1 Trade target at every position the Chicago Bulls should pursue

Center: Richaun Holmes, Sacramento Kings

49 games into the season, and it’s clear the Andre Drummond experiment has not gone as planned. They’ve instead opted to run Derrick Jones Jr. out as a small ball center, to great success thus far. But it won’t cut it against every team in the league, and there are going to be times when the Bulls need size to match up well against the opposition.

Drummond’s mobility issues and lack of any offensive game whatsoever make him unplayable at times, despite his rebounding prowess. That’s why I think the Bulls could do well to acquire a backup center that can actually threaten opposing defenses on the offensive side of the ball when Nikola Vucevic rests.

Among their options on the market, not many as are attractive and cost-effective as Sacramento’s Richaun Holmes. If the Bulls were able to bring him in, he’d be able to serve as a Montrezl Harrell-esque spark plug off the bench when Vucevic rests, enough time to make a difference but not nearly enough to let his weaknesses drag the team down. Having the option to deploy either Jones Jr. or Holmes depending on the matchup would make Chicago a far more versatile and dangerous squad.

Richaun Holmes could expire a career revival if the Chicago Bulls trade for him.

After the Kings pulled the trigger to acquire Domantas Sabonis in a blockbuster move, Holmes was an unfortunate casualty of the trade. Sabonis’ presence ultimately meant there was no role for Richaun anymore, despite quality play for the team in the 2.5 years prior.

Holmes averaged 13.4 points and 8.2 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per game over that span, providing the same presence for Sacramento that made Daniel Gafford a beloved rookie for the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, the Bulls decided to trade Gafford away, a decision they’d likely come to regret as he blossomed into a very solid backup big in Washington.

Best of all, it may be possible for the Bulls to acquire Holmes for practically nothing. I wouldn’t even be surprised if the Kings give assets to be rid of Holmes, seeing as he’s currently logging less than 10 minutes per game and is on contract through 2025. I believe his deal is relatively team-friendly, but Sacramento will be forced to pay Harrison Barnes in free agency and Sabonis in the following summer.

If the Kings want to keep this core together that’s raced out to a 28-21 record and the 3rd seed in the Western Conference, they may be incentivized to add in some draft capital if it means clearing cap space and acquiring a decent player in return from Chicago.

Worth Watching: Mo Bamba, Isaiah Hartenstein, Naz Reid