The Chicago Bulls have a lot of questions to answer before the 2024-25 trade deadline.
Their roster is a confusing half measure stuck between rebuilding and competing, and until they finally trade Zach LaVine, they’ll have that drama hanging over them like a dark cloud.
The Bulls also have the issues of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, two talented and valuable players on team-friendly contracts whose trade value may be at its peak due to their cheap remaining years and production.
Both players will be difficult to extend off their lowball contracts, so the Bulls may look for ways to cash in before they become expiring contracts who will eventually enter unrestricted free agency.
Of course, the way the Bulls have managed assets the last few seasons, it wouldn’t be shocking if they just let these two play out their contracts and then lost them for nothing, as they did with DeMar DeRozan.
But if the Bulls do consider moving one of their best trade assets, there is one team in particular to watch closely next season.
Chicago Bulls trade with the Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have a problem the Bulls wish they had, which is that they have too much young talent.
Because of that, they didn’t extend Jalen Green or Alperen Sengun this offseason, instead letting them play out next season and likely becoming restricted free agents.
Many experts believe the Rockets will end up choosing one and trading the other, as they also have Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason who might be higher priorities for the long term.
This is a situation the Bulls should monitor, as they might be able to cash in and add to their young core in a trade.
Chicago Bulls trade for Jalen Green
It will be interesting to see which of these players Houston ends up keeping, as Green has flashed star power but been inconsistent while Sengun was putting up monster numbers before getting hurt and the Rockets were better without him.
But if the Rockets do make one of these players available, the Bulls should pick up the phone, as they might be able to snag a young player who is a better fit with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Patrick Williams.
Houston Rockets
Chicago BullsWhy the Rockets would do this trade
Houston is hoping to make the leap into the playoffs next season and Coby White could conceivably help that cause more than Jalen Green at this point in their respective careers.
While their counting stats are similar, White has been the better playmaker and has been more efficient than Green.
The Rockets would get two guaranteed years of White at a $12 and 12.8 million, which would allow them to invest resources in other areas without losing production.
White would allow the Rockets to compete for the playoffs now without stunting the growth of their young players.
They trade one year for two, get better and can then make long-term commitments to the rest of their young guys.
But what about the Chicago Bulls? Would they really trade away their best player?
Why this makes sense for the Chicago Bulls
Jalen Green has been all over the place in his first three seasons in the league. He’s shown he can score at a high rate, though he has done it inefficiently thus far.
When he is rolling, he looks like one of the best young guards in the game, as he is an elite athlete who can knock down shots from all three levels.
He’s only 22 years old, so much like with Josh Giddey, the Bulls would be taking on a player they can build around for the future. Also, like Giddey, they would have some team control as Green enters restricted free agency allowing the ability to match any offer.
A young backcourt of Giddey and Green with Buzelis at the wing is a nice trio to start with and would give the Bulls three building blocks on the same timeline. They would have an easier time keeping Green than extending White anyway, so this would be a way to potentially cash in on a guy they were going to lose.
Green ultimately has a higher ceiling than White and you do get the sense there is a superstar in there waiting to get out.
It would be a risk for the Bulls, but one they should take, as Green could be part of a long-term rebuild while White is likely on his way out as an unrestricted free agent when his contract is over unless the Bulls want to outbid the rest of the league to keep him.
