Giannis Nets Bulls Lakers Brace For Summer Chaos

Merlin sees a summer already being sketched out. Brooklyn hoarded cap space and kept Michael Porter Jr., prompting the salary-cap crowd to ask "Now, why would they do that?" Chicago emptied veterans to create $30-plus million in flexibility, Golden State holds up to five future firsts, the Lakers could clear near $50 million if LeBron walks, and Milwaukee sits at an extension cliff with Giannis that will demand a bold move. These are not routine summers. Nets may be patient builders or sudden bidders for a superstar, the Bulls are a Molotov cocktail of draft and free-agent paths, and the Warriors and Lakers possess trade currency that can reshape conferences. The Bucks must act to keep Giannis or risk a seismic breakup. Merlin smells big trades on the horizon.