The Chicago Bulls have been one of the centerpieces of the NBA Trade Deadline, at least until Kyrie Irving’s trade demand pushed them out of the way. Now with that deal complete, some of this week’s questions will rest on the Bulls and whether they will make a franchise-altering trade.
Two seasons ago the Bulls were a part of such a shift, when the Orlando Magic unloaded their key veteran players, including a trade that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Bulls. The remnants of that trade still linger, as Chicago owes a Top-4 protected first-round pick to the Magic this season. Tearing it down and tanking this season could still mean trading a lucrative pick to the Magic.
The Chicago Bulls have to decide whether to make a big trade at the deadline.
Far more likely than a full teardown is a partial step, moving one key player to reconfigure the core and try to make a push next season, ideally with a healthy Lonzo Ball. Sorting through the various permutations can lead to a headache, but in the aftermath of the Kyrie Irving trade perhaps an obvious trade partner has emerged.
The Los Angeles Lakers went nearly all-in making an offer to the Brooklyn Nets, reportedly offering both their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks unprotected. That’s the kind of package that could motivate the Bulls to move Zach LaVine and his hefty contract. Keeping LaVine has its merits, but getting two premium-looking first-round picks with a lot of upside could allow the Bulls to replace LaVine and not have to worry about how his knees will age.
Let’s see how that deal could look.