How This Trade Impacts Chicago Bulls
There comes a time when a team has to throw in the towel on a game plan. While it was a valiant effort that the Chicago Bulls made going all-in, they are nowhere close to being a contender in the Eastern Conference as currently constructed, especially with Lonzo Ball injured. As a result, a reset of sorts would be the path to go down.
Trading away the 33-year-old DeMar DeRozan for Jarrett Allen, who is 24, and Isaac Okoro, who is 21, would be a soft reset for Chicago.
They are both young enough that they can be used as the foundation of the franchise moving forward, but have experience and can help the team remain competitive now.
With Allen entrenched as the new center, providing the team with a defensive presence in the middle that they have been lacking, they can unload Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic is on an expiring contract and should fetch the Bulls some solid assets in return.
The pecking order offensively has sometimes gotten blurred with DeRozan in the mix as well. With him on the way to Cleveland, this once again, unquestionably, becomes Zach LaVine’s team. Only 27 years old, he can make up the new core going forward along with Allen, Okoro and Patrick Williams.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
If Okoro and Williams develop and realize their potential, the Bulls have two excellent two-way players to build the roster around. While they may take a step back this season, the long-term outlook is improved by making the team younger and more athletic.
