How the Chicago Bulls Can Package Taj Gibson with Their 14th Pick to Move Up
No. 9 pick: Toronto Raptors
The Raptors may be losing not only DeMar DeRozan this summer in the free agency bidding wars. Bismack Biyombo may also be commanding a whopping $17M salary in the free agent market, so a Taj Gibson offer fills a hole with a veteran power forward-center, while the 14th can still net the Raptors someone like Korkmaz, Luwawu or Gonzaga’s Domantas Sabonis as a big.
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If the Bulls offer a trade with Gibson that moves them up five spots (just like in 2014 for Doug McDermott) to get Chriss if he slides out of the top five picks or if grabbing Labissiere isn’t an option on the table, Malachi RIchardson could look that good for GarPax to moving up.
Chicago jumps one spot ahead of rival Milwaukee, who may be the only team that will almost assuredly take Chriss if he slides to the 10th to complete their monster roster.
The main attraction of the swap to the Raptors is getting a power forward 2-for-1 with a DeRozan replacement at the 14th instead of just getting one and spending too much (on a max deal) in free agency for the other hole in the roster.
If Gibson is sent off, he’d reunite with former Bull and draft mate James Johnson, another player whom the Raptors can retain next year.
Next: No. 8 pick: Sacramento Kings