The Bulls remain, for the most part, unwilling to discuss injured forward Patrick Williams in trade talks leading up to next Thursday’s trade deadline, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said this week on Chad Ford’s podcast. According to Fischer, Chicago could potentially be convinced to part with Williams, but only in a deal that significantly upgraded the team’s chances of competing for a title.
“From the people I’ve talked to in Chicago, it’s been made very clear to me that they are not going to consider moving (Williams) unless it’s for the piece,” Fischer said, per HoopsHype. “Not a piece but the piece that they think will push them to that championship.”
Such a deal seems unlikely to materialize at this year’s deadline for the Bulls, who probably don’t view a player of Jerami Grant‘s caliber as that sort of major difference-maker.
Here are a few more items from around the Central:
- Fischer said on that same Chad Ford podcast that he has heard Pacers center Myles Turner might be ready to return from his foot injury shortly after the All-Star break (hat tip to HoopsHype). Barring setbacks, Fischer thinks Turner will be back in early March at the latest.
- Longtime EuroLeague standout Kevin Pangos finally made the move to the NBA last year, but he hasn’t played much for the Cavaliers and doesn’t have a guaranteed contract beyond this season, resulting in speculation that he’ll return to Europe sooner rather than later. Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com stated on his podcast this week that CSKA Moscow is pushing to land Pangos as soon as this month should Cleveland decide to waive him.
- James L. Edwards III and John Hollinger of The Athletic are unconvinced that the Pistons will end up moving Jerami Grant at the deadline, with Hollinger observing that the contending teams who could most use Grant to push them over the top would likely be wary about giving him a major role on offense. Hollinger adds that he views Bucks swingman Donte DiVincenzo and Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton as a couple ideal trade targets for the Pistons, though there’s no indication the team has inquired on either player.
All the nerds think Bulls need to trade Williams for overrated Jerami Grant. Lol. Shut up nerds.
They should trade Williams, but not for Grant. Bulls need to go All-In on this season. Pretty sure Toronto was thrilled to win by going and getting Kawhi. Can’t bank on success repeating itself… Knicks and Hawks are prime examples.
Yeah definitely not for Grant. If they want White, some contracts to fill it out and some picks, great. But there’s way too much love for Grant right now, with articles talking about how over a dozen teams want him. I’m sure they do, but he’s not some major piece regardless of his production on a terrible team.
Grant is only putting up the numbers that he are, because he’s the best player on a bad team. I’d pass on him too. Patrick Williams is going to be a stud. Chicago are being smart to keep him unless they get the piece that’s going to put them over the top.
Not buying into this bs narrative. They’re never healthy and perpetually “one player away”. What else is new? Some old Bulls. NBA is rigged anyway, so cares?
How are the Bulls perpetually one player away when they haven’t been good for like ten years? They weren’t one player away when Rose was in his prime before he went down. They were ready to compete that year so…
The Bulls were never a serious contender during Rose’s tenure because they needed a star player. Hence they were ONE player away. And please, spare me the garbage narrative about Rose being a star. He had no jumpshot, played lousy defense, could never be counted on in pressure situations, lacked leadership skills, turned into a selfish a-hole as soon as he got his money. The Bulls had ONE.deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals and got pimped. They were a terrible playoff team.
If Myles Turner is that close to returning, I wonder if the Bulls would trade Williams for him. He’s exactly the type of player they need at the 4. Solid defense, top tier shot blocking ability and rim protecting, plus he can chip in 12 and 7 per game.
Offer Williams, DJJ, the Blazers 2022 1st round pick (or whenever it conveys) and the Bulls 2024 1st.
Or if they need more, offer Williams, White, Brown and the picks.
Hopefully Turner’s value has decreased a little since he’s been out.