Rival teams are monitoring the Bulls on the NBA’s trade market, a source tells Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
There’s speculation that Chicago, which is sitting outside the Eastern Conference play-in race at 11-15, could dismantle its current roster in hopes of landing a high draft pick, Pincus explains. The team owes this year’s first-rounder to the Magic as part of the Nikola Vucevic trade unless it lands a top-four pick in the lottery. Pincus notes that there are five teams with eight wins or fewer, so if the Bulls plan to pursue that strategy they need to start soon.
“Everyone is watching Chicago very closely,” an NBA source told Pincus. “They’re so poorly constructed, they need to blow it up.”
Pincus cites a recent rumor that the Lakers might be willing to part with their first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, along with Russell Westbrook as a buyout candidate, in exchange for Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan. That move would put the Bulls in position to tank and would give the franchise two valuable draft assets for the future.
Pincus sees that as a better route than losing this year’s first-rounder to Orlando and trying to re-sign Vucevic when he becomes a free agent next summer. That would leave Chicago with just its mid-level exception, plus smaller trades, to try to upgrade the roster.
Zach LaVine could also be a trade candidate once he becomes eligible on January 15, Pincus adds. There hasn’t been much talk about LaVine yet in trade circles, but Pincus believes the Bulls would find plenty of interest if they make him available. LaVine signed a five-year, $215MM contract in July.
Eric Pincus has NO sources. It is easy to say teams are “eyeing” their roster.
The feeling from the inside in Chicago is that they are going to attempt to turn the season around, and are not currently exploring trades.
I think they should blow up the roster, but they currently are not looking in that direction.
“Eric Pincus has NO sources.”
lmao, I was thinking that as well. His source is listed as ‘an NBA source’. Not an NBA executive or a team official, just ‘an NBA source’. This could be the guy who scrubs the toilets at the NBA offices.
The day Chicago blows up their roster will be the day the world ends.
There’s literally no chance they do this, maybe next season at the deadline if they are bad they will trade an expiring Demar, but a 27 and 29 first will be not taken seriously by our owner who likes to stay just good enough not to be bad and just bad enough not to be good
If Bulls are seller, I can’t see 27&29 1st’s+Russ being enough for DeMar. He’s probably the best offensive player not on a current contender. Plus it’s a risk adding another 30+ player and losing any draft capital for this decade. Dallas should throw anything at them if he does come available.
Second Bulls declare they’re selling there’ll be a scramble for DeMar & Vuc. Maybe even Caruso and even Ball. Any team looking to tank with some good players may find it useful to take a risk on Ball and leave a gap to help tank while he’s out this season.
Bulls believe they will get Lonzo back, and don’t want to blow anything up until they see IF he can get healthy, and then IF his addition makes them the team they thought they were.
If they do want to contend it may still be a idea to move him. There are a few good contributing guards on tank teams RN.
I get they want to wait as he’s arguably one of the best 2-way PGs in the league. But if he’s not looking ready to lace up by mid Jan. if they want to contend, look at SGA and offer everything not named one of DeMar or Zach. Even go Magic or Houston for KPJ/Cole/Fultz. They would be able to get for Zoe easily and maybe pick something else nice up in return.
This team isn’t as poorly constructed as some might think they are, they’re just severely missing Lonzo.
Lonzo Ball was the engine that made this team work. His perimeter defense, his rebounding, the way he’d push the pace and start fastbreaks, and especially his playmaking and passing the Bulls had the best record in the East with Lonzo last season, and that was still without a few key contributors in White and Williams.
They looked REALLY GOOD with Ball as their PG, but as everyone knows he’s been out, and they haven’t been able to replace his production ever since.
That’s why they said Vuc AND DeRozan. DeRozan is too good and valuable, but Vuc is mediocre and expensive. That brings down the price to possibly Russ and two firsts (especially those Laker Years).
Vuc would be useful on a contender, he adds scoring but needs to be on a team with some good wing defenders to mitigate his passive defense. Not sure what team that is, but the contract could be matched easily especially if they throw in a role player whom they won’t need for tanking.
@SpaceJam, Vuc may be mediocre but he’s still has positive value, and DeMar is high value. No way in hell would they trade both for just Russ and a couple of 1sts. No matter chances of how high they may be. They can get a lot more esp if they trade separately.
