Trade Targets for Bulls to Avoid at 2024 Deadline

A sluggish start to the 2023-24 NBA season followed by a semi-resurgence has the Chicago Bulls exactly where they've been during much of the past two campaigns.

They are once again hovering near the midpoint of the league standings, logging serious—and seriously exhausting—high mileage on the proverbial treadmill of mediocrity.

The upcoming trade deadline is their chance to break free of this monotonous existence, though it's on the front office to decide which direction to take.

External calls for the destruction of this roster have so far gone unheeded, which has the hoops world wondering what—if anything—these decision-makers have up their sleeve. They could dismantle this core and usher in a rebuild around ascending point guard Coby White, or they could double-down on the win-now intentions that led to the creation of this roster.

Adding talent isn't the worst option here, even if it's not the most advisable one from our point of view. If nothing else, it'd beat standing pat like this squad did at the past two deadlines. If the Bulls do bring in some roster reinforcements, though, we'd advise against pursuing the following three players.

Pat Connaughton, Milwaukee Bucks

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 22: Pat Connaughton #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 22, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)

Despite their prominent place in the Eastern Conference standings, the Bucks clearly aren't interested in status quo. They just switched head coaches from Adrian Griffin to Doc Rivers, and they may quickly turn their attention toward retooling this roster.

The Bucks are aiming to "fortify (their) defensive rotation," per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, who noted the team is dangling the second-round pick their owed by the Portland Trail Blazers along with Connaughton and Cameron Payne. Milwaukee also views Chicago's standout stopper Alex Caruso as a "dream" target, per Fischer, so it's possible these teams could talk trades at some point.

Should those discussions ever go down, though, the Bulls should want no part of Connaughton. The Bulls may well attempt to upgrade their wing rotation this trade season, but a deal for Connaughton wouldn't cut it.

He's sometimes billed as a sort of three-and-D wing, but his defense and his three-ball (career 36 percent) are both far from exceptional. If the Bucks have deemed him as expendable, the Bulls should take that as a sign he probably wouldn't help them either.

Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 17: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks talks to Dejounte Murray #5 during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at State Farm Arena on January 17, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

As the Bulls have poked around for a split from Zach LaVine and the various red flags around him (injury issues, a colossal contract and limited team success), they have "inquired about" Dejounte Murray in a potential LaVine deal, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer. To the surprise of no one, Fischer added that "those talks never gained much traction."

If Chicago had any reasonable hope of flipping LaVine for Murray, that'd be a deal this team would make 11 times out of 10. In reality, though, the Bulls would face a scenario in which they'd have to incentivize the Hawks (or a third team) take on the remainder of LaVine's deal while also supplying the requisite assets to add Murray.

What would that accomplish, beyond depleting Chicago's trade tools? Murray is a good player, but he isn't the kind of needle-mover the Bulls would need to elevate anywhere near championship contention. His defense has declined during his Hawks tenure, and while his perimeter shot has perked up this season (2.4 average makes at a 39-percent clip), his career averages (1.0 threes on 34.6 percent shooting) suggest he could have trouble sustaining this success.

Chicago should be searching for ways to get White even more involved and ideally foster further development. Subtracting LaVine only to add another ball-dominant player like Murray wouldn't accomplish that. If anything, the Bulls might wind up giving even more touches to Murray, or spending resources that would otherwise be better invested in White's ongoing ascension.

D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game on January 23, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Lakers appear to be the clubhouse leaders to land Dejounte Murray. What does that have to do with D'Angelo Russell, or the Bulls for that matter?

Well, Russell would likely be involved in any Murray deal, only Russell wouldn't head to Atlanta but rather to a third team roped into the exchange.

The Bulls should absolutely avoid this swap.

Russell is essentially a cheaper version of LaVine, an offense-only contributor who isn't always efficient and hasn't enjoyed much playoff success. Again, Chicago's primary focus this trade season should be on best positioning White for more success, and a deal for Russell wouldn't accomplish that one bit.