The Chicago Bulls executive office will never be able to deny the fact that this team is failing, no matter how hard they try. Chicago might be good enough to advance to the first round of the playoffs and even the NBA Play-In Tournament.
But for this Bulls club, it will be as good as it gets. It’s time for a significant overhaul, and Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey has come up with one bold trade proposal that might get them back on the right track.
Take out as many draft selections as you can
The Bulls boast a plethora of veterans and All-Stars with enough quality on paper to boost Chicago’s stature. Though chemistry has frequently been a problem for the “Big 3” of Zach LaVine, Nikola Vuc
evic, and DeMar DeRozan, the analytics show a different picture.“The team is a terrible minus-2.8 points per 100 possessions when all three are on the floor in the two plus seasons DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Zach LaVine have all been together,” Bailey wrote.
The Bulls’ decision-makers need to see that the writing is on the wall and act now to close a transaction that will transform the team’s future.
In this hypothetical trade involving the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, and New York Knicks, Chicago would give up guard D’Angelo Russell, a lottery-protected 2026 first-round pick from New York, a 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles, and a top-10 protected 2029 first-round pick from Atlanta. In exchange, Chicago would also lose Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Andre Drummond, and Torrey Craig.
For a long time, supporters and analysts have urged the Bulls to abandon their plan to acquire elderly players in the hopes of making a postseason run. But that approach has never worked out and has only brought to disappointment and mediocrity.
It’s obvious that adjustments are needed given that the squad is presently ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, this proposed trade might serve as the impetus for a much-needed reset.
They must divide up that trio if they can obtain any form of draft capital. The problem is that Caruso is arguably the most likely source of any draft financing. The Knicks are hooked in because L.A. might not have enough tradable picks to work out a simpler trade.