Night one of the inaugural two-part NBA Draft is officially in the books. The Chicago Bulls selected premier two-way forward Noa Essengue with the 12th overall selection. Although a bit raw, at only 18 years old, Essengue is an ideal fit in Chicago's uptempo offensive scheme and offers a tantalizing defensive upside.
The 6-foot-10 Essengue should eventually slide in next to Matas Buzelis at power forward. He's likely not ready to make an immediate impact, due to offensive constraints and a lack of strength, but the Bulls' long-term plan is finally coming to fruition.
However, there remains a gaping hole at center. Of course, Chicago rosters two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic. He's still serviceable and arguably a borderline All-Star even at 34 years old. Yet, he'll play next season on an expiring contract, and his defensive deficiencies are magnified on a team lacking adequate perimeter stoppers.
After not selecting a center in the first round of the NBA Draft, a defensive-minded, athletic big must top the Bulls' wishlist. Chicago narrowly missed out on selecting Duke's Khaman Maluach, who went to the Phoenix Suns two picks earlier. The gargantuan 7-foot-2 big man would have immediately elevated the Bulls' leaky defense.
On the bright side, there's some good to come out of Phoenix's savvy draft pick. Besides selecting Maluach, the Suns also traded for Mark Williams, sending the 29th overall pick, a 2029 first-rounder, and Vasilije Micic to the Charlotte Hornets. It's the second trade the Suns have made with the Hornets in mere months. Coincidentally, the first trade also included a center, Nick Richards, who started in 34 of 36 games for Phoenix.
Chicago must take advantage of the now-disposable Nick Richards
All of a sudden, a former starter, Richards, is the odd man out in Phoenix. Despite trading for Richards and playing him 22.7 minutes per game, the Suns felt the need to go in a different direction. The Kentucky product added a much-needed athletic element to Phoenix's frontcourt, but not much else. He averaged 9.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks. However, he finished with the second-worst net rating on the team.
While he might not be a reliable starter, he's a low-cost, worthwhile addition, especially for the Bulls, who roster a below-the-rim center triumvirate, made up of Vucevic, Jalen Smith, and Zach Collins. The trio combined to record 49 dunks across 165 games compared to Richards' 55 dunks in 36 games with the Suns.
Phoenix sent Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to Charlotte in exchange for Richards and a second-rounder. Five months later, his trade value likely hasn't changed. But the extent to which the Suns covet Richards has. He's no longer a necessity, now dispensable. That's where the Bulls must step in.
One obvious trade scenario immediately comes to mind. Phoenix cannot acquire more salary than it sends out as a second-round team. Thus, there isn't much wiggle room regarding Richards' $5 million pact. Yet, the Bulls roster includes an intriguing, inexpensive young forward who is now lost in the mix after the Essengue addition. That would be Julian Phillips, a former second-rounder, who is owed only $2.2 million next season.
A Phillips for Richards swap makes perfect sense. The Suns trim some salary, while adding an up-and-coming combo forward to a depleted wing unit. On the other hand, the Bulls add a physical presence to a soft front line. Richards would add some much-needed bulk, athleticism, and rebounding to the Bulls frontcourt. Lastly, adding Richards wouldn't jeopardize the Bulls' much-anticipated future financial flexibility. He's only signed for one more season.