If the Chicago Bulls were able to find a way to offload the overpaid Brazilian big man Cristiano Felicio via the trade market this year, it would be a great move by John Paxson and Gar Forman. Felicio didn’t do much to prove that the FIBA World Cup showing for him with the Brazilians actually will improve his game off the bench in the NBA.
However, the Bulls are going to have to give something valuable up to the Pacers if it means getting rid of Felicio’s $8 million contract. The Pacers are still sending Sabonis and Warren to the Bulls, and now add in the former first round draft pick and 22-year-old power forward T.J. Leaf.
What the Bulls send to the Pacers for their troubles here is the 2018 seventh overall draft pick and former Duke Blue Devils big man Wendell Carter Jr. The second-year center looked good in the preseason finale win for the Bulls over the Atlanta Hawks at home late last week. They also still have Hutchison included in the mix to get more reliable wing help with Warren.
The Bulls get to renew the youth in their frontcourt and also get rid of two of the players that would be deeper down the bench for head coach Jim Boylen this season. Getting Felicio’s nearly immovable contract off the books would allow them to make more moves on the trade market down the line. It also gives the potential to work two good young big men like Sabonis and power forward Lauri Markkanen together this season.