Hawks-Bulls play-in could go a long way in changing NBA landscape

When the Bulls play the Hawks in their play-in matchup, it’ll be a pillow fight of futility between teams that belong in the offseason but didn’t get the memo.

One mercifully will be sent to a rightful grave, while the other gets one more opportunity to eventually be swept by the Celtics.

In the scope of the season, it’s a blip on the map. But the Hawks and Bulls could reshape the future look of the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls regretted the Zach LaVine max contract before the ink dried on the paper. They can never admit that publicly because, for the time being, there’s a good chance they can’t move LaVine and have to play nice with him and also try to stay in the good graces of his agency, Klutch Sports.

The Hawks have a similar problem with Trae Young — a lot of money going out but not much winning coming in.

While their games and skills are different, Young and LaVine have one major trait in common: They don’t impact winning.

Life with or without them is pretty much the same.

In the 56 games the Bulls have played without LaVine this season, they’re 29-27. In the 23 games Young missed after having finger surgery, the Hawks went 12-11.

They’re players who don’t move the needle but wreak havoc on the salary cap.

The Sun-Times and other outlets have reported that moving LaVine will remain a high priority this offseason for the Bulls. The Hawks, meanwhile, are rumored to be looking to shake up their backcourt by trading Young or Dejounte Murray.

If it’s Young, things can get interesting.

Because of the new collective-bargaining agreement kicking in, trading a max contract will become a lot more difficult. It will almost have to be “my headache for your headache.”

LaVine will make $43 million next season and $46 million in 2025-26 and has the player option for the final year at just under $49 million. Young’s deal is all but identical.

Swapping the two would give the Bulls more three-point shooting — they’re 26th in the league in three-point attempts — while LaVine would allow Murray to be the one true point guard and give the Hawks a more traditional shooting guard.

Simple and clean.

Well, the Bulls and Hawks aren’t the only teams to watch as far as possible shakeups.

Enter the Cavaliers and Donovan Mitchell.

The five-time All-Star has one year left on his deal, then has a player option for $37 million in 2025-26. The talk out of Cleveland this season has been if Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension this summer, the Cavaliers could be looking to move him.

What would keep Mitchell around? An impressive postseason run by a Cavs team that has been treading water for months.

If the Cavs suffer an early playoff exit, would that seal Mitchell’s fate? It’s a good possibility. And in markets such as Cleveland, Atlanta and — as much as the Bulls don’t want to admit it — Chicago, the only way to acquire big-name players these days is through trades.

Elite free agents still aren’t making those three cities destination spots.

So, yes, Hawks-Bulls is a meaningless game as far as the postseason but not when it comes to the offseason.