All eyes on Bulls as trade deadline looms |
Don't look now, but the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline will be upon us in just over two weeks. It's the day when many contending teams try to improve their roster while non-contending teams aim to better their luck in the future. As has been the case for the past three years, Chicago is stuck somewhere in the middle as all eyes will again be on them come the deadline.
It's no secret that the Bulls are trying to move on from some of their key pieces, with this season being the most likely chance that someone will get moved. After all, you have a team that is stuck in Neutral and continues to do the same things repeatedly while not having a first-round pick for the foreseeable future. That doesn't bode well for a team that may soon be entering a rebuild scenario, as every pick is crucial to speeding up a rebuild. When you look at the Bulls roster, several names have been mentioned regarding possible targets, with Zach Lavine, Nikola Vucevic, and now Patrick Williams being the most mentioned. Williams was recently added as a target because the Bulls are trying to cut ties with him after giving him a massive deal and are ready to admit they made a massive mistake drafting him. Conversely, Lavine has been the center of trade talks for roughly two seasons, yet he is still in Chicago. Whether it be the cost of his contract or the Bulls not liking the packages being put together, Lavine has taken things head-on like a pro and has emerged as their best player again. That alone may be why the Bulls aren't as actively shopping for him as they once were, as they may feel he is a piece they want to continue to build around. The same can't be said about Vucevic, who is in the second year of his three-year extension and is playing his best in several seasons. Like Lavine, Vucevic saw his name centered around trade talks this offseason, but nothing came from it. After getting off to a great start this season and continuing his resurgent play, those talks have intensified, and several teams remain highly interested in Vucevic as a deadline deal. Golden State has been the team linked to Vucevic the most, which should continue throughout the deadline. The Warriors are one of those teams similar to the Bulls where they are good enough to make the playoffs/Play-in, but not good enough to make a serious playoff run. Adding Vucevic would change that, as he would add a nice offensive element to that offense that the Warriors don't have with any of their bigs. Knowing how important he has been to Chicago and how desperate the Warriors are for an offensive-minded big, expect Chicago to look for a reasonably significant return. The most recent trade scenario has Vucevic going to the Warriors in exchange for Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, Lindy Waters III, 2026 protected first-round pick. The protected first-round pick is the key, as the Bulls will do whatever they can to land more future assets. When it comes to the rest of the return, none of those three guys mentioned will do much for this team, but all of them have had moments of success. Looney is the most promising piece of the deal as he is capable of putting up double-digit rebound games every night while coming close to double-digit points. Payton is one of those bench guys that every team needs. He can knock down shots while also playing solid defense. The same can be said about Waters, as this trade would be more of a salary dump to clear out financial flexibility down the road. Another name that has suddenly gained more traction as a possible trade piece is that of fifth-year guard Coby White. Like Vucevic, White signed a three-year extension last season and had the best season of his career. Although he has had a rough season shooting the ball, White has still averaged 18.2 PPG and is capable of shouldering the load offensively. He is one of those pieces that could be used as a starter or coming off the bench as a sixth man, which gives anyone interested some massive flexibility. One of the trades mentioned with White is a three-way trade that includes Torrey Craig as White and Craig from Chicago to Orlando, with the Brooklyn Nets getting Cole Anthony. This is the most promising of all the deals as it not only gives the Bulls another pick but several picks down the road, including a pair of first-round picks: a 2025 first-round pick via Magic, a 2028 first-round pick (Top 3 protected) via Magic, a 2025 second-round pick via Nets, and a 2028 second-round pick via Nets. Chicago would also be adding De'Anthony Melton, who is averaging better than 10 PPG, and Caleb Houston, who is seen as more of a long-term bench piece. Last but not least, the Bulls have added a new name to their potential trade chips, and it is a name that no one saw possible in Lonzo Ball. After missing nearly three years with a series of knee injuries, Ball was finally cleared to play this season but is expected to remain on a minutes restriction throughout the year. That will affect his overall production, but what he has shown this season has to be promising enough for a contending team to bring him in. Given how much time he missed and the lack of minutes he will play, some might feel this is a trade that almost certainly gives the Bulls nothing in return. That is far from the case, as the proposed trade would send Ball to the Rockets for Jae'sean Tate, Jeff Green, and a pair of picks. The Bulls would target the picks in this deal, but with both being second-round selections, they would like to get at least one of the two players mentioned in return. Green seems to be the most likely player to come the Bulls way, as he offers some much-needed outside shooting despite posting down numbers overall. Tate is more of a long-term developmental piece, but if any of these trades go down, the Bulls will need some developmental pieces. With the deadline set for February 6 this season, things are about to pick up, and you can expect the Bulls to be at the center of many of those talks.
