The Chicago Bulls roster is solid, but it’s not a championship-caliber group, and for any team around the league, that should be the ultimate goal. That being said, Arturas Karnisovas seems intent on running the same core back, but that could have serious implications for the future of the franchise.
It seems relatively clear that Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic aren’t going to bring a title to Chicago, and considering last year’s failure, they may not even make it to the postseason. With that, they should be considering a rebuild, and Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report suggested a trade target who could help them do that.
According to Bailey, the Bulls’ “top target” this summer should be Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, who will be on an expiring contract. Bailey suggested they trade Zach LaVine’s contract for Harris.
“The Chicago Bulls should at least be considering the possibility of a reboot.
“They’re 28th in the NBA in winning percentage over the last six seasons, and the more recent additions of Nikola Vučević and DeMar DeRozan only elevated the team from bad to mediocre.
“Getting out from under a long-term contract like Zach LaVine’s (which runs through 2026-27), could kickstart such a reboot. And a team like the Philadelphia 76ers, who might convince themselves they’re one piece away, could use LaVine’s explosiveness.
“A trade involving him and Tobias Harris (whose deal ends in 2024) might make some sense,” Bailey wrote.
The idea of adding Harris may not sound ideal to most Bulls, but getting off of LaVine’s contract could help them start fresh.