3 players the Chicago Bulls should not trade anytime soon

3. Daniel Gafford, Center

If it meant the absolutely perfect return, then theoretically there wouldn’t be much of a problem that Bulls fans would see with trading the rookie former Arkansas Razorbacks big man Gafford. But there isn’t likely going to be any other team around the NBA that would be willing to divulge so many trade assets as to get the Bulls to think that trading Gafford would be a slam dunk.

Gafford was the most efficient rookie as a whole for the Bulls in the season that was. He didn’t get as much playing time as he deserved under Boylen this season, but he should be moving forward. Gafford played in 43 games for the Bulls in the season that was (starting in seven of them). He averaged 5.1 points per game, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks.

And Gafford shot 70.1 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from the free-throw line.

This all helped Gafford to post a solid 124 offensive rating/109 defensive rating, 0.1 value over replacement player rating, -1.3 box plus/minus rating, .146 win shares per 48 minutes, 1.8 total win shares, 68.6 true shooting percentage, and a 16.2 player efficiency rating. He was a very solid rebounder and shot blocker, but his skill set was also pretty limited in his rookie season.

Gafford fits a very specific role for the Bulls, and he should continue to only get better in the space where he can work down low. While he might never reach the ceiling of a star for the Bulls, he could be a decent starter down the road. He was an absolute steal for them in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft, and shouldn’t be on the trade block anytime soon.