Chicago Bulls Trade Deadline Drama + Three Fake Deals That Should Happen
The Bulls made a major salary dump, did some minor waiver stuff, and surprised with a mid-level signing. "A" for effort, but where's the beef?
IF YOU’RE A CHICAGO BULLS WATCHER, the Artūras Karnišovas-era NBA trade deadline is infuriating.
Come early February, Chicago’s decision-maker either makes dumb decisions (Sorry, Vooch, we love you, but that trade was a stinker), or no deals at all.
This deadline, Karnišovas’ moves have mostly fallen into the dumb category:
In a bonkers three-team deal, Zach LaVine was shipped to Sacramento, with Chicago acquiring three overpaid role players in Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, and Tre Jones, as well as the first-round pick they sent to San Antonio in the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade. (Don’t be surprised if some or all three of the new Bulls are re-routed by the end of today.) The pick is the real prize, so that part wasn’t particularly dumb…but trading it away in the first place was super-dumb.
Torrey Craig and Chris Duarte were waived. The fact that Karnišovas couldn’t get a second-round pick for Craig — a useful energy guy off the bench — says a whole lot about his inability to negotiate. And Duarte played in 17 games, during which he averaged 4.4 minutes; one point early in his career, he was good at basketball, and might still be…something, but we’ll never know…until he’s signed by, say, the Cavs and lands in their rotation by March.)
Gave Lonzo Ball a two-year extension. We all love Lonzo, but that’s a commitment. That said, he’ll be taking home a reasonable $20 million over two years, so if he turns back into LONZO BALL, this turns into a brilliant signing.
Another frustrating development: A couple of Nikola Vucevic deals fell through, and it’s doubtful he’ll be moved until the summer, if at all. What was believed to be Vooch’s primary suitor — the Los Angeles Lakers — acquired a pretty good, oft-injured center in Mark Williams from Charlotte for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and picks, a fantastic haul for the Hornets…and a haul that, if Karnišovas knew how to negotiate, might’ve ended up in Chicago.
Anyhoobs, as this is being written, there are still four-ish hours left to deal, and it’s doubtful that Karnišovas has the gumption, creativity, urgency, or people skills to work any transactional magic. But Chicago Sports Stuff is gumption-y and creative — plus we play well with others — so we consummated a few deals of our own.
You’re welcome.
GOLDEN STATE RECEIVES
Nikola Vucevic
CHICAGO RECEIVES
Kevon Looney
Gary Payton II
2025 second round pick
This would be similar to the LaVine deal, in that it’s tank-centric and — as Looney and Payton both have expiring contracts — will help clear the decks for 2025-26 and beyond.
Unlike the LaVine deal, the Bulls walk away with some draft capital. Crappy draft capital, granted, but draft capital nonetheless.
MEMPHIS RECEIVES
Jevon Carter
Dalen Terry
Coby White
CHICAGO RECEIVES
Marcus Smart
2025 first round draft pick
This one actually isn’t at all crazy. White is going to want a fat extension (he deserves one), and chances are Karnišovas won’t want to pony up. Terry is a deep bencher who won’t be missed, and Carter still has one more year on his terrible contract, so peace out.
Smart comes off the books after the season, plus Chicago gets a pick that’ll fall somewhere in the 23-25 range, high enough that the Bulls will be happy, and low enough that Memphis won’t miss it when White starts draining threes.
CHICAGO RECEIVES
Bruce Brown
NEW ORLEANS RECEIVES
Patrick Williams
I dig Bruce Brown: He hustles, he’s a (relatively) lock-down defender, and he’s only 28. He’d come off the books after the season, but if he balls out over the rest of the campaign, it might be worth keeping him in the house. And after losing Brandon Ingram, the Pels could use a young wing.
As for Williams, who knows, maybe he’ll thrive away from Chicago, but if Karnišovas can get his garbage contract out of the Windy City, no regrets.
ACROSS THE BOARD, the return on these trades is bad-to-mediocre, but they give Chicago a ton of flexibility next summer, when they can afford to throw offer sheets at a Jonathan Kuminga or an Austin Reaves.
More importantly, this brutal roster would likely end the year with 30-35 wins, a number that would keep them out of the Play-In Tournament — yay, because what’s the point? — and position them for a shot at a top-three pick in a top-heavy draft.
This doesn’t land them anywhere near a ‘chip in 2025-26, but it might get them into the postseason in 2027-28. Or if it all backfires, Karnišovas and coach Billy Donovan will be put out of our misery.
For the fans and the franchise, that’s a win/win.