Following years of mediocracy, it appears the Chicago Bulls are finally open to a fire sale. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic have long been involved in trade rumors. However, suddenly, other Bulls are reportedly on the trade block.
First, Lonzo Ball, who made his impact felt in Chicago before knee injuries derailed his promising career for years, is reportedly available for trade. While missing two consecutive seasons likely led to Ball's omission from trade talks, his return to play alongside the Bulls' continued lack of success has led to teams inquiring about most Chicago veterans—including Ball.
Aside from LaVine, Vucevic, and Ball, two of Chicago's more recent draftees will likely be a part of the fire sale. Although not an initiative of the Bulls, Chicago will reportedly have to tack at least one youngster to sweeten any deals including a significant salary.
Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips are likely to be included in a future trade
The two Bulls are Dalen Terry, a first-round pick in 2022, and Julian Phillips, who heard his name called in the second round of the 2023 draft. Neither of the wings has made much of an impact in the NBA, but at 22 and 21, respectively, both players have time on their sides.
In addition to youth, Terry and Phillips are valuable archetypes in today's NBA. Terry is a 6-foot-7 guard with a 7-foot wingspan. He's extremely active on the defensive end of the court and happens to be a multi-positional defender, capable of guarding up to three positions.
Terry's offense has yet to take off, but he's shown intriguing playmaking skills and an improved three-point shot this season. The former Arizona Wildcat has averaged more than an assist per game in each of his last two seasons and is now shooting 36.4 percent from beyond the arc, albeit on a low volume (1.1 three-point attempts per game).
As for Phillips, he's shown even less than Terry thus far into his professional career, appearing only 59 games across one and a quarter seasons. However, he's carved out arguably a greater role in Chicago's rotation than Terry. The former second-rounder has played 19 games this season, averaging 14.1 minutes per contest. Terry, on the other hand, averages just 13.3 minutes per game.
Phillips averages the same amount of points as Terry, although on worse efficiency. The former Tennessee Volunteer shoots 40.8 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from beyond the arc. Despite Phillips middling counting stats, scouts have taken notice of the 21-year-old, saying "He gets to his spots. Defensively he can really switch. He's shown a lot of improvement in catch-and-shoots. He's more patient, especially in transition."
An impressive athlete at 6-foot-8, Phillips is surely a desirable target. He's yet to begin impacting winning. Nevertheless, Phillips' net rating is better than regular contributors Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Josh Giddey, and even Vucevic. The idea of Phillips is currently better than the on-court product, but as previously mentioned, a lanky, switchable wing is all the rage in today's NBA.
The Bulls likely don't want to part with Terry or Phillips, but it might have to happen if Chicago wishes to dump LaVine, Vucevic, or even Patrick Williams, who's owed $18 million per season. Objectively, replacing departed veterans with Terry or Phillips is in the Bulls' best interest. Yet, if the Bulls receive a tantalizing trade including one of its veterans, parting with one of the youngsters will be a no-brainer.