The Chicago Bulls should capitalize on the Denver Nuggets’ potential desire to shed salary this summer by stealing someone from Nikola Jokic’s support system. Trading for a guy like Aaron Gordon or Cameron Johnson could help the Nuggets shed salary while also giving the Bulls a chance to revive a player’s value (even though they’re on a less-than-ideal contract).
Obviously, signing Peyton Watson in restricted free agency would be more ideal for the Bulls, but if he decides to go elsewhere – or tries to re-sign with the Nuggets – the Bulls should try to take Gordon or Johnson off their hands. Chicago should have cap space this summer and could take one of those players off Denver’s hands.
That should be the Bulls’ first call this trade season.
Bulls should trade for Peyton Watson or Cameron Johnson
The Bulls will, in theory, be one of the only teams with cap space this summer. They should be able to take on some bad contracts and try to revitalize their value.
If the Nuggets want to re-sign Watson this summer and avoid being an apron team, they will need to shed some salary. And finding the right trade partner will be crucial if they want to do so.
Last summer, they traded Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Johnson. The Nets took on MPJ’s bad contract and have since helped him revive his trade value.
The Bulls should try to do the same thing with either Gordon or Johnson this summer. Gordon is on a long-term contract, and Johnson will be on an expiring deal.
Both could be valuable to certain teams in the right situations. It would just be up to the Bulls to either flip one of the guys right away or let them play next season and improve their value before moving them.
In an ideal world, Gordon is an elite defensive-minded forward who can guard almost any position on the court while also providing solid rim pressure with his off-ball cutting.
As for Johnson, he should be a solid 3-and-D player. And since he’s on an expiring contract, teams could be willing to take a chance on making a trade for him.
If the Bulls could get their hands on either player, perhaps they would be able to receive some draft capital in return alongside them, especially if they gave the Nuggets a decent depth piece.
Regardless, trading for Gordon or Johnson could be smart for Chicago this summer.
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