Brk-Chi Center Swap

pipfan · Post #1 » by **pipfan** » Mon Sep 15, 2025 5:50 am

Claxton for Vuc/JCarter (Brk can buy him out)/Port pick/Bulls' 2026 1st (top 10 protected, then a 2nd)

BRK is full on tank, and Vuc can help be a tank commander, and he's expiring. BRK frees up future cap space and adds 2 picks to play with

Bulls want a defender/running center to replace Vuc. Claxton's deal is declining. They could be giving up a late lotto pick here, but it's only a one year option

Bulls could swap in Terry for Carter, maybe-if BRK needs a bit more. I wouldn't add more years to the 1st-just a one time thing. HOPEFULLY, the Bulls are good enough that the pick converts

tcheco · Post #2 » by **tcheco** » Mon Sep 15, 2025 12:27 pm

Claxton dont net a pick and expirings honestly, he is above average on defense, cant shoot the 3, 15/11 average per year seems like his future right now, maybe get to 17/12? He is not cheap and hasn't shown enough to warrant this package I believe.

ChettheJet · Post #3 » by **ChettheJet** » Mon Sep 15, 2025 1:52 pm

I think it's pretty good for the Bulls but not great. Yes obviously on the defensive end Claxton is a monumental upgrade, he'd have to make a step upon rebounding which Vuc has done without much assistance for the Bulls. Of course on the offensive end Claxton isn't the threat that Vucevic is, the Bulls would have to introduce the lob dunk for the first time. Claxton isn't going to draw the defense away from the basket. And whrer that matters is do the Bulls have enough shooters to have 4 on the floor with him, White, Huerter, Jones, Buzelis, maybe Giddey and Williams, Okoro and Dosunmu not as much.

Claxton put up some decent scoring and rebounding numbers on some very bad teams, I don't think he does better on a team with more intentions to win, he more than likely finds himself on the floor with players who score more within the offense which doesn't involve hm as much

I don't know if the Bulls will be on board giving up the pick. They gave up 2 FRPs to get Vucevic now they're giving up a 3rd and 4th to move on from him, and as an expiring contract. That's pretty much making him the mostly costly player in team history for what he cost them in picks compared to the one playoff appearance the team made in his stay in CHI.

drchaos · Post #4 » by **drchaos** » Mon Sep 15, 2025 3:22 pm

I think some of you guys are sleeping on how cap friendly Claxton's contract is.

Post #5 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Mon Sep 15, 2025 3:41 pm

drchaos wrote:I think some of you guys are sleeping on how cap friendly Claxton's contract is.

Sure, its descending, but it's still solid starting center salary, and Claxton has only really played that way one season in his career? He really didn't play like it last year.

It's cap friendly if he re-earns that status. If he plays like last year, it's certainly not cap friendly.

pipfan · Post #6 » by **pipfan** » Mon Sep 15, 2025 4:22 pm

It's a gamble for my Bulls, for sure, but they save a bit of $ this season (always a + in Chi) and get a longer term option. Our defense would improve A TON-I'd feel much better about White/Giddey moving forward with a defender in the paint. Plus, more shots for Matas. Vuc is a solid rebounder, but Giddey will be at 8 boards and Matas should be at 6-7.

White/Jones/Ayo
Okoro/Huerter/Ayo
Matas/PWill/Phillips-Terry
JSmith/Noa/Phillips
Claxton/Collins/JSmith

Now, get really crazy with Vuc/PWill/JCarter/Terry/Port pick/2026 unprotected Bulls' 1st for MPJ and Claxton-that shakes it up

ecuhus1981 · Post #7 » by **ecuhus1981** » Tue Sep 16, 2025 2:57 am

Nic would thrive in Chicago. I would do this for Brooklyn

jayjaysee · Post #8 » by **jayjaysee** » Tue Sep 16, 2025 3:58 pm

pipfan wrote:It's a gamble for my Bulls, for sure, but they save a bit of $ this season (always a + in Chi) and get a longer term option. Our defense would improve A TON-I'd feel much better about White/Giddey moving forward with a defender in the paint. Plus, more shots for Matas. Vuc is a solid rebounder, but Giddey will be at 8 boards and Matas should be at 6-7.

White/Jones/Ayo
Okoro/Huerter/Ayo
Matas/PWill/Phillips-Terry
JSmith/Noa/Phillips
Claxton/Collins/JSmith

Now, get really crazy with Vuc/PWill/JCarter/Terry/Port pick/2026 unprotected Bulls' 1st for MPJ and Claxton-that shakes it up

Chicago has the space to do this and slide just under the tax after signing some vet mins.

I don’t think the first needs to be unprotected, Brooklyn getting an extra 45 mil in cap space next summer to go crazy with.. That is big for them with their pick debt coming back.

I don’t really think Chicago owes the Portland first in the OP though. Maybe their pick should last two years instead of one or something, but Claxton shouldn’t return two firsts imo.

pipfan · Post #9 » by **pipfan** » Tue Sep 16, 2025 8:01 pm

jayjaysee wrote:
pipfan wrote:It's a gamble for my Bulls, for sure, but they save a bit of $ this season (always a + in Chi) and get a longer term option. Our defense would improve A TON-I'd feel much better about White/Giddey moving forward with a defender in the paint. Plus, more shots for Matas. Vuc is a solid rebounder, but Giddey will be at 8 boards and Matas should be at 6-7.

White/Jones/Ayo
Okoro/Huerter/Ayo
Matas/PWill/Phillips-Terry
JSmith/Noa/Phillips
Claxton/Collins/JSmith

Now, get really crazy with Vuc/PWill/JCarter/Terry/Port pick/2026 unprotected Bulls' 1st for MPJ and Claxton-that shakes it up

Chicago has the space to do this and slide just under the tax after signing some vet mins.

I don’t think the first needs to be unprotected, Brooklyn getting an extra 45 mil in cap space next summer to go crazy with.. That is big for them with their pick debt coming back.

I don’t really think Chicago owes the Portland first in the OP though. Maybe their pick should last two years instead of one or something, but Claxton shouldn’t return two firsts imo.

Maybe I'm overrating Claxton, but he just seems like a perfect fit with Giddey/Noa/Matas/White. We'd have a fast, deep, young team with plenty of 2026 cap space still. The Port pick is not that valuable-it's ok but nothing special. By keeping the Bulls 2026 1st only open for a year, it limits the commitment from the Bulls.

The bigger deal (Vuc/PWill/JCarter/Port 1st/2026 1st unprotected) for Claxton/MPJ is also interesting

Bulls get out of PWill's terrible deal. If Porter Jr. is healthy (not sure) he's a great fit next to Claxton/Matas-giving Giddey another great target.

.