JW91, more than TWO first round draft picks and one expiring contract?
I think that’s a pretty decent return for DeMar DeRozan and Vuc expiring contract. They may go for it and look for more assets for Zach LaVine who’s similar in skill and an attractive target for someone.
For a 16-10-3 centre and a 26-5-5 2way all NBA player locked up for a couple years? 2 firsts and expiring Russ is Nowhere near enough.
I’d expect Vuc for Russ filler and 1x on his own. Because he’s worth more than Crowder( essentially 1 first)granted Vuc has no D but he’s still not going for free. Then what are you paying for DeMar? just a first. That’s massive under pay by Lakers.
Vuc for Russ and a first is a great trade for the Bulls and if they get that, that’s a steal. However, you cannot separate trades like this. Vuc does not bring that in because while the Lakers are the worst FO in the NBA, there’s not likely to be that trade offer on the table from them. It’s a terrible trade for the Lakers. How out of touch are you guys? Geez… Vuc for Russ and a 1st. You guys live under rocks or have them in your head.
@SpaceJam. No one is saying to trade Vuc for Russ and a first. Simply saying that is Vuc value. Russ is essentially a salary dump and the first is the value of Vuc.
I’d never expect any self respecting team to look into this, when the Pacers rumour of Turner & Heild for Russ & 2 firsts. But that is a massive under pay for Vuc AND DeMar.
DeRozan is high value, no Vuc does not have positive value. You’re a complete fool if you believe that. Would the Bulls make that trade? I agree with you it’s a no (because the Bulls are dumb), but man… it’s utterly sad you think Vuc has positive value (he’s often in honorable mentions for worst contract in the NBA). No one wants him and in the playoffs he can’t close. No one wants an expensive, easily replaceable center that can’t play defense (read: he’s worth a flier as a back up center at back up center money).
The Bulls sacrificed everything to get Vuc and DeRozan and they obtained… mediocrity. Trade DeRozan to get a ton of value and if you can use him to get rid of Vuc and trick a team that Vuc has positive value, you should probably just do it. Russ on the Bulls is fine, the contract is done soon anyways (just like Vuc). Just semi-tank with the Lakers picks. It’s a decent idea for trade despite your ignorance on team building in the modern NBA.
Wow kind of rude
How is Vuc negative value? Seriously, if he was on 30m+. Maybe if he was locked up for 3 years. It’s a 1 year 22m.
For a guy that will be an upgrade to most contender light at the C. Even off the bench. Either way he’s a 1st pick and salary dump punt. Not at all negative value.
Yea it may have been one of the worst…. When it was a multi year!
but it’s a 1 season flyer. An upgrade half year contract is not negative, if it was Fournier that’s negative, Robinson that is negative, as they’re multi year over pay contracts that you’ll be on the hook for years. No “FOOL”. Just understand the value of an upgrade down the stretch.
Exactly how Bucks moved for PJ Tucker for a first. He contributed and they got a chip. Exactly the same. A half year improvement chance is never negative value.
The reason Russ is negative is because there’s no logical way of matching his salary if you’re a contender, all you can do is buy out, or dump him.
You make a lot of good points JW91.
Vooch has friendly contract. 16-10 center deserve for 22m.not great,but still good enough center. Bulls big problem is zach. He made so many bad decision.i dont want bulls made a trade with lakers,better do it with raptors.
When the hell did anyone start paying attention to Bleacher Report? Aggregate everything apparently.
Rival teams execs are probably perpetuating this to get the Bulls to have a fire sale. As the article points out they’d need some luck for their pick to land top four and no one else will trade them a pick that worth much rn. Make a run with this group and go from there. I think selling this core before the offseason is just haphazard unless they somehow go lower in the standings come the trade deadline.
There’s no run in this team and they should just get something for Vuc if they can. If they really want to try this year, getting rid of Vuc does little to affect those chances. Hell, this team should trade DeRozan and just tank. They’re going nowhere without a great player and Zach LaVine is definitely not it.
If they don’t trade Lavine now, he will be Westbrook/Wall in 2-3 years and instead of assets coming in they will have to attach them to unload.
