This offseason could end up being a big one for the Chicago Bulls. Just two years after making some big-time moves in an attempt to move up the ladder in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls are nowhere close to where they want to be. Now, they could be looking at a new rebuild just a few years after they attempted to wrap up their previous one.
Trading one of DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine would be the logical place to start, but the Bulls also have a decision to make about big man Nikola Vucevic, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. While they could simply let him walk in free agency, the better option could be to explore sign-and-trade options.
One deal proposed by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report would see Chicago sign and trade Vucevic to the Phoenix Suns and receive 24-year-old big man Deandre Ayton. However, the Bulls would also have to give up Patrick Williams in the trade.
Chicago Bulls Trade Rumors: Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams for Deandre Ayton
Here’s the full outline of Buckley’s mock trade:
Bulls receive: Deandre Ayton
Suns receive: Nikola Vucevic (S/T), Patrick Williams
Chicago Bulls Trade Rumors: Why the Bulls make this trade
Buckley believes the Bulls should consider a deal like this one to upgrade the center position.
“If the Bulls want to maximize their competitiveness next season, upgrading at center might be a top priority,” Buckley wrote. “Vučević is a good player, but he isn’t a good fit with LaVine and DeRozan since all three are score-first players with defensive deficiencies.
“Chicago could get more mileage out of bringing Deandre Ayton to town.
“The top pick in 2018 is a two-way contributor. He can operate as both a pick-and-roll screener and a post-up scorer. He offers more defensive resistance at the rim than Vučević and is just as active on the glass. Ayton could step into a prominent role right now, and since he’ll only turn 25 this summer, he might grow into something even greater down the line.”
Chicago Bulls Trade Rumors: Why the Suns make this trade
Meanwhile, he thinks this trade could help round out the Suns’ depth, which was a problem for them during this year’s playoffs.
“Meanwhile, the Suns might covet the chance to turn Ayton into a pair of plug-and-play contributors,” Buckley wrote. “Vučević’s perimeter shooting and playmaking would both play up alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, and Patrick Williams could handle three-and-D duties now and maybe a lot more offensive responsibilities later.”
Chicago Bulls Trade Rumors: Will the Bulls do this trade?
Of all the mock trades proposed, this one is more realistic than most. Ayton’s time in Phoenix has been rocky since last summer when he signed an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers. And with Phoenix firing Monty Williams, they clearly want to make major changes this summer.
As for Chicago, Arturas Karnisovas has made it clear that they want to compete. This trade would allow them to do that while also planning for the future.
