The Chicago Bulls aren’t a championship-caliber team, and that’s okay. But they’re also not a lock to make the playoffs, which isn’t okay. With how much they’ve invested in the roster, not being a perennial playoff team or even a seventh or eighth seed isn’t acceptable. They need to strive to be better.
Or, on the other hand, they could tear down the roster and start anew. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that Chicago has reached out to other teams in an attempt to gauge trade interest in Zach LaVine. However, Will Gottlieb of CHGO urged the team to proceed with caution.
He stressed the importance of getting back a solid return in a LaVine deal, noting that trading DeMar DeRozan may be more important due to his contract situation and age.
“While I am in favor of a rebuild, you can’t move him [LaVine] to move him. Whereas moving DeMar feels slightly more urgent due to his age, contract situation,” Gottlieb tweeted.
Again: If the Bulls are going to trade Zach, value *has* to be the priority
While I am in favor of a rebuild, you can't move him to move him. Whereas moving DeMar feels slightly more urgent due to his age, contract situation
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) June 15, 2023
By the time next season begins, DeRozan will be 34 years old. He’s entering the final year of his contract, so if Chicago doesn’t re-sign him, they risk losing him for nothing next summer.
Meanwhile, Chicago inked LaVine to a massive four-year contract extension last offseason, solidifying his future with the Bulls. Trading him now is definitely an option, but they are in no rush to get a deal done. Or at least, according to Gottlieb, they shouldn’t be.
While LaVine’s name is the one that popped up in rumors, keep an eye on DeRozan.
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