Make the Lakers trade along with moving Lavine and get out while you still can. I wouldn’t want to wait until 27/29 either but you can flip those for something immediate that is high value if you aren’t attaching a Westbook albatross contact to them.
I don’t really understand clubs being so hesitant to rebuild when it is so obvious to even the casual observer they have no chance of even competing for a title, one never-mind winning one.
This is the right move, but I do wonder who would take a flier on LaVine? I’d love a bizarro trade of Gobert-LaVine (I don’t think LaVine is tradeable so soon after signing the extension, but I might be wrong) to just see what happens. I don’t think it helps the Wolves enough to be worth it, but whatever. Both teams are such massive disappointments anyways.
A lot of Bulls fans holding out hood in the comments hahahahaha
Bulls should and will be blowing up the roster.
DeRozan is old, Vuce is expiring, Lonzo is injury prone, Pat Wills deal is about to expire what’s he worth? It’s just a mess and it makes sense getting rid of DeRozan and Vuce in particular.
If the lakers do somehow pull of a Russ and 2 first for DeRozan and Vuce deal that would be really good for them.
Vuce in particular I think helps a lot. Rebounds the ball really well, can score at all 3 levels and will give you anywhere from 12-20 points per night. His defence ain’t great but the lakers defence overall has been pretty good.
Not to sure about DeRozans fit, he’s another non three point shooter and the defence isn’t great but I think he will be better than Russ. Can give you 20-30 a night, is probably the best mid range shooter in the league, can handle the ball really well, and is great closing games out.
On paper
Beverly DeRozan Bron AD Vuce
Schroder Walker Brown Jr Bryant
Something like that, it sounds really good
I would love the Lakers to do that and lose in the Play In tournament. Hahahaha (fwiw, I’m hoping this trade happens so they can possibly THINK about firing Pelinka).
Do you have to reply to every comment ??
He’s high, thinks if he comments enough Lakers will actually get someone good for Russ and a couple firsts not due for 4+ years.
Lonzo needs to come back. Add a starting PF. Hope Lavine stays healthy. Trade Vuc for a better defensive center. Upgrade the bench why blown it up and go into another rebuild???
They already have a better defensive (and in many respects, offensive) center in Drummond. His FT % is up and he stays in the paint where they need their center to be.
CHI isn’t likely to blow it up (and tank presumably) unless there is a seismic shift in thinking at the ownership level.
That’s possible, sure. But to convince anyone with a clue that a blow up is imminent, a report should indicate that its at least ownership approved if not ownership driven. The fact that some of the worst reporters in the sport (inclusive of their typical uniformed or made up sources) believe its worth watching isn’t close to that.
I agree, but I do see them moving one of either Demar Vuc or Lavine if the season doesn’t pan out towards the deadline. But I also see them sticking with what they have. It’s 50/50 with Bulls.
And I still think moving Lonzo for a ready and willing PG that can contribute now is the right call for them. There’s players out there they can look at with teams that would likely take Ball in return.
Trades, sure, but the question is to what purpose. Adjusting the roster to improve it, or blowing it up to pursue better draft position? Very different. One is the FO doing its job (good or bad). The other is an organizational decision.
Until Ball’s health situation is more certain his contract will carry a bunch of negative value. So, I doubt it would make sense to move him now, though that doesn’t mean they can’t get a PG now.
I agree. But that’s the issue. Bulls are more likely going to look to upgrade, and if Ball isn’t looking good by Jan you trade him for a contribution PG. his contract will only hold negative to teams not tanking. Tankers will use it as an excuse to fill a roster spot to lose more games by moving a good player. Plus his talent will always be there, a tank advantage and possibly of a healthy ball next year is fair value.
Or if they’re still walking the .500 tightrope they move Vuc expiring contract to get something back. Or move DeMar while his value is still fairly high.
LaVine go L.A. is a better option and then find two separate trades for Vooch and DD that includes White and AC.
Also dump Ball if you can to L.A. with LaVine and rebuild!
Orlando finally finessed a team(FINALLY!) Not only do they have Chicago’s 1st they also have their own(aswell). Things are looking very bright in the O!
Vuc for Wagner, one of the best trades of recent memory.
Zach to NYK ……. it’s coming
Sources say …… Zach tired of Chicago.