Chicago Bulls: 5 step successful 2019 offseason plan

4. Trade for Jrue Holiday

Defense and off-ball scoring should be the two main criteria for the Bulls search. That would seem to eliminate players like Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland (defensively) and North Carolina’s Coby White. The Los Angeles Lakers Lonzo Ball is also out following his inclusion in the Anthony Davis trade, joining Brandon Ingram and three first-round picks heading to the New Orleans Pelicans

Poor defense would eliminate D’Angelo Russell with off-ball scoring removing the likes of Terry Rozier. They are both also restricted free agents, though it is looking more than likely that Russell will not return to the Brooklyn Nets. Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Bucks would be a great fit, but he too falls under that restricted umbrella.

A free agent like Ricky Rubio does nothing for that scoring issue. There are rebuilding teams with veteran point guards if a trade is indeed the route they choose. The top name being mentioned in that category is Memphis Grizzlies stalwart, Mike Conley. His game does fit the bill of what they are looking for but his timeline does not.

The Bulls were right to try and get in on the highly-anticipated Davis deal to extract their next point guard, but the target was wrong. Jrue Holiday of the New Orleans Pelicans has shot 37.9 percent on catch and shoot opportunities the last two seasons. His 21.2 points per game would have been second on the Bulls last season and his plus-3.4 on the year would have easily led the team.