The Chicago Bulls are the sleeping giant in the NBA. The fans are some of the most passionate of the league and are just desperate to become relevant again. They are top 3 in social media followers (per WSN) and Bulls twitter is always fun. The problem, they have not been a title contender since 2012 when Derrick Rose tore his ACL and made the playoffs since 2017, when they snuck in as an 8 seed. How can the Bulls become relevant again? How do they become a legit threat to win the eastern conference again? The NBA is more fun when the Bulls are good because the fans are so passionate. New President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas and Head Coach Billy Donavan look to take Chicago from the barrel of the Eastern Conference to an Eastern Conference powerhouse.
On June 22, 2017, the Bulls traded Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Zach Lavine, Lauri Markkanen, and Kris Dunn. Zach LaVine is a first time All-Star this season. He is averaging 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on 52% from the field and 44% from 3 point range. Those are massive numbers. But the Bulls are just 15-17, and have not made the playoffs since trading Butler. LaVine is a beast on the offensive end. It is the other end where he is not so good. It’s the other end where Butler is so good. It is the fact that Butler just led a team, the Miami Heat, to the NBA Finals. LaVine is an incredible player, Markkanen is solid but a free agent to be, and I am not sure Chicago is gonna bring him back, and Dunn is an Atlanta Hawk. The Jimmy Butler for Zach LaVine Trade will be debated for a long time, and it is one I think Chicago regrets it (the trade did not work for Minnesota either but that is a whole different story). Now Chicago has to ask themselves a question: are they better with Zach LaVine on their team? He is a free agent after next season and will demand a big contract. Is he worth that big contract or is it time to start over again? If the Bulls did decide to trade him they could get a lot. Let’s look at some possibilities.
There would be a lot of teams interested in a guy who has averaged 28.7 points on 52% from the field and 44% from 3 point range this season and is an all-star. The Bulls could collect draft picks and young players in a deal for LaVine. The Knicks would have a good offer. They own all of their picks along with some extra picks from Dallas. Two teams that have a lot of future picks are the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder. I don’t think it makes a lot of sense for New Orleans as the struggle on defense already. The Thunder makes more sense. Are they entering a long rebuild maybe but with the presence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on their roster I am not sure that is the best idea. LaVine would form a scary backcourt that would give teams fits every night. They have players like Al Horford who could also stay on the roster and maybe fight for an 8th seed next year. Maybe a contender decides to jump in. The Denver Nuggets are really good but might not think they are good enough and decide they want to pair Jamal Murray with LaVine. I think every pick and every player except Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. would be on the table. Chicago has a difficult decision to make on LaVine. However, he is not the only one. The Bulls have a bevy of young talent that teams might be interested in.
From 2017 to 2019 the Bulls drafted in the 6-10 range all 3 years. They drafted Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., and Coby White. The 3 players are solid NBA pros but nothing special. Markkanen is a restricted free agent to be so the Bulls have a decision to make on him. Carter is extension eligible this summer so they have a decision to make there. And I am not so sure Coby White is an NBA point guard which means he doesn’t mesh with LaVine well but they have some time to dwell on that one. But Chicago should start to look at Markkanen deals now. What they could get for Markkanen is questionable but maybe they could get a late first round pick along with the future cap relief. I am not a Lauri Markkanen fan but there are definitely teams around the league that could take him on for the future and would give him a big contract that the Bulls would not match. Wendell Carter is a player I like and would like to keep on my team but it would need to come at a fair price that I am not mortgaging all of my future for. You could get more for Carter since he is not on an expiring contract but if I was Chicago I would want to stick this one out. Coby White is a solid player who can flat out score. However, his passing leaves a lot to be desired. He is a quality guard but I do not see him as a point guard so the Bulls might have to choose between him and LaVine and you might think that seems easy but would you rather a good 1 guard and White, and average 1 guard and LaVine, or sticking it out with this backcourt? I think Chicago will stick it out with this backcourt through next season and I believe that is the right decision. I was a big White fan when he came out of North Carolina and still think he can figure out the point guard position in this league.
The Bulls new front office has a lot of tough decisions to make on a lot of talented players. I really like the potential of rookie Patrick Williams and believe he is the exact player that you need to be successful in the modern day NBA. So maybe the focus on getting more long athletic wings who can handle the ball and shoot, they do not come cheap however. One thing I do not think Chicago will (or should) do is stick it out with this core. I believe Artūras Karnišovas will continue to change the roster and hopefully build a winner in Chicago, because the NBA is more fun when the Bulls are good.
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