Chicago Bulls Receive: G Kendrick Nunn (via sign-and-trade), MIA 2026 1st Round Pick (unprotected)
Miami Heat Receive: F Lauri Markkanen (via sign-and-trade), CHI 2024 1st Round Pick (Top-5 Protected)
Both the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat have a lot of question marks about their rosters this offseason because other than their star talents, they have a lot of unknowns and pending free agents to sort out. Neither team really has the assets to pull off a big-time trade, but they could both benefit from sign-and-trades revolving around Kendrick Nunn and Lauri Markkanen.
We talked a little bit about Kendrick Nunn’s situation earlier, but Larui Makkanen is also in an interesting situation as a restricted free agent this offseason. The Bulls do have the rights to Markkanen and control free agent negotiations with him, but they could look to leverage him in a trade should they be able to get a reliable guard like Nunn. Both Markannen and Nunn will be names to watch in NBA rumors this offseason.
Are the Miami Heat interested in adding a stretch forward like Lauri Markkanen to their rotations though? Entering free agency, if the Heat feel like they are not in the running for guys like Kawhi Leonard or even a trade for Damian Lillard, they could definitely be intrigued by the idea of adding a player like Markkanen.
Chicago and Lauri Markkanen were unable to come to terms on a long-term extension prior to the start of the 2020-21 season and with them having Nikola Vucevic, there is no immediate need for the Bulls to keep Markkanen. He’s become a name to watch in trade rumors as NBA free agency approaches as a potential sign-and-trade candidate.
READ MORE: Predictions for NBA Trade Rumors: Beal, Lillard, McCollum, Porzingis & Siakam
Executing a sign-and-trade between Markkanen and Nunn could definitely prove useful for both teams because they get a player that fits an immediate need, but the contract situations could put both teams in trouble should Nunn and Markkanen sign long-term, high-value deals with their respective teams before being trading.
All the details of a sign-and-trade can get very confusing from a financial perspective and with two players being involved in sign-and-trade scenarios, this could be too much for the Bulls and Heat to figure out. Nonetheless though, there is value for both teams to be had in this deal, so let’s take a look at if this trade truly makes sense for both the Bulls and Heat.
