Chicago Bulls target in a Lauri Markkanen trade: Josh Hart, New Orleans Pelicans
Not the Pelicans player you were expecting to see here I’d imagine. Lonzo Ball is still rightfully atop the Bulls wishlist at the deadline but this move is simpler and could be added to any Lonzo deal if the Pelicans value the Bulls assets enough. If not, Ball could be on his way to the Big Apple or may stay in New Orleans.
Hart is a great target for a number of reasons, the first being he is a valuable role player that the Bulls could add before locking up for multiple years moving forward. Like Markkanen, Hart will hit restricted free agency this offseason but he isn’t going to draw the high-end offers that Markkanen likely will. He would be able to be retained on a fair deal and is a player that will help for years to come.
Hart is a wing/guard that rebounds with the best of them for his size. The Bulls have an obvious lack of rebounding on their current roster and it would be nice to chip away at that issue by adding a player who specializes in cleaning the glass for his position. Further, he is a versatile defender that can thrive in switch-heavy lineups and has even shown the ability to hold his own against much bigger players.
He isn’t the most appealing name on paper, but the Bulls may not find that level of a market for Markkanen as they look to move him before it’s too late. If they’re certain he isn’t a part of their future plans, a player like Hart is the perfect fit because he fits on any roster and in almost any lineup.