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Chicago Bulls: Trade proposals with the Atlantic Division

By Aaron Peterson

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 1: Dennis Smith Jr. #5 of the New York Knicks looks on during a game against the Boston Celtics on December 1, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 1: Dennis Smith Jr. #5 of the New York Knicks looks on during a game against the Boston Celtics on December 1, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

If Philadelphia wants to make a real run at an NBA title this season, they will need to make some major additions to their reserve unit.

Ever since making the deal for Jimmy Butler last season, the 76ers have had immense trouble finding depth. The same is true for this season, which has seen Philadelphia play well below expectations, and the bulk of this is due to a lack of depth. Whether Philadelphia wants to go all-in on this season or not is unclear, but odds are they are buyers at the deadline rather than staying put.

By adding Denzel Valentine and Kris Dunn, the 76ers will add both a very good defender and a solid outside shooting presence to make a run at the Eastern Conference. Defensively, the 76ers have always been a very solid squad, so adding Dunn would be a very natural fit. On the contrary, adding Denzel Valentine will help fix the chronic floor spacing issue Philadelphia has suffered from for years. Although they have to move two second-round picks in order to make the deal happen, the Sixers can feel better about moving multiple picks knowing they are getting one back.

The downside to this trade for the Sixers is that both Dunn and Valentine will be up for new contracts this summer, and there is an extremely realistic chance that neither of the two are retained. However, this could also be seen as a good thing for the organization. By trading Zhaire Smith and Mike Scott and adding two expiring deals, the team could save nearly $8 million in cap space for this upcoming Summer. Additionally, the play of both Scott and Smith have been lackluster, to say the least, and Philadelphia is likely to be ready to move on from them.

This deal would be a very solid one for the Chicago Bulls, as it is not often that 20-year-old first-round selections are available for such a low price. The reasoning for this is because Smith has not played a single game for Philadelphia this season, as he has spent his time down in the G-League. Perhaps taking his talents to Chicago would allow him to find more playing time and blossom into the player he was once thought to be. If not, the risk of trading two expiring deals is extremely low.

Mike Scott is merely a throw-in here, and perhaps even a bit of a salary dump for the Sixers. He has historically had a very good shot from deep, but this year he has taken a major step back in this category. Set to make just under $5 million next season, Scott could be utilized by the Bulls as a floor spacer in 2020-2021 or eventually be flipped to a contender in need of spacing at next year’s deadline.

Lastly, adding two second-round selections that will be very high is phenomenal for the Bulls, who can use these picks to add young shooters to a roster in desperate need of floor spacing and scoring in general.

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