The NBA trade season is finally starting to heat up. We’re now less than a week from December 15—the date when many of the league’s recently signed players become trade-eligible.
As the trade deadline creeps closer, teams across the league will have to decide whether to move key contributors or double down. Big names like Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jonathan Kuminga, Zion Williamson, and Ja Morant have already been floated in the rumor mill.
In Chicago, the Bulls have been tied to almost every big name on the market. Davis, a hometown star, would fill a glaring need. Antetokounmpo has openly admitted he’d love the idea of playing in the Windy City. Kuminga has been linked to Chicago for months, and Williamson was floated as a potential target before the season even began.
Chicago is an unlikely landing spot for Ja Morant
Notably absent from that aforementioned group is Ja Morant, who hasn't come up as a realistic target for the Bulls’ already guard-heavy roster. Nonetheless, in an episode of Insider Notebook, Jake Fischer discussed the possibility of the 26-year-old guard landing in Chicago.
Fischer said, "Chicago really has handed their keys over to Josh Giddey… but they have another point guard situation to consider with Coby White moving forward. He's going to want a big payday. I don't see them moving off of Coby White for someone that is even more volatile than [White's] playing status… I don't see Ja Morant being someone that they splurge for."
A few years ago, choosing White over Morant would have seemed absurd. Now, it’s completely reasonable. Morant hasn’t made an All-Star team since 2023, and a string of injuries has limited him to just 71 games since then. And while White has missed time this season—which Fischer alluded to—Morant has also been sidelined for half of Memphis’ games.
Morant also lacks the versatility White brings. Even if he can be the more dynamic player at his peak, he’s shooting just 35.9 percent from the field this season and has never topped 34.4 percent from three. Betting major assets on an often-injured, one-dimensional guard isn’t smart—and the Bulls seem to know it.
At this point, it’s clear the Bulls are out on the two-time All-Star. Morant might bring a new dimension to the offense and energize the fanbase, but after years of injuries and inconsistent play, the choice is obvious: White is the guard Chicago should be prioritizing.