Category: Bulls Trade Rumors

Leonard Miller listed as potential Bulls offseason trade target

The Chicago Bulls should look to target Leonard Miller on the trade market this summer.

The Chicago Bulls are facing a weird offseason ahead of them. Following their second straight sub-.500 season, they need to take a look in the mirror and figure out the direction of their franchise. Should they decide to endure another youth movement, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report believes Minnesota Timberwolves forward Leonard Miller could be a target.

“Status quo is the best bet. Because, well, these are the Bulls,” Favale wrote. “Regardless, their need to vary up the frontcourt will persist no matter how they carry themselves over the summer. Andre Drummond could leave in free agency, and even if he doesn’t, neither he nor NIkola Vučević is a long-term answer. Leonard Miller could be.

“Drafted 33rd overall last June, the 20-year-old has spent hardly any time on the court for the Minnesota Timberwolves. But he has done filthy things during his time with the G League’s Iowa Wolves. At 6’10”, he is stronger than he looks. He screens and seals and goes up for boards like a burlier big. His floor game is a work in progress, but when it’s humming in conjunction with his outside shot, he plays like a hybrid 3-4-5.”

If Leonard is gettable, the Bulls should hit the phones.

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Bulls ‘dream offseason trade’ involves finding Zach LaVine deal

The “dream offseason trade” for the Chicago Bulls this summer will be to find a suitor for Zach LaVine.

The Chicago Bulls will have a ton of big decisions to make this summer. From the direction of their coaching staff to the direction of their roster, anything could change for the Bulls, and it would make some sense. They’ve been stuck in a pit of mediocrity for three years now with no clear path forward.

However, the trade market may be the most important thing for the Bulls to focus on this offseason. Rumblings have already indicated that they plan to try to trade Zach LaVine, which makes sense, as they supposedly already tried to do so during the season.

According to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, the Bulls’ “dream offseason trade” would be to simply find a suitor for Zach LaVine.

“LaVine is a tricky player to trade with his bloated contract and injury issues, but this relationship has run its course,” Buckley wrote. “He was a rumor-mill regular throughout trade season, and the Bulls “will try” trading him again this offseason, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

“The Bulls have seen significant addition-by-subtraction results without LaVine this season, as they’re 4.7 points better per 100 possessions with him off the court. His ball-dominance and score-first tendencies are bad fits with this bunch, so if there’s a way to unload him without giving up major assets, Chicago would almost certainly have to pounce on it.”

Moving on from LaVine as gracefully as possible should be the goal for Chicago.

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Does Chicago Bulls master plan involve adding a defensive stopper?

Could this be the Chicago Bulls’ master plan this summer on the trade market?

The Chicago Bulls have had a ton of opportunities to tear down their roster and hit the reset button. But every time that chance presents itself, they decide to do the opposite – to keep their core in place in hopes of simply making the playoffs. This summer, since they are so hell-bent on competing, maybe they could make a better push.

Free agency won’t spawn much, as the Bulls don’t have cap space to work with, and their draft pick will likely once again be in the late lottery. However, by attacking the trade market, they could end up adding a piece that helps them push for a better standing in next year’s playoffs.

The Bulls Digest YouTube channel recently discussed what could be their master plan, referencing an article written by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report. The broad concept is the Bulls adding a defensive stopper via trade.

Buckley lists Jerami Grant, Jonathan Isaac, and Mitchell Robinson as potential trade targets.

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Reacting to wild trade proposal would see Bulls land Ben Simmons

This potential trade would see Ben Simmons join the Chicago Bulls.

As the Chicago Bulls inevitably look to trade Zach LaVine this summer, they will have to consider a bunch of different options. Reports indicated that the Bulls were looking to move LaVine during the season, but as soon as he underwent season-ending foot surgery, those talks were put to bed. Now, the focus will be on this summer.

Though his massive contract and lack of quality defensive abilities will hurt his value, there are a bunch of teams around the league who could use LaVine’s shot creation and scoring. One potential destination could be the Brooklyn Nets, who could use some more offense in their lineup.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report suggested a deal that would see Ben Simmons head to Chicago, and the Bulls Digest YouTube channel broke it down.

Simmons has been completely unable to stay on the court, but perhaps the Bulls could get back some draft capital in a deal involving him and LaVine.

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Stein: Golden State Warriors seriously pursued Alex Caruso at the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline

It turns out that it was not just Andre Drummond of Chicago Bulls players being furiously pursued by other ball clubs at the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline.

It turns out that it was not just Andre Drummond of Chicago Bulls players being furiously pursued by other ball clubs at the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline. According to The Stein Line’s Marc Stein, the Golden State Warriors were in serious talks to acquire the contract of 3-and-D Bulls guard Alex Caruso ahead of the Feb. 8 cutoff for trades in the league’s 2024-24 season.

“The Warriors’ exploration of a potential trade for LeBron James got last week’s headlines, but the more significant development, truthfully, was Golden State’s attempts to pry Alex Caruso away from Chicago,” writes Stein. “The Bulls … wound up giving real consideration to trading Caruso on Deadline Day after insisting for weeks that they wouldn’t.”

“But Chicago’s talks with Golden State ultimately collapsed and then the Bulls, league sources say, informed Philadelphia that they were keeping Andre Drummond, too, with the Sixers pressing to acquire the former All-Star center,” he adds.

Stein notes that one source related that Chicago was “only willing to trade Drummond if they could arrange the acquisition of another center to replace him.”

“When no such trade materialized, Chicago opted to keep Drummond in hopes that his rebounding (8.6 boards in 16.7 minutes per game) will help the 26-29 Bulls secure a Play-In Tournament berth in the East at the very least.”

