The Bulls and Knicks are not having the seasons they expected, setting up a potential trade between the teams in the offseason.
The Chicago Bulls entered 2021-2022 believing they can contend with their new stars. While they welcomed seven new players to their rotation, they started the season looking like a contender. As the season progressed, the injury bug hit Chicago hard and their play never recovered. The Bulls have gone from the top seed in the Eastern Conference to No. 5.
The Knicks, on the other hand, were coming off a season where they showed tremendous promise. Julius Randle won the Most Improved Player award, Derrick Rose once again proved to handle big moments, and their defense looked stellar for most of the year. But all of that hope was booted by the Trae Young and Atlanta Hawks. Since that playoff series loss, the Knicks have looked liked the stereotypical Knicks.
Randle can’t manufacture easy looks. The team can’t defend a parked car. And their big veteran signing in Kemba Walker is no longer playing for the team after the two sides reached an agreement to have him sit out.
With both teams flying below internal expectations, they very well can explore trades that can help each other in the next few months. No better time to start discussing than before their matchup on Monday night.
3 Knicks players the Bulls should target in offseason trades
3. Evan Fournier
The Knicks and Fournier have an on-again, off-again relationship. When he’s hot from three and the New York is winning, the fan base loves him. When he’s cold on offense and cone a defense, the fan base wants the dude banned from the state.
The truth is Fournier isn’t a first option-type player — or even a second or third. When he’s expected to be a main offensive option, that says more about the team’s makeup than it does about him. He’s a solid shooter and an average ball-handler.
The extent of his contributions should be that of a role player. That’s the realm he excels in and can truly move the needle for a contender. That’s something the Bulls desperately need — they’ve had a role player problem since the mid-February. Their role players can’t score when given extended minutes and their stars being forced to give the ball up in crunch time.
Fournier is a guy who can play in late-game situations alongside DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. He can handle the ball when they’re trapped and get it back to them when they’re able to get open. He can hit the open shot and manufacture his own shot in short stints.
Everything the Bulls need off the bench is there in Fournier. With the way his Knick tenure is playing out, he very well might be available for Chicago to grab.