Predict the Bulls: Buyers/Sellers/Mixed Bag

[Rose2Boozer]

Personally, I would like to see AK dump Williams to the Pistons for a couple second round picks. That being said, I don't think the Bulls will get anything done at the deadline. GMs around the league will more than likely want to hold onto their first round picks, which makes not getting fleeced tough.

[drosestruts]

I feel like so much of this is out of our hands.


You look at someone like Vuc - anyone who wants him will probably also be interested in Olynyk, Poeltl, Valancunias, Eubanks, Kessler, Landale, Time Lord, Nurkic.

Vuk is easily the most offensively gifted.

I would agree, but will we "sell" Vuc for the same assets it takes to acquire an Olynyk or Valancunias? Should we?

From a contract matching perspective, acquiring those other players is much much easier.

If someone wanted a stretch big they could look at as:

To acquire Vuc we'd need to send out x, y, and z

For Olynk perhaps it's just x

[sco]

I feel like so much of this is out of our hands.


You look at someone like Vuc - anyone who wants him will probably also be interested in Olynyk, Poeltl, Valancunias, Eubanks, Kessler, Landale, Time Lord, Nurkic.

There's a lot of centers potentially on the trade market. It could be a buyers market for teams looking for a center. This will hurt our ability to move him, unless we're willing to just take whatever.


Zach - we've talked about so much. It's difficult (but not impossible) to move a salary that size in season. Even more so with new rules restricting teams' ability to aggregate players in a trade. Also Zach is playing great and is an asset to this team, now and in years to come.

I think there's much more likely for their to be a market for guys like Coby White and Torrey Craig. Not sure what our stance will be on trying to move them.

I think that Vuc may have distanced himself from those guys in the eyes of teams looking for offense/shooting from their C. That said, if we traded only Vuc, and were looking to stay good, I'd turn around and try for one of those others if they could be had for a good price. If we are keeping Zach, there won't likely we can do with cap space freed up by dumping Vuc.

[drosestruts]

I feel like so much of this is out of our hands.


You look at someone like Vuc - anyone who wants him will probably also be interested in Olynyk, Poeltl, Valancunias, Eubanks, Kessler, Landale, Time Lord, Nurkic.

There's a lot of centers potentially on the trade market. It could be a buyers market for teams looking for a center. This will hurt our ability to move him, unless we're willing to just take whatever.


Zach - we've talked about so much. It's difficult (but not impossible) to move a salary that size in season. Even more so with new rules restricting teams' ability to aggregate players in a trade. Also Zach is playing great and is an asset to this team, now and in years to come.

I think there's much more likely for their to be a market for guys like Coby White and Torrey Craig. Not sure what our stance will be on trying to move them.

I think that Vuc may have distanced himself from those guys in the eyes of teams looking for offense/shooting from their C. That said, if we traded only Vuc, and were looking to stay good, I'd turn around and try for one of those others if they could be had for a good price. If we are keeping Zach, there won't likely we can do with cap space freed up by dumping Vuc.

Except more comfortably afford Giddey and Ball while remaining below the tax.

[sco]

I feel like so much of this is out of our hands.


You look at someone like Vuc - anyone who wants him will probably also be interested in Olynyk, Poeltl, Valancunias, Eubanks, Kessler, Landale, Time Lord, Nurkic.

There's a lot of centers potentially on the trade market. It could be a buyers market for teams looking for a center. This will hurt our ability to move him, unless we're willing to just take whatever.


Zach - we've talked about so much. It's difficult (but not impossible) to move a salary that size in season. Even more so with new rules restricting teams' ability to aggregate players in a trade. Also Zach is playing great and is an asset to this team, now and in years to come.

I think there's much more likely for their to be a market for guys like Coby White and Torrey Craig. Not sure what our stance will be on trying to move them.

I think that Vuc may have distanced himself from those guys in the eyes of teams looking for offense/shooting from their C. That said, if we traded only Vuc, and were looking to stay good, I'd turn around and try for one of those others if they could be had for a good price. If we are keeping Zach, there won't likely we can do with cap space freed up by dumping Vuc.

Except more comfortably afford Giddey and Ball while remaining below the tax.

Exactly!

I do like that we are doing the timeshare thing at PG this season. IMO, it will have a dampening impact on both guys' next contracts. I am curious to see what we do with Ball. Obviously if the FO is tanking, it makes no sense to keep him. If we want to win, the guy is probably better than others we can get for the $.

[DuckIII]

Trade Vuc, nothing else.

This actually seems optimistic, from your perspective.

He's the only guy there's been any positive reports about with regard to being traded. The only one I've seen about Zach is that Denver trash and I refuse to believe that rumor for now.

[League Circles]

One underappreciated facet of not trading our garbage for garbage is that if we can end the season with a winning record and playoff appearance, some of our guys will have higher trade value that they otherwise would, with the same individual numbers, if we finish poorly. That's just the human nature of being an exec. For example:

"Vuc helped lead the Bulls to a 44-38 record and a 6 game first round series, maybe he could actually really help us"

Is a lot better (for us) in the mind of another exec than "Vuc was the #2 option on the 36-46 Bulls, so he was probably a big reason they weren't any good and he'll probably limit us too if we trade for him".

[sco]

One underappreciated facet of not trading our garbage for garbage is that if we can end the season with a winning record and playoff appearance, some of our guys will have higher trade value that they otherwise would, with the same individual numbers, if we finish poorly. That's just the human nature of being an exec. For example:

"Vuc helped lead the Bulls to a 44-38 record and a 6 game first round series, maybe he could actually really help us"

Is a lot better (for us) in the mind of another exec than "Vuc was the #2 option on the 36-46 Bulls, so he was probably a big reason they weren't any good and he'll probably limit us too if we trade for him".

