Chicago Bulls
San Antonio Spurs Receive: G Coby White, C Marko Simonovic, 2023 First-Round Pick (POR via CHI)
Chicago Bulls Receive: C Jakob Poeltl
By contrast, the Chicago Bulls didn’t need a starting caliber big man in 2021-22. As a former All-Star, Nikola Vucevic clearly meets that threshold.
With that said, they could possibly have used a different type of starting big man.
After all, Vucevic is not known for his defensive prowess. On the other hand, he’s got a well-rounded, multifaceted offensive skillset. Still, with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan eating up the bulk of the Bulls’ possessions, he was hardly able to demonstrate it.
The Chicago Bulls would be better served with Poeltl. He’s a strong rim protector who can also defend in space when need be. This deal improves their floor balance while allowing Vucevic free reign over the second unit’s offense.
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Meanwhile, it nets the Spurs a high-upside young player in Coby White along with a first-round pick. For an organization in its position, that’s a great return for Poeltl.