NBA Trade Verdict

Cavaliers Win

Chicago received Andrew Bynum, first round pick (protected top 14 in 2012, top 13 in 2013, top 12 in 2014, top 10 in 2015-17, else 2017 second round pick (protected #56-60)) (2017 #38-Jordan Bell), Bulls conditional option to swap 2015 first round picks with Cavaliers (if Cavaliers pick is not a lottery pick) (not exercised), plus 2 additional assets for Luol Deng, Bulls conditional option to swap 2015 first round picks with Cavaliers (if Cavaliers pick is not a lottery pick) (not exercised), but the other team generated modestly stronger realized value.

January 6, 2014 Chicago Bulls / Cleveland Cavaliers Record confidence: High

Chicago Bulls Received

  • Player Andrew Bynum
  • Draft Pick first round pick (protected top 14 in 2012, top 13 in 2013, top 12 in 2014, top 10 in 2015-17, else 2017 second round pick (protected #56-60)) (2017 #38-Jordan Bell)
  • Draft Swap Bulls conditional option to swap 2015 first round picks with Cavaliers (if Cavaliers pick is not a lottery pick) (not exercised)
  • Draft Pick 2015 second round pick (#53-Dom Pointer)
  • Draft Pick 2016 second round pick (#48-Paul Zipser)

Cleveland Cavaliers Received

  • Player Luol Deng
  • Draft Swap Bulls conditional option to swap 2015 first round picks with Cavaliers (if Cavaliers pick is not a lottery pick) (not exercised)

Trade Analysis

Cleveland received the stronger realized basketball return from Luol Deng, while Chicago's Andrew Bynum salary dump and eventual Jordan Bell pick produced limited on-court value. The Cavaliers' B grade versus Chicago's C+ creates a two-step gap, supporting a Cavaliers Win while still acknowledging Chicago's understandable cap rationale.