The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers have a history of limited trade activity with each other. Throughout their franchise histories, the two teams have only completed seven trades together, with the most recent one occurring in 2016. In that trade, the Bulls sent Jose Calderon, a 2018 second-round pick, and a 2019 second-round pick to the Lakers in exchange for Ater Majok.
The lack of trades between these two teams raises the question of why they do not often conduct business with each other. While there is no definitive answer, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has suggested that Chicago’s ownership may be hesitant to help LeBron James, given the ongoing debate over who is the greatest of all time (GOAT) between him and Michael Jordan.
Pincus shared his thoughts on this topic during a recent episode of the “Buha’s Block” podcast with Jovan Buha of The Athletic. He noted that the transaction history between the Lakers and Bulls shows a trend of limited trade activity between the two teams, especially when it comes to helping LeBron James. Some speculate that the Bulls’ reluctance to make trades with the Lakers could be attributed to their desire to protect Michael Jordan’s legacy and limit any potential impact LeBron James has on it. While this sentiment may come across as petty to some, others may see it as a strategic move aimed at preserving the legacy of one of the greatest players in NBA history.