On the night of Feb. 28, the Chicago Bulls were supposed to take on the rising Toronto Raptors on the road to try and get back on the right track. But COVID-19 related issues on the Raptors side caused them to not have the NBA’s minimum of players required to play in this game. That will only give the two more games ahead of the All-Star Break, which is set to begin on March 5.
This could change the nature of how the Bulls new coaching staff and front office regime view what they do at the trade deadline. The Bulls could use every opportunity they can get to further scout out what direction this team is trending in heading into the second half of the season’s schedule.
One of the hottest names on the trade block around the NBA landscape at this point in time is the Bulls veteran 32-year-old forward Thaddeus Young. And if the Bulls do decide to take on the role of sellers at the trade deadline, then Young could definitely be on the way out by the time the deadline arrives next month.
According to a report from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times over the weekend, there’s an upcoming meeting for the Bulls front office that could for one determine the fate of Young. If they do decide to trade Young, it sends a message to this team and fan base that the rebuild and the long-term success on the franchise takes precedent over making the playoffs this year.
Where could the Chicago Bulls management lean
It’s hard to figure out the right path for the Bulls at the deadline, but we do know that this team is within striking distance of at least a lower seed in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls currently sport a record of 15-17, following their Feb. 26 loss at home to the Phoenix Suns.
That still puts the Bulls in the playoff picture in the East.
But Young was one of the very best Bulls players so far this season, and playing under first-year head coach Billy Donovan surely has worked out in his favor. Young is taking his game to a new level this season compared to how he performed last under former head coach Jim Boylen.
Given that Young holds one of the more sizable contracts on the Bulls current cap sheet, a valuable offer ahead of the deadline next month should at least be entertained by the front office. The way the Bulls trend in the standings over the course of the next few weeks should also obviously be taken into account for what they do with Young at the deadline.
Making a playoff appearance this season could continue to take star shooting guard Zach LaVine’s game to a new level. It would also have a very positive impact in terms of experience on players in this young core like second-year point guard Coby White, third-year center Wendell Carter Jr., and rookie forward Patrick Williams.
Next up for Young and the Bulls is a meeting with the Denver Nuggets at home at the United Center on the night of March 1. The Bulls have still won three of their last four games, and five of their last six, heading into this key matchup with the Nuggets.