NBA Trade Rumors: Inching closer to the trade deadline, we explore the four best trade assets the Chicago Bulls have on their roster.
It’s official. The 2023-24 Chicago Bulls are a complete disaster. More like a dumpster fire.
There was a players-only meeting in the locker room following the Bulls' first game of the season. This was coming off a team-building trip to Nashville during training camp.
Those team-building activities must have been THAT helpful.
There were comments from what Bulls fans now refer to as “the mid-three” on X, formerly Twitter. It’s a shot at a “big-three” moniker placed on Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic. All three had commented that the Bulls “need to figure it out” knowing it was their last chance to play together.
There is the lackluster 5-13 start the Bulls have gotten off to start this season. Chicago’s slow start includes a 1-3 record in games decided by two points or less. They started a recent game against the Miami Heat with a 22-1 deficit.
Bulls Executive President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnišovas and General Manager Marc Eversley decided to run it back this season with essentially the same roster. Said roster is built around LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic. They also re-signed Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Andre Drummond.
And yet with everything at stake, this Bulls team STILL came out flat to start the season. This roster on paper should be better. They can’t keep up with the top teams in the East – the Celtics, Bucks, and 76ers. In fact, they can’t even keep up with the Orlando Magic!
I thought they could compete for a top-6 playoff spot. I was wrong. Very wrong.
There is no excitement whatsoever in Chicago for the Bulls. The fanbase is fed up. Changes are coming, at least they better be. December 15th is a date to keep an eye on. That’s the first date that NBA teams can trade players who were signed that previous offseason.
In the case of the Bulls that means Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Andre Drummond, Jevon Carter, and Torrey Craig on or after that date.
Teams around the NBA are keeping an eye on the Bulls’ situation. Christmas could come early for them if they decide to play “let’s make a deal” with the Bulls. Here are the four best trade assets the Chicago Bulls currently possess.
Chicago Bulls' best trade assets: 4. Nikola Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic is a two-time NBA All-Star who is one of the league’s better rebounders. He’s capable of getting you 20 and 10 every night. Vucevic has a solid-post game and can hit an outside shot. That’s a skill set that most teams would love to acquire to play today’s brand of NBA basketball.
Vucevic can be a decent defender when he wants to be. To be fair, he has often been left needing to switch on a player that perimeter teammates like LaVine, DeRozan, and White let blow past them.
He’s not a shot-blocking threat either. Instead of being referred to as a rim protector, he’s been called a “rim presenter.” Despite this, Vucevic owns the 147th-highest career Defensive Win Shares in NBA history. That provides some value, right?
The Bulls re-signed Vucevic to a 3-year, $60 million dollar deal this offseason. Who they were bidding against was anyone’s guess. Still, it’s not a terrible deal in today’s NBA. Vucevic is now 33 years old and isn’t showing signs of slowing down. He could provide a lift to a team needing a skilled big.
There should be a few teams eager to acquire Vucevic’s services, especially in the West.
The Grizzlies have a hole at center with the injury to Steven Adams. Vucevic could possibly fit in with the Lakers since Anthony Davis prefers to play as a 4 anyway. The Mavericks could pair Vucevic as a pick-and-pop partner to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Warriors are always a threat to do a deal as well.
Karnišovas and Eversley likely won’t get a first-round pick back in any Vucevic trade which is ironic since they sent two first-rounders to Orlando to get him. Orlando took Jett Howard and Franz Wagner with said picks. Still, the Bulls should be able to get something of value in return for Vucevic.
Chicago Bulls' best trade assets: 3. DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan has been a great pickup for the Bulls. He appeared to be on the decline in San Antonio but then posted a career-high 27.9 points per game average in his first season in Chicago. DeRozan has also been selected as an NBA All-Star in both of his seasons as a Bull.
What DeMar DeRozan has brought to Chicago is a sense of professionalism and leadership. He has been “the king of the fourth” for the Bulls since his arrival. DeRozan is who Billy Donovan relies on to make big shots late in games. He’s shown that he can still be that guy, even at 34 years old.
The Bulls have reportedly been in negotiations with DeRozan’s camp on a possible contract extension. Apparently, both sides are far apart in getting a deal done. Could the Bulls let DeRozan walk for nothing at season’s end? Perhaps. Likely not though.
If the Bulls trade DeRozan, they should move him to a contender. He’s on an expiring contract so the return for the USC alum could simply be a salary match. Young players and draft picks would be nice, but it’s doubtful that another team would give up assets of significance for a “rental.”
A young team looking to make a playoff run like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Orlando Magic could be interested in DeRozan. They have an abundance of capital to trade with. Other playoff teams like the Sacramento Kings and the New York Knicks could use a closer.
