Heading into the February 8 trade deadline, the Chicago Bulls are going to be a top team to watch. Zach LaVine is by far the biggest name likely to be on the move, as the team is reportedly still focused on finding a trade for him. They want to move on from his contract and reload.
However, while LaVine will be the top guy being thrown around in trade rumors, the Bulls have some other veterans on the roster who could be candidates, too. Torrey Craig is hurt, but he would be an obvious target for contenders, and the same can be said for Jevon Carter (though he’s not injured).
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report recently listed Carter as a potential trade target for the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the deadline.
“Give this group a dominant defense again, and suddenly it won’t have to climb as high offensively to be a potential problem in the postseason,” Favale wrote. “The front office seemingly recognizes as much, as B/R’s Chris Haynes relayed that a “point-of-attack defender” is on the club’s wish list.
A Jevon Carter trade would check that box. The 28-year-old has had a disappointing debut with the Chicago Bulls (which could bump his trade cost into the bargain bin), but just last season, he was giving the championship-chasing Milwaukee Bucks a solid 22.3 minutes of action per night. He is a tireless defender who stays glued to his matchup the full 94 feet of the court. Opponents are never comfortable when he hits the hardwood.”
Adding Carter’s defense and ball-handling would give the Lakers a huge boost at the point guard position.
