An underrated partner for the Chicago Bulls to consider for the upcoming trade deadline next month is the Boston Celtics.
By now, John Paxson and Gar Forman should have decided that the Chicago Bulls will be sellers come the trade deadline next month. GarPax should be in position to make whatever trade deals they can to get this rebuild closer to making the playoffs next year by the 2020 deadline.
Nate Duncan and John Hollinger on their podcast, the “Hollinger & Duncan NBA Show”, mentioned trade ideas for teams like the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers with the approaching deadline on Feb. 6. The Celtics were among the most significant teams in terms of potential trade deadline deals that Hollinger and Duncan mentioned on their last show.
The most significant need they mentioned for the Celtics was a defensively capable big man. Boston does need more length, and the Bulls are a team that could offer some of that for them at a cheaper price tag.
Hollinger and Duncan also mentioned the possibility of the Celtics trading for backcourt help. The idea of them giving up veteran forward Gordon Hayward and the defensive stopper at point guard Marcus Smart to get a better return in the backcourt was floated before and is often being discussed ahead of the 2020 trade deadline.
It would be difficult for the Bulls to salary match a player like Hayward, though, who is being paid a little more than $32 million per year. The highest salary that the Bulls have individually is small forward Otto Porter Jr., who is getting paid around $27 million per year.
Here’s a look into three potential trade packages that could form between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics heading into the 2020 deadline on Feb. 6.