How the Chicago Bulls Can Package Taj Gibson with Their 14th Pick to Move Up

Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) talks to forward Jimmy Butler (21) against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Bulls beat the Raptors 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) talks to forward Jimmy Butler (21) against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Bulls beat the Raptors 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
2 of 7
Chicago Bulls PF
Chicago Bulls PF

No. 10 pick: Milwaukee Bucks

The Chicago Bulls could trade Taj Gibson and swap the 14th pick for the Bucks’ 10th pick plus cash. Jason Kidd may value the 10th enough to keep it because someone like international star Dragan Bender may slide down potentially and the Bucks may like someone like him or running big Skal Labissiere. Henry Ellenson and Marquese Chriss are also big forwards who may slide to the 10th and can run and fit the Bucks’ athletic core.

More from Bulls News

Moving up four spots will have the Bulls competing for a number of guys potentially. The makeup of the Bucks right now is long and tall greyhound-type athletes: Giannis Antetokounmpo is going full-time at point guard next year, Khris Middleton fits at the two and Jabari Parker at the wing.

Former rookie of the year Michael Carter-Williams is an injury-prone guard who may no longer fit the team after Kidd’s gamble on going big guard all the way paid off handsomely with Antetokounmpo.

The attraction of any Taj Gibson trade and draft swap hinges on the Bucks need for another veteran big who can hold the fort. Among the lottery teams looking to trade down, the Bucks do look least likely to swap their pick with the Bulls’ 14th pick unless they like the guys available there — prospects like Furkan Korkmaz and Timothe Luwawu — as guard prospects to sure up their back court.

If the deal gets done, the Bulls could snag Labissiere before he slides, Malachi Richardson –someone they may like as an NBA-ready wing and take a chance on, or Chriss if he does a Bobby Portis and slides down while the top picks are chosen among Buddy Hield, Jakob Poeltl, Deyonta Davis and Henry Ellenson, Jamal Murray or Bender himself.

Next: No. 9 pick: Toronto Raptors