The Chicago Bulls are still waiting on power forward Lauri Markkanen and small forward Otto Porter Jr. to find their way back into the lineup after missing a very large number of games to start this season.
The Bulls have not really been at full strength due to the often-injured players so far. Help at the forward position is becoming as important as are lack of size at center. Patrick Williams is going to be a great player, but he is only 19 and a rookie.
It is very hard for VP Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley to get a real look as to how good this Bulls team could be. Injuries at the forward position have become the normal the past two seasons.
A trade for a solid power forward could be in play for the new front office. There are plenty of options at that position. Especially players who are not injury prone and who could come to Chicago and be very effective instantly under new head coach Billy Donovan.
Forward trade options for the Chicago Bulls
Kyle Kuzma is a very dynamic player, he is streaky at times and tends to play out of the flow of the game, but he is very athletic and an underrated defender. A new role may be what pushes him to the next level. Most importantly he is cheap, he has an annual salary of just over $8 million.
Trading for Kuzma gives the Bull another offensive option and he could be a boost to our already solid bench. He could also be a starter if he were to replace Markkanen. Or they could start Williams and bring Kuzma off the bench.
Donovan could even play them together in late game situations for more size and defense. That would also add another option for Zach LaVine, so he does not have to continue to carry the load at the end of clutch games.
Kuzma can handle the ball and shoots a decent percentage from three at 36.3 percent. He is averaging 11.1 points per game and 6.5 rebounds: he is shooting 44.8 percent from the field.
He is not the most physical, but his athleticism makes him able to do things few forwards are capable of in this league. The most important stat he carries is that he is available and does not miss a lot of games.
John Collins is another option for the front office to consider at forward. He is another player who is a very low risk high reward affordable player. He has shown playing with the Atlanta Hawks that he is a force to be reckon.
Collins is a little more expensive than Kuzma but even at $11 million a year he is a very affordable option. There were rumors circulating earlier in the season that Collins and Trae Young were not gelling very well so he may be available for trade.
He is a very good player on the offensive end and can score in bunches. He is physical and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Not to mention he is just 23 years old. In just his fourth season we have not even gotten a glimpse of his true potential.
On the season he is averaging 18.1 points per game, 7.6 rebounds, shooting 54 percent from the field. He is an effortless 38 percent three-point shooter. He does tend to take plays off at time, maybe the only negative I have for him.
Pairing LaVine and Collins would be a very hard duo to guard for opposing defenses. They could create that one two punch the Bulls need and gives them another option in those crunch time games coming ahead.
Again, most importantly he has not missed extended time due to injury this season. In him the Bulls would inherit an alpha dog who knows how to play without commanding the ball. This move would be a win now move.
It is a move that speeds this rebuild up without taking up a ton of cap space it also is a move that will attract free agents to Chicago. LaVine and Collins would be a very dynamic duo.
The front office still has question marks on Markkanen and Porter Jr. but trading for one of these two studs eliminates those questions. They are both what we hope our current forward will become. That’s players who contribute every single night!