League source: Bulls talking Taj trade

[HomoSapien]

I hope its Minnesota for Taj, but I don't want him traded.

This team will give up 120ppg this season...

I wonder if there's any world where Taj/Dunleavy for Rubio could be worked out.

I don't know the fascination with Rubio. He is a complete mis-fit for this team especially with Jimmy. And, you kind of have an young guy who can be do what he does in Grant.

If they are trading Taj, they should get a combo-guard who can play with Jimmy or a decent SF which Snell never became or some future pick.

A few things:

Rubio's going to be a value contract very soon. He's a solid defender, and a great passer who might be able to thrive in Hoiball. The biggest issue (and it's a big one) is that he struggles to make shots. Hoiberg supposedly helped Holiday and Niko with their shots this past season. Maybe he can help Rubio.

If Rubio can figure that part of his game out, he's a get.

[Jvaughn]

Taj/Snell for Crowder would be interesting.

They didn't initially want to give up Crowder for the Jimmy deal. I doubt Taj and a pile of crap changes their minds.

[MC3]

I actually like this move. I am pro-tanking one season in deep and good NBA class. We will get ourselves better pick and we will get asset (pick) for Taj.

If we were actually tanking Jimmy would've been gone on draft night. This team is trying to build around Hoiberg's system, and around Jimmy, but they're going about it in an awful and misguided way. We don't have the necessary assets to retool the way they're attempting to.

You can always trade Jimmy on next draft night if you want. His value will likely be same, but he will grant you better return package. Minny didnt want to do Butler for Dunn and Wiggins, and didnt want any other deal for Dunn unless it includes Jimmy. And Celtics didnt want to do both Brooklyn picks, #3 (Dunn) + Crowder.

I think i can see what GarPax are doing. They are basically makin bulletproof plan for Bulls regardless of Jimmy. If they can't get package they like for Butler they will actively tank to see what players are worth keeping. And maybe someone have breakout year and that put us in 2017 plan. If it doesnt work they will get their own high lottery pick to pair it with Jimmy at the end of year.

During season ofcourse exist a chance they get actual package they like for Jimmy or in next draft night so Bulls will trade him.
Bulls could actually rebuild on the fly in that year with Jimmy on roster and without Jimmy on the roster. They just want to get right value for him. Year of Bulls keeping him will not change much.

I must say from that stand point GarPax are geniuses. To bad they suck in everything else.

[Payt10]

If they trade Taj, then they better get somebody younger who can defend, and not another one of these redundant no-defense type of players they already have on the roster.

Somebody brought up Hollis-Jefferson. I doubt BKN would be interested in trading him, but he's the type of young, athletic defensive player that the Bulls should be looking to acquire in these trades.

[BahamaBull]

Taj for Avery Bradley straight up

[weneeda2guard]

I would be trying to do a taj and snell for Eric bledsoe deal.

[fleet]

I like it because it's pointing to a tanking season. Next to be traded would probably be MDJ then Calderon. Run with Jimmy and the young ones, see what we have. Get a top 5 pick in the process. Hopefully by next offseason we have Jimmy, a top 5 pick, developed young players, 2 max FA slots and maybe the SAC pick to sign or trade for a star.

I like tanking, but I think if you want to be attractive to a couple max deal kind of guys next summer, exactly what you shouldn't do is tank imo. Taj will expire anyway, they don't have to move him. I think it would be a trade for an expiring, but they must want to fill some kind of need they see on the roster in order. I guess you are making room for Mirotic, Portis, and the newfangled 4 man Dougie, but also give the free agency targets a reason to come. I don't think those kinds of guys look at rookies too much, so tanking is a bad move for the 2017 plan.

[RedBulls23]

I actually like this move. I am pro-tanking one season in deep and good NBA class. We will get ourselves better pick and we will get asset (pick) for Taj.

If we were actually tanking Jimmy would've been gone on draft night. This team is trying to build around Hoiberg's system, and around Jimmy, but they're going about it in an awful and misguided way. We don't have the necessary assets to retool the way they're attempting to.

Well actually we're still not sure what direction they FO are looking to head. If they are trying to clear more cap space and add pieces this off-season or not.

Just that they are trying to reconstruct the roster. That's about it.

[greenl]

KJ McDaniels, Patrick Beverly, RH Jefferson (who - if Brooklyn is smart- is untouchable)- Bulls desperately need to move one of their 4's for a perimeter defender.

[Andi Obst]

Wow, some people here really overrate Taj. I mean I love him, but you're not getting Crowder, Bradley or Bledsoe for him.

[MBPKOGZ]

Taj is my favorite bull but this is a move that should have been done a long time ago. I'm all for it if it can land us a 2017 1st or a veteran wing player. Otherwise, at this point, why bother?

[PrimzyBulls81]

I would rather trade Mirotic,than Taj.. this team will already be bad at D.. if we trade Taj,we need someone good back,that can defend.. not another non athletic,bad defensive player..

[Threekola]

Taj is my favorite bull but this is a move that should have been done a long time ago. I'm all for it if it can land us a 2017 1st or a veteran wing player. Otherwise, at this point, why bother?

I'd take a 2018 1st. Another future asset you can bundle in a trade.

[babyjax13]

Taj/Snell for Crowder would be interesting.

Only for Chicago. Last year was the time to try and sell high on him. Luckily with teams having cap space they can renegotiate his contract and extend him, so expiring players have more value than in past years. But if you want someone like Crowder, or Rubio...you'll have to include Niko or Portis and even then it might not get done. Not that Rubio would even be a good fit for you.

[Paxson43]

Not to trivialize Taj or his value to the Bulls... but I think this Zisper kid is more in line with what we want from a 4. Doesn't have Taj's length, but he's a much better shooter from the outside. Can he bang inside? That's the big question.

[NDave79]

Taj for Avery Bradley straight up

This would be awesome but I think we would have to sweeten it quite a bit

[Future Coach]

Taj plays defense and aggressively pursues rebounds on both ends of the court.


Sadly, he is out of place on this current Bulls team.

[Mech Engineer]

As I said it in another thread....if you are developing young guys, the last thing you want to do is be down by 20 points by the end of the first half. That's when guys like Portis, Niko develop bad habits and start chucking. You don't develop anything nor are you winning anything. You need good vets/defenders to play and slowly infuse young guys. You put 3/4 young guys at the same time, you are looking at the 76ers or the early 2000 Bulls when it becomes unbearable for the fans nor do you see anyone develop.

They better have some real idea before they start trading Taj because they have already lost Noah. It is one thing to trade MDJ because he is 35 years old but have a plan of not just inserting Portis in there to take Taj's minutes and say let's go.

[NDave79]

I think Taj could have some real value to a contender. Great defender, not an offensive liability and has always put winning first with a great attitude.

I think he is an awesome player to have if you are going up against LeBron in the playoffs with his ability to defend the paint and switch on to him on pick and rolls

[HINrichPolice]

I feel beat up as a Bulls fan.

On paper, even though Taj is on a good deal and is still a good player, I won't blame him for not feeling invested in this team. As professional as he is, I don't think it would be reasonable to expect him to put his head down and have laser focus on winning each and everyday as a Bull.

Let's put him in a situation that he's happy with, and let's good a decent return on him - pick(s), young prospect, whatever the case may be.