The Bulls remain unlikely to trade away one of their “Big Three” in the next few days, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. The front office is committed to seeing how the current group will finish out the season, despite a relatively disappointing 26-28 record thus far.
Part of the reason for that is the Bulls owe their 2023 first-round pick (top-four protected) to the Magic, so even if they bottomed out for the rest of 2022/23, they’d likely just be sending a better pick to Orlando unless they had some major lottery luck. They also haven’t received any “substantive, serious offers” for DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine or Nikola Vucevic, a source tells Johnson.
Vucevic theoretically would be the most likely trade candidate, as he’s on an expiring contract. But Johnson says Chicago is confident it can re-sign the veteran center, who is averaging 17.8 PPG, 11.2 RPG and 3.4 APG on .524/.359/.833 shooting through 53 games (33.8 MPG).
Here’s more from Chicago:
- DeRozan was sidelined for Tuesday’s game in Memphis due to a hip injury, as Bulls radio play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky relays (via Twitter). Alex Caruso, who had missed the previous two games with a sprained foot, took DeRozan’s place in the starting lineup. DeRozan missed three games last month with hip soreness, so it’s not a new issue.
- Head coach Billy Donovan says VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas takes a big-picture approach to evaluating the Bulls, writes Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “I don’t think that he would isolate eight or 10 games and not look at — like, I think Arturas, quite honestly, he’s looking at it from the All-Star break last year. Where I think we were, I don’t know, maybe tied for first or second going into the break. And then looking at the break from there. … So I think he’ll look and evaluate our team from after the All-Star break all the way through this,” he said.
- Donovan also gave an update on Javonte Green, Mayberry adds. Green has been slow to recover from last month’s arthroscopic knee surgery. “He’s not running right now. He’s biking,” Donovan said. “He can do stationary shooting, but they haven’t done anything dynamically with him, lateral or straight-ahead running or any of that stuff. But he continues to progress. The All-Star break coming up will be another important period for him, that week. But he’s getting closer and closer to doing more.” When asked if Green was behind schedule, Donovan said that wasn’t the case. “From everything that I’ve heard, at least at this point, he is on schedule,” Donovan said, per Mayberry. “I haven’t heard of any setbacks or anything like that. … It’s a little bit of time before he comes back.”
- Andre Drummond is one player who could be on the trading block. He’s earning $3.2MM in 2022/23 and has a $3.36MM player option for ’23/24. The veteran center has been in and out of Donovan’s rotation this season, but he had a big game in Monday’s victory over San Antonio, posting 21 points (on 9-of-9 shooting), 15 rebounds and three steals in just 21 minutes, notes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “It says a lot about him. It just shows how truly professional he is,” Vucevic said. “When you’re not playing in the rotation, sometimes it’s hard to stay focused and stay locked in. He’s been doing that this whole season, working before and after practice, extra work just to make sure to stay in shape. He played a huge role for us.”
Ayton, crowder, shamet for DeRozan, vucevic. Bulls can include another team for crowder and shamet and at least walk away with a solid young piece and some draft picks. They aren’t a good team as it is so might as well tear it down
Suns can toss some picks in there as well if needed
Bulls should trade away Zach and leave the team to the youth. He can be a black hole at times. Hardly ever is he helpful on D, and he can crater offensive momentum with his quick 3s. He seldom steps up to the moment. Tonight, for example, he was 7/14 in FTs at one point in a temporarily tight game.
Keeping it one hundred. Nice!
Unfortunately for the Bulls the rest of the NBA GMs know this already. Plus injuries and an albatross contract. He will be very hard to trade for good value.
Yeah I was really hoping we could nove Lavine for anyone, guys not even worth half of what we’re paying him now
If the Bulls can find a way to dump Lonzo, jump at that. Maybe the Hornets to get both Balls in-house?
LaVine need to go along with Vooch!
If the Nets or Knicks want LaVine make a package deal and move him and send Vooch to L.A. and let see what the kids can do with the help of AC, DD and AD!
Why are knee injuries taking so long to heal in Chicago?
Good question. It hardly ever happens like that anywhere else in the league. But Chicago has had enough of bad memories with knee injuries.
Bulls flat out stink. If there ever was a team to blow up this is it. I mean Caruso’s worth 2 first rounders. Just imagine what LaVine, Vucevic and DeRozan are worth. 10? 12? 20 first rounders?
AC has more value in my opinion than LaVine.
An exaggeration of number of picks, but I get your point. Trading Zach, demar and Vooch would bring back a nice haul of picks or players.
Bulls “big 3” I spit out my coffee lol
Well, I appreciate that they appear committed with continuity to their core. That said, the bench is much more fluid, ot at least should be. Especially as rotations tighten heading towards the playoffs. Guys like Drummond. Caruso. White.They should be gone tomorrow, if only to restore your draft capital ahead of next season. Not fully exploring trade possibilities for them is just… odd.