Could the Chicago Bulls actually make a compelling offer for Damian Lillard?
As the Portland Trail Blazers truly begin to hold trade talks regarding Damian Lillard, the arrival of non-Miami Heat teams continues to register possible interest in the perennial All-Star. One of the teams that has reportedly had some trade talks with the Blazers is the Chicago Bulls. It was at least a bit surprising to hear the Bulls come up as a team linked to Lillard but considering their desperation for a change, it would’ve been bad management if they didn’t at least explore the possibility.
I’m not sure if the Bulls are serious about an all-out pursuit but at least checking in to inquire about the asking price is just smart business.
Why the Chicago Bulls should pursue Damian Lillard
The Bulls may not emerge as a sensible landing spot for Lillard but this is somewhat of a blueprint move for a team that has been stuck in mediocrity for the past couple of seasons. The Bulls are not entering the season as a contender in the Eastern Conference and they clearly need to shake up their roster.
Making a move for a superstar-level talent would be exactly that. The big question for the Bulls is if acquiring Lillard would make them instantly better. Considering what they’d have to give up, I’m not sure it would. But that’s the biggest hurdle that the Bulls would have to clear internally.
Assuming that this pursuit is worth it, we break down the best potential trade package the Bulls can theoretically offer the Blazers for Lillard.
The Chicago Bulls would need to decide between Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan
It should be clear that if the Chicago Bulls truly want to pursue Damian Lillard, which we still don’t know how interested they’d be, a third team would be a necessity. The Bulls don’t have the necessary assets straight up to trade for Lillard. Bringing in a third team would allow the Bulls to send one of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to acquire additional assets that could be sent to Portland.
On paper, you’d imagine that deciding between LaVine and DeRozan could be quite complicated.
Though, considering that DeRozan and Lillard share the same agent, there’s a belief that the Bulls acquiring Lillard would mean that DeRozan is the player that remains with the team and secures a contract extension (DeRozan is entering the final season of his contract with the Bulls).
To a certain extent, that’s a bit surprising. Even though it’s understandable for the Bulls to want to make a splash before the start of the season, I’m not sure how much traction a “Big Three” of DeRozan, Lillard, and Nikola Vucevic is going to make in the Eastern Conference.
At least for now, all signs point to the Bulls looking to send LaVine out in an attempt to acquire more assets to offer Portland in a possible Lillard deal.
The best potential offer that the Chicago Bulls can offer the Portland Trail Blazers
The first thing we needed to clear up was deciding which teams would theoretically be interested in Zach LaVine. We decided to use the New York Knicks as somewhat of a placeholder in any potential three-team deal because they’re one of the teams that have expressed interest in him in the past.
Let’s start off with the obvious. In this deal, the Knicks would land LaVine and the Chicago Bulls would get Damian Lillard. The Portland Trail Blazers would get a solid haul and ultimately the two solid young players and four future first-round picks that they’re probably asking for. Specifically, the Blazers would get Quentin Grimes, Patrick Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Miles McBride, Evan Fournier, Dalen Terry, four future first-round picks, and two second-round picks.
Considering where the Blazers find themselves at the moment, I’d have to imagine that’s an offer they’d seriously think about accepting. It’s far from a certainty, but it’s a package that does theoretically check a lot of the boxes that the Blazers would be looking for in a possible return for Lillard.
I suppose the only two questions left to ask are if the Blazers would trade Lillard to a place he doesn’t want to be and whether the Bulls would actually make such an all-in offer for Lillard considering it would be a huge gamble.
Should the Chicago Bulls make an all-in pursuit of Damian Lillard?
For a second, let’s assume that the Portland Trail Blazers would be willing to send Damian Lillard to the Chicago Bulls, which is far from a certainty, and that a third team would arise to help facilitate a deal similar to the one we just blue-printed out. If all those pieces fall into place, is this a worthy gamble for the Bulls?
Should the Bulls be willing to put all their poker chips in the middle of the table to go all-in for Lillard? I’m not the Bulls’ general manager and I’m not sure what pressure he’s operating under, but I’d lean no. I don’t believe this is a worthy pursuit for the Bulls.
In the end, I simply believe that the risk outweighs the possible reward. What are the risks? Well, maybe Lillard doesn’t want to play in Chicago. What if he plays for a year or half a year and then demands a trade? What if the Bulls miss the playoffs or are essentially what the Blazers have been the last few seasons and Lillard says he doesn’t want any part of it anymore?
The Bulls essentially burned all their assets for a palyer that may not be completely sold on playing for Chicago for the next four years. On the other end of the spectrum, even in a best-case scenario, the Bulls are the fourth or fifth-best team in the East?
Chicago absolutely needs to shake up their roster, but I’m simply not sure an all-in pursuit of Lillard is the right path forward.