Chicago Bulls: Trade proposals with the Central Division

T.J. Leaf was a top-20 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, but has been unbelievably quiet to this point in his career.

The former UCLA Bruin was a hot riser on draft boards three years ago, but upon arriving in Indiana he never seemed to find consistent minutes. In three NBA seasons, T.J. Leaf has never averaged double digit minutes, which is absurd for a former first round pick. In the minutes that he has had, however, Leaf has played solid basketball.

The Pacers would likely have no issue getting rid of Leaf, especially if it meant getting a player who can help them win now in return. Valentine’s ability to play the one through three would be massive for Indiana going forward along with his ability to shoot the deep ball. His contract expires at the end of this season, meaning that Indiana has no obligation to him after this season if things do not go well.

As for Chicago, grabbing a young player on a rookie deal along with a second round pick in exchange for an expiring contract that is out of the current rotation is a no-brainer. More than likely, gambling on T.J. Leaf will not work out, but the risk is very low and the reward could be quite nice. An athletic, floor-spacing big is something that is always of value in today’s NBA, and especially for a team like Chicago that struggles with the money ball and scoring in general.

The second round pick is also a nice touch for the Bulls who are always in need of adding draft picks to their arsenal. Although this trade is rather unexciting, it makes sense for both parties and could be a viable option.