The Chicago Bulls, much like many teams, find themselves on the verge of a rebuild. After a monumentally poor end to their last roster overhaul, the Bulls will be in a position to restructure the team to acquire the necessary assets to be competitive again.
The Bulls effectively started going in a different direction the moment they opted to trade Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings. While this freed up a lot of cap space, it left them effectively lacking in the star department. This created the opportunity for a young and talented forward in Matas Buzelis to take his place as part of the team's core for the future.
The Bulls are a proud franchise with a rich history. Languishing in 10th place in the Eastern Conference is not befitting such a storied franchise. With this in mind, we take a look at some key moves the organization should consider making to jumpstart the rebuild process and effectively transform the roster.
Coby White Goes Over To The 76ers
One of the first moves that the Bulls will have to make in the offseason may also be their hardest one. Trading Coby White doesn't bring any special joy to the team. White has been one of the team's most significant players and has given them some great performances over the years. But this is coincidentally why the Chicago Bulls need to leverage their asset.
White is a solid combo guard. Having made gradual improvements with each season, the Bulls guard recorded an average of 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game on 45.3% FG in the regular season.
White's ability to create his shot and be a reliable threat from three-point range made him an immensely valuable piece in Chicago's system. This kind of value is exactly what will help the Bulls bring in more assets to retool for the future.
Proposed Trade Details:
Chicago Bulls Receive: Kelly Oubre Jr., 2028 First-Round Pick (via Clippers), 2029 First-Round Pick
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Coby White
The acquisition of Kelly Oubre Jr. doesn't push the needle in any way. As an expiring contract, the Bulls can simply keep him till he becomes a free agent in the following season to create more cap space.
The real benefit is gaining two first-round picks in this process. With a timeline for roughly 3-4 years, Chicago finds itself in a position to start constructing their roster with these assets.
Meanwhile, the Bulls may also find some solace by finding a replacement for White in this year's draft. With the 12th pick, Chicago is expected to select Jase Richardson, a reliable combo guard with two-way potential. Developing him may aid the Bulls' rebuild as well.
The Bulls Need To Send Nikola Vucevic To The Pelicans
A deal involving Nikola Vucevic is bound to be an intriguing one. The Bulls' big man was, at one point, considered one of the most reliable big men in the league. Unfortunately, over the last few seasons, Vucevic has fallen off quite dramatically.
Vucevic had a solid outing in the regular season. With an average of 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, the Bulls center established himself as a mainstay in the team's primary rotation.
However, while his impact on the offensive end had only proven to be beneficial for Chicago, Vucevic was effectively a non-factor on the other end of the floor. Regardless, the center has garnered some attention from teams, who have inquired about potential trade talks.
Given the fact that there is a demand for the 33-year-old, the Bulls would be best served by entertaining these talks in return for fair draft compensation.
Proposed Trade Details
Chicago Bulls Receive: Kelly Olynyk, Yves Missi, 2028 First-Round Pick, 2030 Second-Round Pick
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Nikola Vucevic
The trade works for the Pelicans, who have taken a rather hesitant approach to a rebuild. Although they still feature some immensely talented players on their roster, a superstar in Zion Williamson in particular, injury issues riddled the team last season.
Sending Vucevic to the Pelicans gives the team a reliable big man and veteran who can pair well next to Williamson by his ability to shoot the long ball.
Meanwhile, the trade does wonders for the Bulls as it brings in some more draft capital that matches the team's timeline. Additionally, the team also acquires two solid big men in Kelly Olynyk and Yves Missi.
Olynyk has proven himself to be a savvy veteran. His experiences in the postseason, as well as his playing style, would blend well with a young team like Chicago is poised to be in this scenario.
Meanwhile, Missi has shown a lot of upside this season. After averaging 9.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season, the 21-year-old certainly showcases a lot of growth potential.
The Pelicans center also has three years left on his contract. This puts the Bulls would be in a solid position to develop him as an athletic, defensive-minded center.
Josh Giddey Goes To The Blazers
Another interesting trade prospect for Chicago sees them sending their guard, Josh Giddey, to the Portland Trail Blazers. The primary reason behind this is that the Bulls are due to provide Giddey with a qualifying offer.
Giddey was an offseason acquisition for the Bulls last year. Although the 22-year-old has displayed a lot of skill on the playmaking front, he initially struggled to find his footing with Chicago.
He eventually ended the season with an average of 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. These are solid figures. But given that he could potentially demand a five-year, $150 million deal, the Bulls would be better off engaging in a sign-and-trade to get the most out of him instead.
In this regard, a trade with the Trail Blazers may prove to be most beneficial for Chicago.
Proposed Trade Details
Chicago Bulls Receive: Jerami Grant, 2028 First-Round Pick, 2030 First-Round Pick (via Bucks), 2031 Second-Round Pick
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Josh Giddey
Giddey benefits from this trade as he joins a Portland team in dire need of a playmaking guard. While they have some solid scoring options, a pass-first player like him could easily reorganize the team's offense, particularly bringing the most out of their big man, Deandre Ayton.
By trading the Australian to the Blazers, the Bulls acquire a talented two-way threat in Jerami Grant. Grant, although not necessarily on the team's timeline, could pair well with Buzelis in the frontcourt. His versatile offensive skillset and flexibility on the defensive end could give Chicago a lot of opportunities to experiment with rotations.
The main takeaway from this deal is the haul of draft capital. With this many draft picks, the Bulls could easily stack these up to maximize their chances of building through the draft or offloading them to acquire a superstar.
Summarizing The Trades
Three trades would see a seismic shift in the Bulls roster. But the potential for growth from this shift is equally intriguing.
Summarized Moves
Bulls Outgoing: Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Josh Giddey
Bulls Receive: Kelly Oubre Jr., Kelly Olynyk, Yves Missi, Jerami Grant, 2028 First-Round Pick (76ers), 2030 Second-Round Pick, 2028 (Pelicans) First-Round Pick (via Clippers), 2029 First-Round Pick, 2028 First-Round Pick, 2030 First-Round Pick (via Bucks), 2031 Second-Round Pick
The Bulls are likely to see a lot of players enter the final years of their contracts. While some of them might be worth retaining and offering an extension to, Chicago may consider saving the cap space to acquire stars in the future.
