Why each team does it

Lakers: Russ needs to be off the team yesterday. Get a good veteran in Hayward if he can stay healthy, a good playmaking back up C in Plumlee, and get to see if White can be a part of the Lakers future. They are banking on themselves being good still in 2025 so the swap will be pointless and the 2026 1st won’t hurt as bad.

Bulls: Win now. They trade playmaking for scoring with Even more scoring with Rozier, get a starting caliber SF in Oubre to come off the bench, and get a 3&D PF to pair in the front court with Vuc. McDaniels is some nice forward depth as well.

Hornets: The Miles Bridges’ situation has really thrown the Hornets plan out of wack. It would be smart for them to focus on playing the youngsters and see who flashes and who fizzles. Steve Clifford wouldn’t play young guys just to play them, so now he has no choice because they just shipped off 6 players! They take Russ but they should just buy him out. They just wanted picks anyway. They also get Lonzo, which is fantastic for marketing and them now having the best playmaking back court in the NBA, but it also helps keep Lamelo happy having his brother in town while they go towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference.