Why the Bulls have the second-best odds to land James Harden via trade

The Chicago Bulls are currently a +600 to land James Harden, second only to the Los Angeles Clippers. Does Harden make sense in the Windy City?

The future is murky for the Chicago Bulls heading into the ’23-24 season. The team has underperformed in recent years, and it’s unclear how long Chicago will proceed with this core, or if they even should at all. By some accounts, the team has one of the “most confusing” rosters in the Association, but at the same time, there’s been no shortage of Bulls trade rumors this offseason. Could a blockbuster move be on the horizon in the Windy City?

As the relationship between James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers front office continues to deteriorate, Chicago has been pegged as a possible team to swoop in and swing a deal. According to the online sportsbook BetOnline AG, the Bulls are now a +600 to land the disgruntled Harden, the second highest odds in the entire NBA. In fact, only the Los Angeles Clippers (-250) are pegged as a more likely destination for the former MVP.

The Clippers are reportedly still Harden’s preferred destination, but Philadelphia looks set to maximize their own return in a possible trade rather than prioritize Harden’s desires. Still, Harden has ties to Bulls veteran DeMar DeRozan, which could be a motivating factor if he choses to put his thumb on the scale, and Chicago has meaningful assets available for any big ticket trade. This could be a chance for the Bulls to pounce.