After a quiet offseason thus far, the Chicago Bulls have recently been attached to multiple trade rumors around the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Bulls have the 11th pick but could look to move up if the right opportunity presents itself. Arturas Karnivsovas promised change this offseason and trading up to get a higher profile player (and possibly get off a contract) would be one way to do it.
The Bulls have some connections to Matas Buzelis, who was recently named by ESPN as a guy Chicago could trade up to get.
But Buzelis wasn’t the only possibility.
Chicago Bulls draft: Trading up for Donovan Clingan
ESPN (subscription) also said Donovan Clingan is a player the Bulls could target in a draft trade:
"He is being discussed among teams as a possible target for the likes of Chicago, Memphis, Oklahoma City or Utah, who all might explore trading up for a player in his mold."
Clingan is a player who has steadily risen up draft boards as a 7-foot-2 center who is a paint smotherer and rim protector who is a good connective playmaker and has shown some ability to shoot.
He profiles as a player who should not only slot immediately into the modern game but who has considerable upside.
The problem is that there is no way he’s going to be available at 11, so if Chicago wants their big man of the future, it’s going to take some wheeling and dealing.
It will also have ramifications on the big men currently on the Bulls roster.