After Jake Fischer reported on Friday that the Bulls are open to discussing the “majority of their roster” in trade talks this season, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (Insider link) confirms that rival teams are viewing Chicago as a probable in-season seller. Those rivals believe the Bulls will likely want to take steps to ensure they finish among the NBA’s bottom 10 teams and hang onto their top-10 protected first-round pick.
Still, there’s some skepticism about just how much value Chicago will be able to extract in return for the players believed to be trade candidates, such as Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
“It makes sense for them to trade a veteran, especially if it opens more playing time for rookie (Matas Buzelis)” an executive told ESPN. “But who are they trading that would make a difference? They’ve been trying to move LaVine for more than a year but there’s been no good market. They want to keep (Coby) White, and Vucevic is on the books for $21 million next year.”
Here’s more out of Chicago:
- Rival teams are also monitoring the Bulls’ usage of Josh Giddey, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Insider link), who says opposing scouts and executives have “noted” Giddey’s recent dip in playing time. Giddey, who will be a restricted free agent in 2025, has started all 21 games for the Bulls so far this season, but has played more than 26 minutes just twice in his past nine games, and his on/off-court numbers haven’t been great, as Bontemps notes. Even after Giddey was a +14 in 24 minutes on Friday, the Bulls have a -7.3 net rating in his 565 minutes this season, compared to a -2.9 mark in the 443 minutes he hasn’t played.
- As Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune observes, Giddey was replaced by Lonzo Ball in the Bulls’ closing lineup on Friday vs. Boston for defensive reasons. Giddey didn’t play the final 8:43 of the loss, while Ball surpassed his anticipated 16-minute limit midway through the fourth quarter and logged a season-high 21:40. Head coach Billy Donovan consulted with both Ball and the Bulls’ medical team before making that decision, Poe writes.
- Donovan raved after the game about Ball’s ability to impact a game even when his shot isn’t falling, as Kyle Williams of The Chicago Sun-Times relays. “The steals, the disruption, the hands, knocking down his first couple threes,” Donovan said. “Even if he missed those two shots, he still had a huge impact on the game.” The Bulls’ head coach added that reintegrating Ball into a crowded backcourt rotation hasn’t been an issue, since his players – including Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu – have been positive about the adjustments to their roles. “The unselfishness part of all the guards has been really key,” Donovan said. “I think Lonzo having that stint of 15 or 16 minutes, getting him out there, the team is excited for him. What makes it easier for me is the way those guys have handled it. It’s never been like, ‘Hey, I’m the point guard.’ They’ve all been willing to give up something for the betterment of each other.”
- A win over the Celtics on Friday would’ve secured the Bulls’ spot in the NBA Cup knockout round. Instead, they’ve been eliminated from contention, having finished the group stage with a 2-2 record. The Hawks (3-1) won Chicago’s group (East Group C) and earned a place in the quarterfinals.
I feel like the front office is going to panic next summer and resign Giddey (no matter how he performs the rest of the season) just because they don’t want to be empty-handed from the Caruso trade after one year
But on draft night, the ESPN panel said that he was freakily athletic could see the whole floor, a great shooter and could jump out of the gym. Someone lied.
Lavine and Craig to Memphis for Smart Clarke Konchar and Memphis 1st in 2025. Trade is cap compliant
Memphis need a Dillon Brooks/Alex Caruso type way more than a guy like Zach.
Is LaVine the new Bradley Beal, and if so is the best option just to grab some 2nd rounders, get some high lottery picks from losing, and free up some playing time? If I were the Bulls, I wouldn’t spend too much time worrying about the return on that contract.
no one wants his money on their books. He’s way overpaid.
Vooch (SC), Zo (UCLA) & Julian Phillips to LAL for Vincent, JVando, Max Christie, Hood-Schifino & a future 2nd… Bulls lose their big but get a guy in Vanderbilt that fits their fast pace style better. They also get a young guy in Hood-Schifino that hasn’t been given a proper shot yet & a long/skilled wing in Christie.
Vooch gives the Lakers a weapon they haven’t had alongside Bron/AD yet. They also add a playmaking guard in Lonzo. Losing Max Christie isn’t great but JPhillips might be an even better fit for the Lakers. And getting a starter level scoring 5 like Vooch without giving up a future 1st would be pretty nice. They’d still have the ability to upgrade further by packaging D’Lo & a couple of future 1sts.
. Vincent, christie, hood, and Vando. have no value at all with future money against the cap in the future. So why would Bulls trade their best trade asset for over paid players? You got to trade something of value to get back value. Just to let you know D’Lo has no value too just a money add for a expiring contract.
Why is this NBA Cup being forced on the NBA fan as ‘something’ when it is meaningless ?! It’s absurd.
Its them trying to clone the FA cup without any of the fun. It just doesnt work when you cant have teams from low down tiers able to knock out Premier teams. It would be funner as a tournament with the G and top college or international teams, but then the games couldnt count and I think the “other” teams wouldnt be nearly as competitive.
The players seem to be taking it seriously. Good to have a spark this time of the season
Bulls fans were recently saying they scammed the Thunder with the Caruso for Giddey trade.
Looks like neither side won the trade. (And comparing stats of a starter to a role bench player doesn’t mean you won the trade either.)
Thunder won the trade. Caruso is under contract. What is Giddy’s value. Ball is the PG you win with!
Giddey is the PG for next 10yrs.
Caruso could be going to three Finals next 4-5 yrs.
I love Giddey. Two teams on different time lines.
2 teams near the bottom of the east who thought they might be doing better than they are (an no not Philly)
What about
Vuce and Pat Will for Kuzma and Valanciunas
Washington get a more offensive minded big in Vuce who would pair nicely with Alex Sarr who brings the defence. Vuce could help Alex develop offensively which is the area of his game which needs the most work.
You give up Kuzma who offers a lot offensively but lacks consistency on defence while adding Pat Will who offers more on defence and can happily slide from starter to bench player and play either forward spot.
Having a 3-4-5 of Coulibaly, Pat Will, Sarr and Vuce just covers all your bases and gives a lot more room for development.
As for Chicago, I think they are thinking less about developing and more about results and Kuzma offers more in that regard that Vuce. Jonas is basically there for board and rim protection while you’ve now got so much attacking options on the perimeter with White Giddey LaVine and Kuz. I also think it gives more opportunity for Buzelis who could pair nicely with Kuz and Jonas.
After that, I know I might before criticised but I’d look into trading Giddey because he’s on a 1 year deal and resigning him won’t be cheap.
White and LaVine can be your guards with Ayo a solid enough back up option.
Giddey for Mark Williams and Nick Smith Jr
Now this is more about developing and contracts but it’s also adding depth.
Mark is a solid young centre and between him and Jonas would be set at centre. Then Nick just provides more of a young guard option with shooting upside, but in need of a lot of developing.
White LaVine Buzelis Kuzma Jonas
Carter Ayo Craig Smith Williams
Smith Phillips and Terry