Chicago Bulls: 3 mistakes to avoid at the trade deadline
The Chicago Bulls are one of the NBA’s most interesting teams to watch at this year’s trade deadline. The reason for that is because they can truly go in two very different directions or even stay relatively quiet, though most fans are hoping that isn’t the route chosen.
The Bulls continue to linger around the back end of the eastern conference playoff picture as we progress into the second half of the NBA season. Looking forward, there are two ways it could play out. They could barely miss out on the playoffs and find themselves in the back end of the NBA lottery, or they could sneak into the playoffs and find themselves matched up with the Philadelphia 76ers or Brooklyn Nets.
Truthfully, neither result is something to get overly excited about right now. Still, the back-end lottery pick offers the potential of getting some lottery luck and having a high draft pick. At worst, it would result in a slightly higher pick than if they made the playoffs. Good players can be found in the middle of the draft these days, so it’s still an asset.
On the other hand, making the playoffs might see the pick be nearly as good anyway while also offering other perks. The most obvious being it would mean the team played well enough to earn a spot, which would require positive developments from at least some of the currently rostered young players.
No matter how it plays out, or which direction the Bulls choose to take at the deadline, they must absolutely avoid making mistakes they’ll later regret.
Chicago Bulls mistakes to avoid at the deadline: Standing still
No movement from the Bulls ahead of the March 25 deadline would be surprising but isn’t out of the realm of possibility. No one expected the Bulls to make such few moves under their new front office in the off-season, yet they were one of the least active teams across the league.
That decision wasn’t necessarily wrong. Artūras Karnišovas brought in his head coach in Billy Donovan and allowed the current group to show what they can do under the teams’ new direction. He also added a well-respected and solid overall player to the teams’ rotation in Garrett Temple. Selecting Patrick Williams with the fourth pick in the draft was the “big” move, but he’s more of a long-term play than an immediate difference-maker.
The Bulls do not need to make drastic roster moves just to make drastic roster moves. What they do need to do is understand where they currently stand and what their potential outcomes to the season are. They’re not contending for a championship, but they’re much better than the league’s bottom feeders.
That’s why it’s essential they communicate with other teams early and often up until the deadline. They have veteran players contenders will want. There’s a reasonable chance one of them gets desperate enough and offers a better long-term asset than expected.
There’s also the upcoming restricted free agency of Lauri Markkanen, though it seems he could be part of the teams’ long-term outlook more and more each day. So, what if neither of these types of trades come to fruition?
That means the Bulls should take the route of helping facilitate another multiteam deal, or make a small deal with one other team. Netting a second-round pick in the coming years may seem small when it happens, but could pay off nicely down the line. You never know what team will be collecting picks down the road or what trade package a pick can eventually be included in.
As a team that won’t be selecting high in coming seasons barring favorable lottery ball bounces, these are the times to add to your asset collection in any way you can.