Under the stewardship of Arturas Karnisovas, the Chicago Bulls have become the NBA's model for mediocrity. Finishes of 10th, 9th and 9th in the Eastern Conference standings the last three seasons, respectively, have led to three consecutive Play-In Tournament spots and three consecutive playoff misses. It seems to be more of the same in the Windy City this year.
A trade for Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid would certainly mark a change in approach. Or, perhaps more accurately, "a gargantuan risk" as Bleacher Report scribe Andy Bailey writes.
Making a deal of this magnitude would be a dramatic shift for Chicago's front office (and at least no one could argue that the organization is boring anymore).
Chicago Bulls trade for Joel Embiid in mock proposal
Bailey put together a list of one trade every NBA team would make if the 2025-26 trade deadline were today, and he believes the Sixers would consider it a no-brainer if they were able to move what may rapidly become the league's worst contract. Here's the potential deal in full:
From Philadelphia's perspective, the thinking here is clear: Embiid has struggled to stay healthy (putting it nicely) and is owed a massive amount of money -- $193 million over the next three seasons and a $69 million player option in 2028-29 when he'll be 34 years old.
At his best, Embiid is one of the NBA's premier superstars; he's a seven-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion and has made five All-NBA teams. But he's also one of its most injury-prone.
The Process played 58 games combined in the two seasons since winning the league's MVP award in 2022-23 and only 19 a year ago. There's little reason to believe he'll find a way to stay healthy as he approaches his mid-30s.
Vucevic and Collins are both on expiring contracts. They would save the 76ers almost $40 million. Essengue was the No. 12 pick in the 2025 draft. He's extremely raw but loaded with upside as an athletic 6-foot-10 wing/forward hybrid with elite defensive potential and enough ball handling to make his offensive game interesting. A future first-rounder would be icing on the cake.
Grading the Embiid trade proposal for the Bulls
There may be revolt and picketing outside the United Center if Karnisovas pulls the trigger on this one. Sure, if Embiid finds a way to stay on the court and plays even 55 to 60 games a year for the next few seasons, he would be the most impactful star the franchise has had since Derrick Rose.
But that's a massive if; 7-footers with a history of foot injuries generally don't age well, and Embiid's recent track record doesn't inspire confidence.
Losing Vucevic and Collins wouldn't affect the Bulls much long-term, but mortgaging future assets like Essengue and a first-round pick are exactly what the organization should not be doing with a core that features 22-year-old Josh Giddey and 20-year-old Matas Buzelis.
In a dream world, though ... an All-NBA-level Embiid next to a floor general like Giddey, a rising two-way star in Buzelis and a perimeter scorer like Coby White would make the Bulls immediate contenders in the East. But that's not how the cookie crumbles.