Bulls/Blazers - And now time for something a bit different
Posted: Sat Dec 7, 2024 5:49 pm
Bulls in:
Scoot
Ayton
K. Murray
Out:
Vuc
Ball
J. Carter
Blazers lotto protected pick returned
1st round pick (top 8 protected through 2029 then a 2nd in 2030 - conveys 2 years after pick owed to Spurs so would be either 2027, 2028, or 2029)
Reason: This totally depends on your belief in Scoot developing. If you think he is a bust, you will hate this. If you think his future is bright, this could be a steal. Murray has also shown that he could become a rotation player long term, so the Carter/Murray swap is also a bonus long term. You trade 3 guys that are probably not in the long term future, and a Blazers pick that very likely only becomes a 2nd in a couple years, so the most valuable piece going out is the Bulls pick that will never be top 8 and only has a small window to actually convey.
Blazers in:
Ball
Vuc
J. Carter
Own pick returned
Bulls 1st with the above mentioned protections
Out:
Scoot
Ayton
K. Murray
Reason: Blazers use Scoot’s remaining value to gain more flexibility while also getting a weaker swing in a future draft. Their own pick back gains flexibility, as does Ball expiring and a more traceable Vuc contract instead of Ayton’s. I’d look into trading Vuc before the deadline as this still leaves us with too many centers. Ball I’d keep for the season as he has no trade value besides expiring plus we need a point guard. If we draft a non-guard in 2025, I’d be willing to re-sign Ball if he is still cheap enough, but we should let him walk if a point guard is what we draft. We’re eating 2 years of Carter’s contract here, but tanking with him in games Ball misses isn’t the worst thing.
Scoot
Ayton
K. Murray
Out:
Vuc
Ball
J. Carter
Blazers lotto protected pick returned
1st round pick (top 8 protected through 2029 then a 2nd in 2030 - conveys 2 years after pick owed to Spurs so would be either 2027, 2028, or 2029)
Reason: This totally depends on your belief in Scoot developing. If you think he is a bust, you will hate this. If you think his future is bright, this could be a steal. Murray has also shown that he could become a rotation player long term, so the Carter/Murray swap is also a bonus long term. You trade 3 guys that are probably not in the long term future, and a Blazers pick that very likely only becomes a 2nd in a couple years, so the most valuable piece going out is the Bulls pick that will never be top 8 and only has a small window to actually convey.
Blazers in:
Ball
Vuc
J. Carter
Own pick returned
Bulls 1st with the above mentioned protections
Out:
Scoot
Ayton
K. Murray
Reason: Blazers use Scoot’s remaining value to gain more flexibility while also getting a weaker swing in a future draft. Their own pick back gains flexibility, as does Ball expiring and a more traceable Vuc contract instead of Ayton’s. I’d look into trading Vuc before the deadline as this still leaves us with too many centers. Ball I’d keep for the season as he has no trade value besides expiring plus we need a point guard. If we draft a non-guard in 2025, I’d be willing to re-sign Ball if he is still cheap enough, but we should let him walk if a point guard is what we draft. We’re eating 2 years of Carter’s contract here, but tanking with him in games Ball misses isn’t the worst thing.