• With the trade deadline only four days away, I have to imagine this trade will have some ripple effects. Are the Los Angeles Lakers done? What about the Dallas Mavericks? How many other sneaky mega-trades are being talked about behind the scenes? Will this shocking price tag on Luka Doncic shift how others try to do business? If so, that’s not great news for the Chicago Bulls, who are trying to maximize the value of players like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.

• At the same time, I have to wonder if two new suitors have emerged for both the Bulls’ assets. Recent reports stated that the Lakers were not expected to dip their toe in the Vucevic conversations despite some previous connections. But that was before they traded away their best big. Los Angeles now has a HUGE hole at the center position and will have to lean on the likes of Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood – unless they make another move.

• Considering Vucevic’s deficiencies as a rim protector, I still think a player like Jakob Poeltl may be higher on the Lakers’ wish list. But Vucevic would undoubtedly help them clean the glass and expand on this offense-first approach they seem to be embracing. He would also be an excellent pick-and-pop partner alongside Doncic. All I’m saying is don’t be particularly shocked if Vucevic’s name suddenly comes back up as an option for the Lakers.

• Likewise, would the Mavericks ever try to land a third star in Zach LaVine? I admittedly haven’t checked on the finances, but the two-time All-Star could make some sense alongside Kyrie Irving in the backcourt. As talented as Davis is offensively, they’re going to need even more to make up for the shotmaking they lost by showing Doncic the door. I also bring this up because of past ties between LaVine and the Mavs organization. They reportedly had an interest in him before and after he signed his big max deal with Chicago. Here is what ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said back in December of 2022 about Dallas’ front office on Zach Lowe’s Podcast (h/t HoopsHype):

 “I just know that there are fans of him that hold prominent positions within the Mavericks,” said MacMahon. “Again, I’m not sitting here and telling you there’s some great consensus. I think there’s enough fans of him where I wouldn’t totally rule it out.”

• I know this feels like ages ago in the NBA universe, but the man in charge of the Mavs’ front office hasn’t changed. And, again, I find it hard to believe this team thinks they can merely swap Doncic for Davis and find even more success. A deal that shifts a franchise this much usually comes alongside some more moves!

• Too bad the Bulls-Pistons game is going to overshadow this groundbreaking deal this afternoon! Chicago finished off their three-game road trip with a stop in Detroit. They are fresh off a dominant victory over the Toronto Raptors thanks to seven players finishing in double figures, including every member of the second unit! Finding similar success against the Pistons’ bench, however, may prove difficult. Sharpshooter Malik Beasley and several young athletic wings have the Pistons averaging the ninth-most bench points per game this season.

• Detroit may not be particularly great at anything, but they are a well-coached group that players extremely hard. Cade Cunningham is also finally starting to look like the All-NBA-caliber player this franchise needs, averaging a career-high 25.3 points, 9.2 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game this season. He is also fresh off a 40-point effort against the Mavericks where he shot 17-30 from the field! How are the Bulls going to attack that matchup tonight? Can Lonzo Ball or Ayo Dosunmu hold their own?

• The Bulls better be ready to hustle back on defense. The Pistons average the third-most fastbreak points per game (18.1) Whether it be Jalen Duren’s physicality, Cunningham’s length, or Ausar Thompson’s verticality, this group has multiple players who can kill you on the boards. The Bulls will need a communal effort to ensure the rebounding department doesn’t make a key difference.

• According to the latest official injury report, Zach LaVine remains out for personal reasons. The good news is that he will likely return for the team’s Tuesday night contest against the Miami Heat … or will he? It’s not crazy to think we might have seen his last game in a Bulls uniform. If last night proved anything, it’s that the trade deadline chaos is officially in full effect! The Bulls have two games left on the calendar before Thursday’s deadline (Heat on Tuesday and Timberwolves on Wednesday).

• Former Chiefs coordinator Eric Bieniemy is set to join the Chicago Bears coaching staff. He spent this past season serving as the OC for the UCLA Bruins. More on the big-name hire here.

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