Chicago Bulls: Trade proposals with the Central Division
Getting Cristiano Felicio off of the payroll would be massive for free agency next Summer, although doing so does come with a price.
As seen in the Jordan Clarkson trade, the Cleveland Cavaliers are very willing to take on salary if it means that draft picks will be sent their way. Here, the Bulls would send Cleveland two second round selections in order to get the $8 million Cristiano Felicio is owed off of the books for next season. Although two second rounders does not seem like a lot to take on a bad contract, this may be even a bit of an overpay for the Bulls.
The Cavs sent Clarkson, a very serviceable bench piece, to Utah for the same number of second round selections, while getting back a contract very similar to Felicio’s. Mind you, Dante Exum is a much younger player who still has a decently high ceiling, but the market value for a Felicio deal would look something very similar to that.
Cleveland would likely have no problem moving John Henson to Chicago, as he only plays 13 minutes per contest. Still very much a rebuilding team, the Cavs would love to send Henson’s expiring deal to Chicago for picks and Felicio’s last year of his contract. No major free agents will be signing with the Cavs next season, so the cap space is quite a moot subject. This coupled with Henson’s non-existent future role in Cleveland make them very reasonable partners for a deal.
As for Chicago, this deal makes a ton of sense. Cristiano Felicio is eating up a very sizable amount of cap space that could be used to sign a player that can help push the Bulls into the playoff picture next season. Even with the plethora of injuries at the center position for Chicago, Felicio still finds himself struggling to see minutes, even further exemplifying the fact that he is wasting a roster spot.
John Henson’s inclusion in this trade does have to do with balancing out salaries, he also would serve a vital role for Chicago. With Wendell Carter Jr. and Daniel Gafford both injured, the Bulls are in desperate need of a center that can fill in until these two return. Henson is certainly a viable option for a fill-in at the backup position, having played several solid seasons in Milwaukee before being moved to Cleveland. In addition, his contract will be expiring this Summer, so the Bulls will owe him nothin after this year. Unloading a bad contract and getting a rental player to serve as a stopgap out of two second-round picks is a phenomenal value that Chicago should be all over.