Bulls' Complete 2023 NBA Trade Deadline Preview, Predictions
The Chicago Bulls have tried escaping mediocrity's grasp, but it keeps finding ways to tie up this team.
Two years ago, they tried vaulting out of their rebuild by making a deadline deal for Nikola Vučević.
After adding DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball the following offseason, Chicago finally started ascending the ladder in the Eastern Conference but ran out of gas once the latter suffered a meniscus tear last January.
Ball still isn't back, and neither is the Bulls' mojo.
The front office must soon decide if this season can be salvaged, or if things have run their course with this core. Which direction will Chicago take? We'll tackle that topic and more in this comprehensive NBA trade deadline guide.
Trade Assets
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Finding trade assets in Chicago isn't easy. The hard part is figuring out which ones are actually available.
Coby White looms as the only player who is (relatively) likely to be on the move. His role has never been smaller (21.2 minutes per game), and he'll be a restricted free agent after this season.
It's tough to say how much trade value he has—he's a good scorer but lacks another standout skill—but his age (22) and pedigree (No. 7 pick in 2019) could attract the right suitor.
If Chicago pivots toward a rebuild, then everyone not named Patrick Williams is probably up for grabs. Free agency awaits Vučević this summer and DeRozan the next. Both 30-somethings could be shopped for long-term assets.
Zach LaVine could be another trade candidate, since he's in his prime at 27 and owed max money through at least 2026 ($49 million player option for 2026-27, per Spotrac). Alex Caruso would have plenty of suitors for his high-energy play at both ends.
If the Bulls want to push for competitiveness, they could pair White with the lottery-protected pick they're owed from the Portland Trail Blazers and salary-filler for a plug-and-play upgrade at point guard or on the wing.
Patrick Williams is theoretically another trade candidate, but it's hard to see Chicago parting with him in anything other than a blockbuster.
Team Needs
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Assuming the front office doesn't pull the plug on this core, the list of on-court needs is extensive.
Given Ball's lack of progress, a two-way floor general probably tops the list. The Bulls miss his connectivity at both ends. He set the tone defensively and on offense, he kept everyone involved while adding his own value through his spot-up shooting and hit-ahead passes.
Replacing that skill set won't be easy, but if the Bulls had a dream deadline, that's the kind of player they'd find.
Length, athleticism and defense would all be welcome on the interior. Vučević isn't the bounciest big man around, and Andre Drummond has disappointed to the point of losing his role in the rotation.
Bench scoring and volume shooting are worth a mention, too. Chicago sits just 24th in bench points and 27th in threes per game.
Deadline Predictions
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The idea of a Bulls' blow-up is fun—at least for everyone outside of Chicago. There aren't many obvious sellers in this market and fewer with the kind of established talent that could shake up the championship race.
Still, this probably isn't the right time for a total redirection. If wholesale changes are coming, they likely won't surface before the summer.
Having said that, a trade involving White feels more likely than not. He is redundant on this roster but could hold long-term appeal somewhere else.
Flipping him and perhaps that Portland pick for an interior presence such as Mo Bamba or an upgrade at the forward spot like Jae Crowder would make an awful lot of sense.
