Based on his conversations with executives around the NBA, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype doesn’t believe Patrick Williams or Alex Caruso are on the trade block for the Bulls, as he told guest K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago in the latest episode of the HoopsHype podcast.
One executive who spoke to Scotto suggested the Bulls may have “devalued” Williams by holding onto him until now, but Johnson questions whether the No. 4 overall pick really had a ton of value last season or this past summer, given that a major injury limited him to 17 games in 2021/22.
Johnson and Scotto agree that Caruso would bring back a strong return if the Bulls were to make him available, with Johnson suggesting that Chicago could probably get a first-round pick and a player in exchange for the defensive-minded guard.
However, Johnson still believes the Bulls are more likely to buy than sell at the trade deadline. In that scenario, Johnson believes Coby White would be in whatever package Chicago sends out, perhaps packaged with Portland’s lottery-protected 2023 first-round pick. The Grizzlies previously had interest in White, Johnson adds, though it’s unclear if Memphis would still be a suitor at this point.
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- The general consensus among executives around the league, according to Scotto, is that the Bulls are likely to keep center Nikola Vucevic beyond this season. The veteran center wouldn’t have a ton of value on the trade market and there’s a belief that Chicago won’t want to lose him for nothing in free agency after giving up so much to acquire him from Orlando.
- Johnson would be surprised if the Bulls move any of their Big Three at this season’s deadline, but suggests DeMar DeRozan would have the most trade value and that Zach LaVine would also draw interest. Johnson notes that Chicago will face an interesting decision on DeRozan this summer, since he’ll be entering a contract year and “you can bet” he’ll be seeking an extension.
- One NBA exec, speaking to Scotto, had the following to say about Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, who can be a restricted free agent this summer: “Nobody will put a big offer sheet on him. His situation reminds me of Josh Hart. He could get that type of contract or bet on himself and take the qualifying offer.” As a restricted free agent in 2021, Hart signed a three-year, $38MM contract that wasn’t fully guaranteed; Johnson believes Dosunmu could end up with a three- or four-year deal in the range of $10-12MM per year.
Bulls do not need to be buyers. Can’t even beat the Wizards. They should definitely trade Caruso if they can get a first. This team is going nowhere.
Fr. But Caruso has been injury plagued a lot this season. I’m not sure if his trade value is worth a first round pick as of right now. The bulls are just wasting time. Fans don’t wanna see them wait another summer while being irrelevant in the playoffs.
It literally says a first and a player, think moody warriors
Malik Beasley, Talen Horton-Tucker, Rudy Gay, BK’s 2023 1st & Cle’s 2025 1st to Chicago for DeMar Derozan & Coby White.. Chicago gets a couple of 1sts to help fuel their upcoming rebuild/retool. They also get a few guys that may help them improve in the short term as well. Bringing THT home is a plus & he should pair well with Zach in the backcourt… Utah gets a star that can help them contend the next couple yrs. They only give up a couple of late 1sts plus a guy that prob wouldn’t be coming back next yr anyway in Beasley
Danny Ainge would never do that trade …
What about you…
I’m not an NBA exec
understatement of the month, I’m calling it
Deal.
Mods hate when I cook Stanky. Out of all my deleted comments, half have to be replys to your awful trade package posts
DeRozan to Toronto for OG
i think its a perfect time to retool and build for the future. were not a championship team at the moment so lets get the right pieces in here. i like our front office alot and believe in their vision. just need better pieces
They need to sell all pieces, tank for the rest of the season and rebuild for the future.
Gotta trade Lavine, hopefully Ball returns at full strength next season, and we sign a couple lower-level studs like Grant/LeVert/Barnes in FA
Bulls are in the worst position you can be in, the middle. Good enough to sneak in the playoffs, not good enough to be real contenders. The middle is the worst place for a pro sports team.
Key injuries really hurt this team, but no one cares and no one is gonna feel sorry for you. It is what it is and it ain’t pretty.
SELL! You have desirable trade assets. Re-tool quickly with draft picks, young talent and cap space.
I disagree respectfully ;
I think the bottom is the worst place to be
There’s just so so little evidence that bottoming out works in the NBA – It’s actually quite the opposite
Coaching , scouting , development, a good gm , little luck , winning culture has always won out – Those traits are inherently found in teams that win games not lose them
DeRozan & Vucevic to PHX for Ayton, Cam Johnson and Crowder.
Sure but why would Phoenix make that trade
Here’s my reasoning:
Suns have been looking for a trade partner to take Crowder off their hands for a while now. If they had any decent offers, he would have dealt already. Have to assume the offers so far are low-ball, at best. As for the Bulls, Chicago really needs to add quality depth at PF … right now it’s Derrick Jones Jr. … that ain’t gonna cut it, but Crowder fits Chicago’s need to a T.
The Suns adding DeRozan to play with Chris Paul and Devin Booker, while still holding onto Bridges gives them a seriously potent offensive attack, both inside and out. DeRozan’s midrange game would fit perfectly with Booker and give CP3 another scoring machine to feed.
It’s no secret Ayton and Monty Williams don’t get along. Replacing Ayton with a legit NBA big man that can score inside and out, as well as grab defensive rebounds as good as anyone in the NBA is another big plus for the Suns. Like Ayton, Vučević is a double-double machine. Also, to an extent, it’s same reasoning as with DeRozan — his addition only boosts the Suns’ short-term title hopes by replacing someone like Ayton with a seasoned vet who has been around the block. Vučević is also UFA this summer — he shouldn’t be tough to re-sign moneywise, and he definitely won’t cost as much as Ayton.
This trade is a win/win for both teams — it gives Ayton a fresh start with a team that needs to get younger and more athletic, and the Bulls get a center that could give opponents headaches (w/ the exception of Embiid, but what other EC center matches up well with Embiid anyway?).
Chicago also desperately needs outside shooting, and Cam Johnson would take care of that really nicely. CJ’s a RFA this summer. The Bulls would no doubt give him a qualifying offer and match any reasonable offer he might get over the summer. CJ can take over DeRozan’s spot at SF for the Bulls, who would then run out a starting 5 of Dosunmu, LaVine, CJ, Patrick Williams and Ayton the rest of this season, and hopefully Lonzo Ball is back, if not later this year, then next, to take over for Dosunmu, who moves into a 6th-7th man role.
Bottom Line: Chris Paul’s not getting any younger — also Booker could use help so he’s not constantly double-teamed, especially so during the playoffs.
The Suns title window opens a little wider in the short-term (next 2-3 years?), while the Bulls reboot without having to totally rebuild. WIN/WIN