Sounds competitive, if you ask us. How depressing.

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Report: Bulls ‘pulled out’ of Andre Drummond trade with 76ers

The Chicago Bulls reportedly “pulled out” of an Andre Drummond trade with the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the deadline.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Chicago Bulls “pulled out” of an Andre Drummond trade with the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the trade deadline. He noted that “the Bulls wanted three second-round picks for Drummond, league sources said.” Ultimately, the Bulls weren’t able to secure the return they wanted for the big man.

Drummond has been putting up solid numbers for the Bulls this season and was particularly impressive when filling in as a starter for Nikola Vuecvic. So far this year, Drummond is averaging 8.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while shooting 55.7% from the field. The 30-year-old center is in his 11th NBA season.

Chicago wanted to hold firm on their asking price, but Drummond is in the final year of his contract. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, meaning the Bulls could lose him for nothing.

If there was an offer for two second-round picks, or even one, before the deadline, Chicago should have been willing to take the best deal available.

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Philadelphia 76ers thought they had a deal for Andre Drummond pre-2024 NBA trade deadline

“The Bulls wanted three second-round picks for Drummond,” relates HoopsHype.

To add insult to injury for many fans of the Chicago Bulls displeased with the lack of moves made by the Bulls’ front office, word is that Chicago was in advanced talks with the Philadelphia 76ers to trade for veteran Bulls big man Andre Drummond ahead of the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline.

Per recent reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, “Philadelphia executive Daryl Morey thought he had fortified the center position at the trade deadline” with a trade for the UConn alum. “The 76ers believed they had a trade done to acquire Bulls center Andre Drummond before Chicago pulled out of talks hours before the deadline,” adds Scotto.

“The Bulls wanted three second-round picks for Drummond,” relates the HoopsHype reporter.

“For context, the Nets acquired three second-round picks in the three-team Royce O’Neale trade,” notes Scotto. The Sixers were competing with the likes of the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks before both made other moves.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets also had interest per the HoopsHype reporter.

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Report: Bulls ‘worked hard’ to trade Zach LaVine prior to injury

The Chicago Bulls reportedly tried hard to trade Zach LaVine before his injury led to season-ending surgery.

The Chicago Bulls didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline. Rather than resetting the roster around Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Patrick Williams, they kept everybody on board in favor of making a push for the playoffs this year. And while they have plenty of solid players on the roster, they don’t have the talent to compete with the top teams in the East.

Just because they didn’t make any moves doesn’t mean they didn’t try, however. In fact, they were attempting to make a blockbuster move, but outside factors got in the way, leading to them standing pat.

According to Howard Beck of The Ringer, the Bulls were trying very hard to get rid of Zach LaVine prior to his season-ending surgery.

“More than one executive also listed the Miami Heat as a potential candidate for a shake-up, given Jimmy Butler’s age (35 in September) and mileage,” Beck wrote. “The Chicago Bulls, who worked hard to unload Zach LaVine before he got hurt, will surely try again.”

At this point, it seems likely that LaVine has played his last game in a Bulls jersey.

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Bulls, Warriors had ‘serious conversations’ about Alex Caruso trade

The Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors reportedly had “very serious conversations” about a potential Alex Caruso trade.

Another year, another trade deadline gone without the Chicago Bulls making any moves. They could have traded a bunch of different players and gotten good value back in return, but instead, they decided to stand pat. They want to remain “competitive,” even if their definition of the word is simply being a Play-In team.

The Bulls held onto DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond, both of whom are in the final year of their respective contracts, but perhaps the most confusing choice they made was the decision to hold onto Alex Caruso. His value is at an all-time high, and lots of teams were interested in adding him.

According to Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN, the Bulls and Golden State Warriors had “very serious conversations” about a potential Caruso deal. (H/t Clutch Points on Twitter)

“[Warriors] had very serious conversations about Alex Caruso, Kelly Olynyk, teams were calling about Andrew Wiggins… Everybody asked for Jonathan Kuminga and they essentially said, ‘We are never trading him. He is untouchable.,” Shelbourne said.

Caruso has been one of the best 3-and-D guards in the league this year, and while he’s under contract next year as well, the Bulls missed a real opportunity to trade him for a maximum return.

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Bulls asked for 21-year-old forward in potential Alex Caruso trade

The Chicago Bulls reportedly asked for Jonathan Kuminga in Alex Caruso trade talks with the Golden State Warriors.

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and while a bunch of teams around the league were active, the Chicago Bulls stood pat. Despite their mediocre season and lack of a real path forward, they decided to hold onto their assets instead of capitalizing on the value of the quality players they have on their roster.

A lot of Bulls drew serious trade interest at the deadline, too. Guys like DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond were obvious trade candidates, but Alex Caruso was by far the most desired player they could have made available. One team that showed a ton of interest in Caruso was the Golden State Warriors.

However, according to KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls wanted Jonathan Kuminga back in a deal, an idea that the Warriors “rebuffed.”

“In exploratory trade talks with the Golden State Warriors centered on Caruso, league sources said the Bulls inquired about Jonathan Kuminga’s availability,” Johnson wrote. “That was rebuffed, and the Bulls made clear in talks with all teams that they didn’t want to trade Caruso, especially for a package on perhaps other young pieces like Moses Moody, so they’d need to be floored by an offer to do so.”

It makes sense that the Bulls value Caruso highly, but this is probably the peak of his trade value. By not trading him now, the Bulls will have to consider moving him next year when hee’s on an expiring deal, and if they don’t, he could simply leave in 2025 free agency.

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