Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
In fact, this was a generally confusing season for the Bulls. This team was supposed to have an elite offense at the expense of their defense. The inverse was true. Chicago struggled to score, but they were one of the better defensive teams in the NBA.
Partly, those defensive struggles were supposed to be due to Nikola Vucevic’s poor rim protection. With that in mind, we ask a question: how solid would this team have been on defense with a real rim protector?
That’s why they’re acquiring Deandre Ayton here. Of course, he’s also a strong interior scorer. He’s also considerably younger than LaVine. Throw in a pair of pick swaps, and the Bulls will be tempted to do this deal if they like Ayton.
There is still so much the Bulls would need to sort out after making a trade of this nature. They’d still be without a superstar, and DeMar DeRozan isn’t getting any younger, either. However, now that they will convey the last first-round pick involved in the trade that brought Vucevic to Chicago, there is an actual viability to the idea of rebuilding.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Phoenix Suns Updates
The Bulls would have needed to finish in the top four of the NBA Draft order in order to retain their 2023 first-round pick. With how much talent on their roster and the investment already made to go all-in, that wasn’t a real option to pursue. Moving LaVine would help them go in that direction now.
Should the Suns part with their former number-one pick?
