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.
"[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.'"
– @ramonashelburne pic.twitter.com/rj8ppJGhpQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 12, 2024
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.