Though the Bulls’ season isn’t quite ended, it’s not too soon to consider roster adjustments. There might be a chance to add someone significant to the roster soon.
According to a recent rumor by NBA Insider Marc Stein, Donovan Mitchell might be traded this offseason. It’s said that Cleveland and Mitchell’s contract negotiations are at a standstill.
Mitchell has a player option that expires in the 2025–2026 season and is presently in the third year of a five-year, $163 million contract. In 2026, he will be a free agent without restrictions.
According to Marc Stein:
Rival clubs are beginning to believe that the Cavaliers may have to trade Mitchell in the upcoming months if they are unable to reach an agreement with him on an extension, as Mitchell will enter the final guaranteed year of his current contract next season if there isn’t one.
For the Bulls, the 2023–2024 season has been the epitome of disappointment. Throughout the season, a deluge of injuries kept the club from being consistent. For the Bulls, adding a top guard like Mitchell would be extremely beneficial. Mitchell might provide the young Bulls core some offensive stability.
It won’t be inexpensive for the Bulls to get Donovan Mitchell.
In his brief tenure with the Cavaliers, Mitchell has excelled. Mitchell is averaging 26.5 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game in his second season with the Cavaliers.
He is the offensive coordinator and has been essential to the Cavaliers’ post-LeBron comeback.
Mitchell has too much worth to be allowed to walk, therefore Cleveland will do everything in its might to keep him, but if they are unable, they will trade him.
The Bulls enter the picture now. What will the Bulls need to offer if Donovan Mitchell does reach the trade block as the rumor indicates?
Since the Bulls aren’t particularly wealthy in the draft, players would probably receive the most of the compensation in a trade with Cleveland. In a deal for Donovan Mitchell, players like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic may slot in nicely.
Young players like Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White should ideally be kept on the team. Both of them have made significant progress in the 2023–2024 season. Those two will probably be the focal points of Bulls basketball in the future.
In the event that Mitchell is dealt, the return won’t be that high. This is a result of Mitchell’s contractual arrangement. Trading for Mitchell is a rental because he is in the final year of his contract. Unless the team that signs him intends to give Mitchell a long-term contract extension.
A four-year contract deal worth up to $200 million could be available to Donovan Mitchell under the terms of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. A maximum contract is not to be laughed at. A team should only sign a player to a maximum contract if it is very certain that the player will fit in with the team. Mitchell is among those players, but that is a huge contract; a max contract is a max contract.
Concluding remarks
The Chicago Bulls would benefit greatly from adding Donovan Mitchell. It would be great if the team could acquire him without having to sell the farm.
It would also be most sensible to sign Mitchell to an extension right away after the deal. In this manner, the group could guarantee that he would remain for a minimum of four years.
And lastly, is Donovan Mitchell truly necessary for the Bulls?
No, provided that Coby and Ayo keep growing. The two have the potential to become a deadly backcourt and have already showed glimpses of doing so. It would be wiser for the Bulls to consider bolstering their center and forward positions. The Bulls’ strength is their guard play, particularly if Lonzo Ball can get back to full health.