Ranking Bulls' Top Trade Targets After 2024 NBA Playoff Loss

The Chicago Bulls, it turns out, are who we thought they were—not who the front office seemingly believed they could become.

External calls to demolish this roster were so often tied to Chicago's lack of potential, and that low ceiling was cemented with the club's 112-91 loss to the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament.

With not enough talent to compete on a high level and not enough up-and-comers to change that any time soon, the Bulls again loom as possible blow-it-up candidates. Whether the front office finally heeds those calls is entirely uncertain, but there's a chance sweeping changes are coming to the Windy City this summer.

If Chicago, which last brokered a player trade in Aug. 2021, finally enters the trade market, this is what the organization should be aiming to get.

3. Draft Picks

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CHICAGO,IL - MAY 16: General Manager Marc Eversley, Executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, and Assistant GM JJ Polk of the Chicago Bulls attend the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place on May 16, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

Of the Bulls' top 11 scorers, only three are under the age of 25: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams, who's about to tread into the murky waters of restricted free agency. For a team with just two playoff trips and zero series wins to show for the last nine seasons, that is an unforgivably tiny amount of young talent.

An obvious offseason priority, then, should be paving paths to more high-end prospects. The Bulls are already down four future second-round picks and owe their 2025 first-rounder (with top-10 protection) to the San Antonio Spurs. Their only incoming pick is a lottery-protected first from the Portland Trail Blazers that could be years away from conveying.

That can't be the case after this summer. The Bulls may not have enough win-now talent to actually win anything of significance, but they do have enough to shop around in search of long-term assets.

Between his dominant defense and team-friendly contract, Alex Caruso might fetch multiple firsts. Teams in the market for interior offense could deem Nikola Vučević of a lower-end first. A sign-and-traded DeMar DeRozan might bring back the same. The Bulls have several avenues to potential picks, they just need to explore them.

2. Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 1: Dorian Finney-Smith #28 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

As much as we'd like to limit this list to only future-focused targets, doing so would ignore that Benny the Bull-shaped elephant in the room.

There is a real possibility that this front office not only remains committed to this core over the offseason, but it attempts to surround it with more plug-and-play talent. Remember, the reason for Chicago's latest dormant trade deadline was a desire to compete for the playoffs:

If the Bulls want to increase their playoff hopes for next season, they should look for ways to beef up their wing collection. A deal for ace three-and-D swingman Dorian Finney-Smith would do exactly that.

If the veteran forward can rediscover his shooting stroke (sub-35 percent the past two seasons, 38.9 over the three campaigns prior), he'd be an excellent addition as an all-purpose defensive stopper and low-maintenance floor-spacer.

1. Whatever Teams Will Give Up for Zach LaVine

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TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 18: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls looks on against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on January 18, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

Zach LaVine ranks among the trickiest players to trade at the moment. Chicago should try moving him anyway.

While the Bulls couldn't find a taker ahead of the trade deadline, they "will look trade LaVine again this offseason," per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

It's an easy call to make—even while conceding that LaVine's trade value is in the tank. This was a wasted season for the two-time All-Star who saw his numbers tumble, his injury issues mount and his team play better without him. And since his colossal contract still has three years left—the last is technically a player option, per Spotrac, but it's virtually impossible to picture him leaving $49 million salary on the table—he is pretty obviously a negative asset.

And still, the Bulls would be better off bringing some finality to that situation and not having LaVine's future hang over their heads at the start of training camp. Beyond avoiding that distraction, Chicago would do well to clear as many minutes and touches as possible for young guards Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry. If Chicago can sniff out a LaVine deal that isn't overly costly, that should be a no-brainer.