So Portland remains interested in maximizing their Lillard return and the Bulls remain disinterested in a full rebuild. While the outside world may , rightly, criticize that mentality it's the path they appear to be on.

In this the Bulls move out their best "chip" to the Knicks, but receive Lillard from the Trailblzaers. Who ship out Ant Simmons and Jusuf Nurkic to Charlotte freeing them from that contract but receiving Hartenstein from the Knicks.

The Trailblzaers add RJ Barett, 3 first-round picks (including having one of their own returned from Chicago) and a 2026 pick swap.