The Chicago Bulls landed the 11th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, which gives them a lot of options.
They could just use the pick, grab an upside talent or a player who may be able to help them right away.
They could also use the 11th pick in a trade, possibly in a package for a more proven player if they should decide to keep DeMar DeRozan and are still in win now mode.
The Bulls could also use the pick to trade up, trade back or even trade out of the draft altogether. Let’s start with the least likely option.
The Chicago Bulls trade back in the 2024 NBA Draft
Teams to watch: Heat, Lakers, Magic
Given that this draft is considered fairly weak with a flat tier of talent in the first round, there might not be many teams looking to move up, which makes this an unlikely option.
But depending on who falls to that spot, teams like the Heat, Lakers or Magic could be willing to send the Bulls an asset to move up and take a player (Dalton Knecht for example) who could help them right away.
Orlando is one to watch, as they have a number of young big men who could help the Bulls and are desperate to add shooting. Moritz Wagner is an interesting option here and might be worth moving back seven spots to get.
The Chicago Bulls trade out of the 2024 NBA Draft
Teams to watch: Washington, Detroit, Orlando
If the Bulls want to trade Zach LaVine, this would be one way to do it, as attaching the 11th pick could ensure that they don’t have to give him up for nothing.
The Wizards have expressed interest in adding another pick in this draft according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, and have more favorable contracts to send back. A trade of LaVine and the 11th pick in a deal based around Kyle Kuzma/Marvin Bagley III could work though Washington may want additional assets.
The Pistons could send a couple of young players like Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart for LaVine and the 11th pick, giving the Bulls an injection of talented youth and cap space.
If the Bulls want to get rid of LaVine’s contract, they are going to have to pay to do it but attaching the 11th pick could lessen the cost and get them some useful players.
The Chicago Bulls trade up in the 2024 NBA Draft
Teams to watch: Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons
If the Bulls wanted to do the opposite route and try to add some higher-end young talent, they could try to trade up using their pick and one of their veterans.
The Rockets are definitely a team that could look to move the 3rd pick in search of win-now talent, as they already have six promising young players and are looking to make a leap. Would the 11th pick and Alex Caruso be enough to move up to the 3rd pick? A trade of Caruso/11th pick for Jock Landale/3rd pick works on paper, but which team would walk away?
Given that they have the most cap space and a glaring need to improve, the lowly Pistons are going to be mentioned in nearly every rumor this summer. Like the Rockets, they want to make a leap and might be willing to trade the 5th pick for some more proven talent.
The Bulls could potentially send LaVine and the 11th pick to the Pistons in exchange to move up to the top 5.
That might not be worth it in this draft, but it might represent the best deal the Bulls are going to get for LaVine as they’d get a top-5 talent and a ton of cap relief to add free agents.
The Pistons would get an upgrade of talent without sending out any of their young players and still get a lottery pick to keep adding young projects.
The Bulls have options with this pick and should be exploring them all, as they might be able to get off Zach LaVine’s contract and get something decent in return.