Chicago Bulls: 3 most intriguing pre-deadline trade rumors

There’s plenty of chatter going on of late as to what first-year executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley will do for the Chicago Bulls ahead of the March 25 trade deadline. Karnisovas and the Bulls are now less than three weeks away from the looming trade deadline.

And there’s some added time right now for the Bulls new front office regime to configure their plan for the trade deadline, sitting in the midst of the All-Star Break. The Bulls hold a record of 16-18, as one of the most improved teams in the Eastern Conference through the first half of the regular season schedule, under the direction of first-year head coach Billy Donovan.

The last game for the Bulls prior to the All-Star Break resulted in a good road win over star forward Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center back on March 3. They definitely sit within striking distance of a lower seed in the playoff picture in the East at the All-Star Break (which takes place from March 5-10).

There’s also ample reason for excitement if the Bulls do take on the role of a buyer at the trade deadline. They have a first-time All-Star selection this year in star shooting guard Zach LaVine, and are rolling heading into All-Star Weekend. If they continue to get healthier down the stretch in the second half, then there’s even more validated reason for hope for this fan base.

With all of this in mind, here’s a look into three of the most intriguing rumors involving the Bulls ahead of the trade deadline later this month.

3) Intriguing pre-deadline Chicago Bulls rumors

Andre Drummond interest

One of the hotter names around the NBA’s rumor landscape right now involves the former Detroit Piston and the Cleveland Cavaliers dominant center Andre Drummond. This towering 6-foot-10 and 280 pound former UConn Huskies big man is currently in the midst of the final year of his current contract, which makes him a valuable commodity on the trade block ahead of the deadline.

The Bulls apparently have reported interest in looking into a Drummond trade, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (paid content).

Given the need that Donovan and the Bulls have to add a more dominant two-way big man, that can also stay healthy on a consistent basis, the interest in Drummond makes sense. Drummond will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason, as he’s without even a player option for the summer.

The Bulls wouldn’t have to buy into what Drummond brings to the table, or what he might cost contract-wise, over the long haul. He could be really whatever they want him to be; a short term rental or a longer term piece of the frontcourt rotation.

One thing we do know is that third-year center Wendell Carter Jr. and fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen aren’t able to stay healthy on a consistent basis. That means that the Bulls need help in their frontcourt rotation, which is something that Drummond could provide right away if he were to land in the Windy City ahead of the deadline.

The Cavaliers already weren’t playing Drummond down the stretch ahead of the All-Star Break since they are actively trying to find a trade for him. Maybe the Bulls could get him in the mix, and soon.

2) Intriguing pre-deadline Chicago Bulls rumors

Garrett Temple has suitors

A report that surfaced within the past week from IndyStar (paid content) showed that the Bulls Central Division foe Indiana Pacers reached out to them to discuss a trade for the veteran shooting guard Garrett Temple. But it doesn’t sound like anything came of these discussions since the Bulls reportedly “weren’t interested” in what the Pacers had to offer.

It doesn’t seem like there would be much of a market for the former Brooklyn Nets guard/wing Temple a couple of weeks ago. That is especially true for a divisional foe like the Pacers that sits almost in the exact same spots in the standings in the East as the Bulls.

But I guess you never know how certain trade rumors can materialize ahead of the deadline each passing year.

I’m not a personal advocate of the Bulls trading Temple, since he is an integral part of the Bulls backcourt rotation coming off the bench, and he’s a valuable veteran voice in the locker room. The veteran presence of Bulls players such as Temple, forward Thaddeus Young, combo guard/wing Tomas Satoransky, etc., is clearly helping this team find more success in the win column this season.

Yet, a shot for the Bulls to maybe get a sizable offer for Temple ahead of the deadline does bring some level of intrigue. It doesn’t feel like Karnisovas and the Bulls should make Temple an “untouchable” trade target at the deadline. If there’s someone that is willing to bid the price of Temple up high enough in the near future, why not see where the discussions go.

1) Intriguing pre-deadline Chicago Bulls rumors

Lonzo Ball movement from the Pelicans

If there’s any way that Karnisovas and the Bulls would be able to steal away the improving former UCLA Bruin and the Pelicans two-way 6-foot-6 point guard Lonzo Ball ahead of this year’s deadline, they should do it without hesitation. It feels like Lonzo was on the Bulls radar for a while now, and this trade destination makes sense for both parties.

Any world where Lonzo wants to take his talents back to a big market team, especially if he wants to try his hand in the East, should present a scenario where Karnisovas and the Bulls are calling up the Pelicans right away. Trading for Lonzo does present an interesting situation for any team that could do so, though.

Lonzo is set to become a restricted free agent next offseason, which means that he is a low-risk option at the point guard position for the Bulls. But if they want to keep him over the long term, it is going to cost them in the near term. Lonzo might not come cheap to them either, and there’s no guarantee that he would want to return to the Windy City next offseason.

This is the best season of Lonzo’s career to date with how productive and efficient he’s been for the Pelicans in the first half of the regular season schedule. Given the Bulls need to add a true point guard for this young core, and soon, Lonzo is a trade target that makes a lot of sense. It would be a lot of fun to see how Lonzo and LaVine would be able to play together in the same starting backcourt.