Chicago Bulls: Trade proposals with the Southeast Division

Although a lottery pick a few years ago, Malik Monk has never seen consistent playing time in Charlotte, which could lead to him being traded.

To begin his career, there was no real reason as to why Malik Monk was not getting the minutes that many expected. The former Kentucky standout is a phenomenal athlete and has shown promise on his three-point shot, but simply had trouble getting on the floor in years one and two. In year three, Monk is still playing under 20 minutes per game but has not been efficient at all.

In short, Monk is starting to look like he may be a draft bust for Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Hornets. With his contract expiring after the 2020-2021 deal, Charlotte could look to make him available at the deadline in order to acquire future assets. A trade for Monk would be tricky, as the talent is certainly there, but the numbers are telling a much different story.

In acquiring Malik Monk, the Bulls would be rolling the dice on a change of scenery bringing out the best in him. Coming off of the bench, Monk can focus on doing what he does best: score. The Bulls could utilize the 21-year-old as an offensive spark at the minimum, while his ceiling is certainly still at a starting level. Chicago must be careful, however, as this move is certainly a gamble.

By moving on from Monk, the Hornets can experiment with Denzel Valentine and see if he is someone that they want on their roster after this season. As a former lottery selection, Valentine has shown flashes of starter-talent, but much like Monk, he has simply not gotten many opportunities to solid himself in the rotation. If Charlotte decides that Valentine is not in their future plans, they can let him walk this summer in free agency.

Perhaps the biggest motivator in this deal is the pair of second-round selections that the Hornets would acquire for Monk. Rebuilding rosters have to accumulate as many picks as possible, and if the team can still get a few second rounders out of Monk they might just jump on that opportunity. As his trade value becomes lower and lower, this may just be the best deal that Charlotte will get.

Luke Kornet is another wild card in this trade. As a seven-footer who can shoot the deep ball and block shots at a decent rate, perhaps Charlotte could get more out of Kornet than the Bulls did in his limited play. Playing on a minimum-level deal for this season and the next, Charlotte could hope he has a successful stint there and perhaps flip him for more assets at next year’s deadline.