The NBA trade rumors continue to swirl around the NBA and in the offseason, there are some ambitious scenarios that could take place later in the season.
The 2016 offseason saw many speculative rumors come to pass. One of them was Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors. It should be recalled that sage scribe Adrian Wojnarowski gave credence to that rumor but it was still too wild of a scenario. Now, it has come to pass.
While the Durant decision was significant because of its impact on the league, Dwyane Wade leaving Miami was more shocking. Even the wildest speculation did not see that coming. In fact, when there were rumors of the "banana boat brothers" (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony) coming together in the future, Miami was one of the suspected destinations (as in this report from SB Nation).
However, both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade has now cut ties with the Heat, specifically "the Godfather" Pat Riley. It seems like Riley is looking at forming a new team of his own and has moved on from the Big Three era.
The landscape of the NBA has changed, Dwyane Wade went back home to Chicago and has an awkward running mate with Rajon Rondo, who called him out four years ago as a "dirty player" in this report from Sports Illustrated.
There are many pundits who view the Chicago Bulls as an experiment. They have three "alpha dogs" in the backcourt: Wade, Rondo and Jimmy Butler. When Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg was asked about how the three will share the ball, the response was "great players always figure it out" (as per KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune) which some jokingly interpret as "I have no idea."
Which brings us to a wild trade scenario. There's a team in the West called the LA Clippers and they are on the edge. Superstars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin could both become free agents and their title hopes are slim now because of the Golden State Warriors.
The trade scenario of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to the Bulls in exchange for Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo and Taj Gibson or Nikola Mirotic would make sense for both teams.
Trading Butler for Griffin would give the Bulls an inside presence and provide more balance in terms of position. Also, replacing Rondo with Paul will allow CP3 to play with his buddy Dwyane Wade and send Rajon Rondo back to the coach who brought out the best in him (Doc Rivers).
Paul and Griffin have higher trade value (even though they could be free agents) so the Bulls should send Taj Gibson and/or Nikola Mirotic to the Clippers as well.
For Blake and CP3, a new start in what is also a big city could convince them to sign long-term contracts. For the Clippers, Rivers could revive Rondo (if any coach can do it, it's him) and have Jimmy Butler, a star on a long-term contract to pair with DeAndre Jordan. They also get depth with Mirotic or Gibson.
It's an ambitious trade scenario, farfetched even, just like Durant to the Warriors or Wade leaving Miami. But the reasons are there.