legacy is important, the front office and ownership have to do what is best for the franchise. If the Lakers present the Bulls with a huge offer for someone such as Caruso, they need to put their feelings aside and pull the trigger on the deal.
The Los Angeles Lakers can offer several first-round picks and some rotation players in any deal. That is something that could intrigue the Chicago Bulls, who seem intent on not bottoming out and remaining as competitive as possible.
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