Grade the Mock Trade: Spurs take gamble on guard for long-term payoff

Laying Out The Trade

The details of the hypothetical trade in question are straightforward. San Antonio would reunite Doug McDermott with the Bulls in exchange for Lonzo Ball and a future second-round pick. While this move would be a relatively risky proposition for the Spurs, it has the potential to pay dividends for everyone involved.

Doug McDermott is one of the best marksmen in the NBA, and he was crucial in creating functional spacing for a team that ranked 26th in three-point percentage last season. No one can replicate his blend of elite off-ball movement and extraordinary balance running around screens to manufacture wide-open looks from beyond the arc. However, his porous man-to-man defense often negated the impact he made on the offensive end.

Shipping McDermott to Chicago means the Spurs lose their most versatile shooter, but the additions of Reggie Bullock and Cedi Osman should make his absence palatable. The veteran forwards made a respectable 37.7% of their combined 709 three-point attempts last season, and they can drain shots sprinting in transition, relocating to the corner, and spotting up above the break. Bullock also offers a massive upgrade as an effective perimeter defender.