Chicago Bulls Receive: F Cedi Osman, 2024 First-Round Pick (CLE)
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: F Patrick Williams
Full disclosure: the Chicago Bulls may hang up the phone the moment this trade is proposed. Patrick Williams is a recent fourth overall selection. They may still place a much higher value on him than this.
Alternatively, they may not. Williams was only available for 9 games in 2021-22. If the Bulls fear that his unavailability is a harbinger of what’s to come, they may opt to cut their losses. In this trade, they acquire a solid 3-and-D wing in Osman and a first-round pick in the process.
Meanwhile, the Cavs would be thrilled to add Williams. He fits right into their big-ball, defensive-minded philosophy.
They were able to play Lauri Markkanen out of position at small forward this year because the jumbo frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen masked his defensive deficiencies.
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Williams doesn’t have those. When healthy, he’s an outstanding, versatile defensive forward. In the modern NBA, his natural position may be the 4. He’d still thrive at the 3 alongside Mobley and Allen. The Cavs could assemble the best defense in the NBA with this deal.
That alone should vault them straight into the postseason.
