Northwest Division
Utah Jazz – Eric Paschall
If the Bulls are going to let Troy Brown Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. walk in free agency, they’d be wise to acquire a quality replacement to fill the hole at reserve forward like Eric Paschall. Although he doesn’t have the upside other options do, Paschall displayed a vast improvement in his 3-point shot this season and has the size to rebound at a reasonable clip.
Denver Nuggets – Bryn Forbes
If the Bulls wish to acquire some shooting this summer, Bryn Forbes is among my favorite options available for cheap. Forbes is proven to be lethal from deep, hitting an impressive 42% of his 3-point attempts since 2018. He struggles to provide much else when on the court, but he would still be a massive improvement over Matt Thomas in Chicago’s rotation.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Taurean Prince
Taurean Prince has bounced around the league in his short NBA career thus far. He’s earned a starting role for four different teams in six years, thanks in large part to his shooting and versatility on the wing. Prince may be overlooked in free agency, but he’s exactly the type of player that would immediately make the Bulls a much more well-rounded team.
Portland Trail Blazers – Anfernee Simons
Anfernee Simons is the crown jewel of Portland’s development system, and they’re not going to let him go easily. But if the reports are true and the Blazers intend to make a push to work a sign-and-trade for LaVine, receiving Simons in return is the most logical starting point for getting a deal like that done.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Mike Muscala
Mike Muscala is another name the Bulls were attached to at last year’s trade deadline, and he still makes just as much sense then as he does now. Muscala would be a very solid backup behind Vucevic and should be available for cheap. The biggest obstacle to acquiring Muscala is the fact that Oklahoma City holds his team option for next season. If they decide to commit to developing the young core, he should hit the open market and possibly help a team like the Bulls make a playoff push.