The Chicago Bulls have a team filled with great talent but, not good enough to be a true contender in the NBA.
The Bulls made a lot of great moves in 2021 where they traded for All-Star center Nikola Vucevic, signed All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan, and traded for Lonzo Ball. They started off well but ended up as the sixth seed in 2022 and last season finished with a 40-42 record and lost to the Heat in the play-in.
They are stuck in the middle where they're not good enough to contend but are still good enough to at least make the play-in. Usually, teams in this situation make trades, so here are three players who won't last the entire 2023-24 season.
3. Alex Caruso
Alex Caruso is easily one of the most loveable players in the NBA. At 6-foot-5 he can fly through the air, defend at the highest level, pass the basketball, and shoot well. His ability to play big as a role player is the reason he's a champion and signed a multi-year deal with the Bulls.
Coming off his best season yet where he was selected to All-NBA Defensive First Team, his time with the Bulls is closing. He is the perfect role player in today's NBA and every single team wants a guy like him on their team.
With the Bulls signing Coby White to a multi year deal, picking up Jevon Carter in the offseason and the uncertain happiness of some of their star players, Caruso will be available.
Every championship contending team will be picking up the phone to see if they have a shot at making a trade for him. His defense, size, and shooting ability can fill a lot holes for almost any team.
Another reason that the Bulls would trade Caruso is because they can get some insane value in return for him. At a minimum, for All-Defensive talent, you are getting at least one first-round pick and depending on what team or package, they could get a nice young player.
With the current roster the Bulls have, they have two options, to either trade for a superstar, or blow it up. In either scenario, Alex caruso will have to be involved with those trades.
2. Nikola Vucevic
In today's NBA you want your center to be able to rebound, defend, rim protect, score around the paint and stretch the floor. Nikola Vucevic is exactly that and it's why he's a two-time All-Star.
The Bulls acquired him in the middle of the 2021 season where he averaged 18.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, while shooting 49.2 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from three, and 81.2 percent from the free throw line.
Playing at an All-Star caliber level on a $18 million dollar contract is a dream for a lot of contending teams. Vucevic is the perfect center in today's NBA and turning 33 at the end of October, will be looking for a chance to contend.
The Bulls will be willing to trade Vucevic if they are trying to rebuild. In the case of one of their stars being unhappy, trading Vucevic will be the way to go. They can get a lot of value in return if done correctly.
For a player of his caliber there are at least two first-round picks that would go into the trade along with a bunch of young pieces. Or if the Bulls wanted to, they could easily flip Vucevic if a star would request a trade.
Vucevic is another player on the Bulls who is going to be in trade talks no matter what direction the Bulls go. If they decide to rebuild or go get a superstar, he's gone. Even if the Bulls decide they want to stick with what they have, teams will be calling them to see what package they can offer.
1. Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is entering his 10th NBA season and his seventh with the Bulls. He has been a two time All-Star averaging 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, with 47/39/84 shooting splits, and made the playoffs once as a Bull.
Going into year 10 at age 28, LaVine knows that his window of being a true contributor on a championship team is closing. A reason why this offseason, many speculated LaVine has interest in leaving and suggested they expect him to request a trade.
LaVine is under contract with the Bulls until the 2025-26 season with a $48.9 million dollar player option for the 2026-27 season. The Bulls don't have to trade him for the next three seasons but they may not have much of a choice.
When a star player is unhappy in his situation and expresses that, a team doesn't have much of a choice but to trade them. LaVine has expressed his unhappiness as a Bull. It's much better for a team to trade a player who doesn't want to be there.
LaVine is one of the premiere offensive stars in the league. He can score from anywhere, is a great shooter, and is a solid playmaker. He is a player a lot of teams will need to take the next step to separate themselves from their competitors.
The Bulls will be able to get a great package in return for him. In this new market, he is worth at least three first-round picks along with any players that are being moved throughout the trade.
If the Bulls do trade away LaVine, there is a very good chance that the Bulls are hitting the reset button. If LaVine is gone, then any other player that could be of value is going to be gone for the Bulls.