The Bulls front office is once again making the same frustrating mistake. As this year's NBA trade deadline approaches, Chicago doesn't seem in a hurry to trade any assets and fully commit to a rebuild, leaving the organization -- and its fans -- stuck in limbo.
Executive VP of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas has some valuable pieces at his disposal if he decides to deal. Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins and Kevin Huerter are all on expiring salaries between $18 million and $20 million each. Karnišovas has all of his first-round picks and an extra selection courtesy of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Coby White is one of the most bandied-about names in the rumor mill. Ayo Dosunmu may be even more attractive to some teams than White. Tre Jones is another potentially acquirable guard.
But, unsurprisingly, Karnišovas appears ready to sit on his hands between now and Feb. 5.
The Bulls trade deadline plans could once again be disappointing
Vucevic has been a logical trade candidate going back to last year's deadline. Chicago could have gotten a few second-round picks in exchange for its starting center, but Karnišovas was reportedly holding out for a first-rounder that was never coming.
Now, Vucevic is expected to play out the remainder of his contract and enter free agency this summer, and the Bulls will get nothing.
Despite his up-and-down start to the season and triumvirate of calf injuries, White is a guard in demand, as Julila Poe of the Chicago Tribune points out. The 25-year-old is a three-level scorer who's also averaged 4.8 assists over the last three seasons. He struggles to defend, but it's not for lack of effort, and his versatile offensive skill set is what makes him attractive.
He would be a snug fit in Minnesota next to Anthony Edwards. The Detroit Pistons need a secondary scorer, and the Houston Rockets could stand to add another guard. The Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks have also been linked to White.
Dosunmu is another trade chip Karnisovas has to dangle. While he's not the shot creator White is, he's a far superior defender, is more explosive getting to the rim and doesn't need the ball a ton to be effective. He would be a plug-and-play solution for teams like the New York Knicks and Timberwolves who need a low-usage, two-way guard.
White and Dosunmu will be free agents after this season, meaning any team that acquires them will either do so for just a few months or need to pay to re-sign them. That limits their value -- but they still have plenty of it.
Karnišovas failed to trade Vucevic when he had the chance. He did the same thing with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. He's 10 days away from doing it again with White and Dosunmu. If neither of the guards fits squarely into the franchise's long-term plans, trading them now for something rather than waiting and getting nothing is the only smart move to make.
But as Bulls fans are painfully aware, this front office doesn't seem to be comfortable with the logical kinds of decisions.