With the trade deadline approaching, middling teams like the Chicago Bulls have decisions to make in regard to their roster composition. Despite Chicago’s recent success, there are some moves that could bolster this current team or brighten their future. Which Bulls players are candidates to be traded before the deadline?
Chicago Bulls Trade Candidates
Alex Caruso
All-defensive first-team guard Alex Caruso is, across the league, a highly sought-after player. Caruso is a high-caliber defender, able to guard the 1-4, and a highly cerebral player on all accounts. He’s also on a team-friendly deal of $9.9 million. Despite missing a handful of games due to injury, Caruso is otherwise having a solid year offensively and defensively.
On the defensive end, Caruso is third this season in deflections per game and sixth in total deflections. His consistency in interrupting passing lanes makes anytime he’s on the court annoying for opposing teams. Despite his smaller size, Caruso is unafraid to match up with bigger players. Offensively, Caruso is averaging 9.8 points per game, a career-high. His scoring comes efficiently, as he is shooting 50.2% from the field and 42.4% from three. This offensive addition to his game increases Caruso’s value even more for interested teams.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been rumored to be interested in re-acquiring Caruso. He would add much-needed defense, playmaking, and shooting to a sluggish Lakers team. If Chicago does shop Caruso, there will certainly be a long line of suitors competing to acquire him. Having an elite defender, secondary playmaker, and floor-spacer who is comfortable in his role is invaluable for any team.
Alex Caruso absolutely destroyed this ATO that the Hornets were trying to run for Terry Rozier in OT.
There's not a player who is better at screen navigation in the league. pic.twitter.com/23SAtKclsH
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) January 9, 2024
Andre Drummond
Veteran center Andre Drummond is going through a career revitalization after several years of what seemed like a decline. Over the last five games, Drummond is averaging 13.4 points and 16.2 rebounds. The big man is first in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage this season. With Nikola Vučević out for a few games, Drummond showed he was still capable of contributing valuable minutes.
Drummond is set to be a free agent after this season, but his current contract is at an extremely reasonable $3.36 million. Teams in need of a backup center would only have to take a small gamble, as Drummond’s trade value wouldn’t be that high. One team that could potentially use Drummond is the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks rest on the back of Luka Dončić, but could desperately use some big-man depth behind breakout rookie Derek Lively II.
🗣️ AND-1!@NBCSChicago | @AndreDrummond pic.twitter.com/EOVFsQkTHx
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 9, 2024
DeMar DeRozan
There were some early-season inklings of DeMar DeRozan wanting out, but since the Bulls’ positive run, those have quieted down. Still, there is a world where DeRozan could end up in a different place by February.
DeRozan is averaging a dependable 22.1 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds on the season. Since the Bulls started winning more, DeRozan’s assists have gone up as their offense has become more fluid. While he’s often still Chicago’s primary scoring option, he’s also helped open up Coby White‘s offensive game. DeRozan has been the main veteran presence and leader of his team in his past two stops, Chicago and San Antonio. However, he hasn’t seen any playoff success since he was traded form Toronto. What may be the best scenario for him now is to take his elite midrange scoring and contribute to a contending team of other veterans.
Earlier this season, DeRozan expressed interest in joining the Miami Heat or the New York Knicks. The Knicks still have a question mark at their shooting guard after acquiring forward OG Anunoby. A wing-duo of DeRozan and Anunoby would be a fun offensive-defensive punch. The Heat, on the other hand, don’t necessarily have a need for DeRozan unless they feel like he’s an upgrade from Tyler Herro. And if that is the case, it would mean losing one of their best three-point shooters for a below-average three-point shooter in DeRozan. Other than the Knicks, the Lakers may take the gamble on acquiring DeRozan (along with Caruso) to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Zach LaVine
Two-time All-Star Zach LaVine is probably the biggest name in the trade market this season. He’s having a down year statistically, averaging 20.1 points, 3.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. However, the ceiling potential of acquiring him would mean acquiring an elite three-point shooter and explosive downhill guard. Many teams may choose to look past the statistically anomaly this season has been and take the risk on LaVine.
The Lakers have been tied to LaVine for months. Their biggest need is more consistent three-point shooting and LaVine could be a piece of that puzzle. He’s shooting a career-low 33.1% from three, but could easily turn things around as the season progresses. Two other competitive teams may take a swing at the LaVine sweepstakes. The first is the Golden State Warriors, a team whose season has been marked by disappointment and Draymond Green suspensions. The Warriors are sitting at 12th in the West, with those wins coming on the back of Stephen Curry‘s 27.1 points per game. Golden State is in desperate need of veteran wing depth amid Andrew Wiggins‘ regression and Jonathan Kuminga‘s lack of consistent minutes.
The other team that could be a dark horse candidate for LaVine is the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are sitting comfortably in the fifth seed out West with one of the league’s most dynamic offenses. Sacramento isn’t lacking three-point shooting wings, considering Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk are significant pieces to that team. However, there’s a possibility they could see the All-Star ceiling of LaVine and want to upgrade.
What’s remaining of LaVine’s contract is three years and more than $43 million per year. Any trade for the two-time All-Star would require salary fillers, as well as the large amount of draft compensation Chicago wants. But maybe a change of environment would be beneficial for the veteran who can be elite at shooting and shot-creating.
Other Potential Trade Candidates
Other than Coby White, there doesn’t seem to be any guarantee of a future with the Bulls for anyone on this team.
Vučević is on a team-friendly deal with two more years at just over $20 million per year. Chicago could find a trade partner looking to diversify their offense with one of the most consistent offensive centers of the past decade. Patrick Williams hasn’t proven to be worth a contract extension and will become a restricted free agent this offseason. Will the Bulls go ahead and put him in a trade to avoid having to pay him or lose him for nothing? Even Lonzo Ball could be on the trade block now that White is thriving as the team’s point guard. Will there be a team willing to wait on the potential benefits of an eventual Ball return? There are so many possible scenarios that would result in this team looking very different by the trade deadline.
The Last Word
While the trades above seem to be the most prominent possibilities, there’s no telling what else Chicago may do. There doesn’t seem to be a clear direction on what the front office wants to achieve. It’s possible they could want to cash in on DeRozan’s last season and try to make a playoff push. It’s also possible that, in light of Coby White’s growing potential as a franchise point guard, Chicago decides to focus on the future.
As the deadline approaches, will the Chicago Bulls trade their chips in and shake things up? Or is this going to be a quiet deadline for the Bulls?