I would keep an eye on the Lakers dealing for DeRozan. He’s from nearby Compton and nearly signed with the Purple and Gold back in 2021. He could be the third star the Lakers need to make a deep playoff run in 2024.
Chicago Bulls' best trade assets: 2. Alex Caruso
Alex Caruso is arguably the most sought-after player on the Bulls roster. So why is he number two on this list? More on that in a minute.
Caruso’s trade value has never been higher. He is averaging a career-high 10.0 points per game. That’s being driven by his career-best 56.3% shooting including 48% from three-point range. The numbers on the back of Caruso’s basketball card only begin to share his value.
Caruso is one of the NBA’s top defensive players. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team First Team last season. This was despite only starting 36 games for the Bulls and playing an average of 23.5 minutes per game. He’s THAT good on the defensive end.
For those into advanced statistics, Caruso is currently 6th in the NBA in Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) this season. You could also just ask Kevin Durant how good Alex Caruso defends. KD sang Caruso’s praises after the two were matched earlier this season in Chicago.
Most importantly of all, Alex Caruso is a winning player. He’s a “glue guy” who makes hustle plays and sacrifices his game for the team’s success. I personally don’t want to see Alex Caruso get traded as a Bulls fan, but this team is going nowhere fast. He deserves to play for a contender.
Which teams would Alex Caruso fit with? Every basketball team in every league on Planet Earth.
Any contending team would benefit from adding Alex Caruso to their roster. The Milwaukee Bucks are struggling defensively on the perimeter and need to add a player like Caruso. AC’s game screams Miami Heat culture. The defending champion Denver Nuggets lack depth and Caruso would be a fit there too.
The Lakers are rumored to be interested in everyone, but a reunion with Alex Caruso would make sense for them. He won a championship there. I’m sure LeBron would love to have Caruso back in L.A.
What could the Bulls get back for Caruso? Probably not much. He “only” makes about $9.5 million and likely won’t provide a return of immense value since teams need to match salaries in NBA trades. If I’m Karnišovas and Eversley I don’t trade Alex Caruso unless I’m getting back a first-round pick in the deal.
For a front office that is apparently allergic to keeping first-round picks and hasn’t used them well when they have had them, getting a pick back in a package for Caruso would be huge.
Chicago Bulls' best trade assets: 1. Zach LaVine
LaVine is both the most talented player on this Bulls roster and its most polarizing.
On one hand, he’s one of the most athletic and gifted offensive players in the NBA. LaVine can take his man off the dribble and get to the basket whenever he wants. He shoots a high percentage from three-point range and can create his own shot. LaVine can score in bunches and often makes it look easy.
On the other hand, his shot selection is often questionable – especially in clutch situations. When was the last time you saw LaVine hit a big shot for the Bulls late in games? He’s also both a below-average defender and a poor team defender. LaVine often has defensive lapses and opponents target his man to gain an advantage.
In other words, Zach LaVine is an extraordinary talent, but not a winning player. And this is coming from a guy who had been a long-time defender of LaVine.
That has long been the main criticism of LaVine. He’s had chances to grow in Chicago and be the alpha. He’s had chances to show that he’s a winning player. Now both the Bulls and LaVine may be looking to move on.
The two-time All-Star is the Bulls’ best top trade asset. LaVine is 28 years old and is under contract for three more years after this season. Any team trading for him will be getting one of the league’s most talented players during his prime.
There’s also the fact that LaVine’s salary is about $40 million per year. The Bulls should be able to get value in return for him. That could include young players, picks, and/or expiring contracts.
LaVine is not a number one guy. He could thrive on a contender as a number two or three scoring option. LaVine has been linked to the Knicks and Sixers in the past. He could still be a fit for either. The Lakers would be scary offensively with a “Big Three” of LeBron, AD, and LaVine.
The Kings could put together the best trade package for Zach LaVine. He could be the athletic wing they need to take them to the next level of contenders in the West. My dark horse destination for LaVine is the San Antonio Spurs. They may not be a contender, but they have Gregg Popovich.
“Pop” coached LaVine during the Tokyo Olympic Games. He isn’t the winning type of player Popovich usually prefers, but the Hall-of-Fame coach can get the most out of him. Plus, San Antonio is looking to build around rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs have young players and picks that could be attractive to the Bulls’ front office.
These Chicago Bulls are a mess and are in desperate need of a roster reset. Trading these four guys is a start, but this front office won’t likely get top-tier value in return. A long rebuild is on the horizon.
Buckle up Bulls fans. It will be another long winter in Chicago.