I hear you, but Vuc is such a known quantity around the league and he's getting old, I have a hard time believing that +or- 10 games will have any impact on getting more for Vuc.

IMO, his value will be highest now as teams feel that he's a viable 3rd option scorer with a 3 ball and can be their starting C during a playoff run. I'd happily take a deal that involves a young high potential prospect or a 1st, but wouldn't do just expirings and 2nds.

[kodo]

One underappreciated facet of not trading our garbage for garbage is that if we can end the season with a winning record and playoff appearance, some of our guys will have higher trade value that they otherwise would, with the same individual numbers, if we finish poorly. That's just the human nature of being an exec. For example:

"Vuc helped lead the Bulls to a 44-38 record and a 6 game first round series, maybe he could actually really help us"

Is a lot better (for us) in the mind of another exec than "Vuc was the #2 option on the 36-46 Bulls, so he was probably a big reason they weren't any good and he'll probably limit us too if we trade for him".

I hear you, but Vuc is such a known quantity around the league and he's getting old, I have a hard time believing that +or- 10 games will have any impact on getting more for Vuc.

IMO, his value will be highest now as teams feel that he's a viable 3rd option scorer with a 3 ball and can be their starting C during a playoff run. I'd happily take a deal that involves a young high potential prospect or a 1st, but wouldn't do just expirings and 2nds.

I would also add I would put money down that Vuc in 2025 will start regressing to his career norms in 3P shooting, and that's pretty much his entire value right now as a > .400 3P shooter, since he's a non-starter on D.

It's already happening:
- until Dec 1st: 47%
- through Dec: 42%
- 3 games of January: 22%

If there were any good offers at all, Vuc should have been traded Dec 15th.
But AK has never been a sell-high guy.

[jnrjr79]

Trade Vuc, nothing else.

This actually seems optimistic, from your perspective.

He's the only guy there's been any positive reports about with regard to being traded. The only one I've seen about Zach is that Denver trash and I refuse to believe that rumor for now.

Second sentence refutes your first sentence, but yes, that Denver trade would be insane, so while I imagine Denver would do it and has discussed it, I pray the Bulls would not.

[Am2626]

I added the "do nothing" answer for all you people who want boring answers!

I think the indecisiveness of the FO is exactly what they will do. They really need to pick a lane. Either try to trade for a high impact player (Ex: Jimmy, Zion) while keeping their best players (Ex: LaVine, Vuc, etc) or make trades for assets and gear up for the draft. Not doing anything and not picking a lane is the worst possible decision and unfortunately that is probably what will happen. That’s this organizations MO.

[sco]

I added the "do nothing" answer for all you people who want boring answers!

I think the indecisiveness of the FO is exactly what they will do. They really need to pick a lane. Either try to trade for a high impact player (Ex: Jimmy, Zion) while keeping their best players (Ex: LaVine, Vuc, etc) or make trades for assets and gear up for the draft. Not doing anything and not picking a lane is the worst possible decision and unfortunately that is probably what will happen. That’s this organizations MO.

I think they did pick a lane. IMO, their lane is not to tank, but to "rebuild" around young vets. As such, maybe they are pressing for young assets in deals in lieu of 1sts, like they did for Caruso. On second thought, maybe I am ascribing a level of thought that the Bulls FO is incapable of.

[Pipp33]

What "should"happen is likely not will happen.

IMO

- We should be trading Vuc, which should not be too hard. He's got some qualities other teams will want and his contract is not horrendous

- Make all attempts to trade Lavine possible - but do not take back a worse contract and don't give 1st round picks up in the trade. IEven though Lavine has been solid this season, with good stretches, his contract makes it very hard to move him without taking something bad back long term or giving up good picks.

- Trade Coby White, who will have value out there.

- Trade Lonzo - He's shown that he can play off the bench and may get a 2nd rd pick back from a team that needs his skills.

- If someone will take Pat Williams - let them. That contract was a mistake, but our coaching staff have not got anything out of him. Maybe he improves somewhere else.

- Secure our 2025 draft pick by ensure we lose enough games.

- Play the young guys as much as possible.
Giddey needs to be played to figure out what his next deal is and if Bulls want him longer term. I think he can be the starting PG, but the coaches have to stop pulling him every time a mistake is made. Others are given much more lenience. Matas should be seeing the court more too.

- FIRE Billy Donovan or make him play the young guys and tank.

[Andi Obst]

I think the indecisiveness of the FO is exactly what they will do.

I could totally see this happening, as this is what we're used to seeing from AK.

But I definitely think it would be kind of dangerous for AK to do nothing after the press conference he gave after the play-in loss against the Heat last season. The expected outcome this year is exactly the same IMO: play-in exit, no real shot at competitive postseason basketball. How can you justify that after everything you said last year? You can't even sell this as a success of your "youth movement". Buzelis doesn't play, Giddey has been underwhelming and Pat still doesn't give a ****. Getting carried into another meaningless play-in loss by Vuc, Zach and Lonzo, neither of whom will be here when/if the Bulls are actually good again, while also losing your pick or making it as bad as possible is just a terrible look for AK. Any semi-serious franchise would fire him for that.

With that being said, AK should've been fired some time ago. So who knows. This franchise isn't serious.

[The Explorer]

I think AK will do nothing again. Donovan should bench Williams and start Smith at the 4. Give Buzelis more time as the main back-up big.

[dougthonus]

Trade Vuc, nothing else.

This actually seems optimistic, from your perspective.

He's the only guy there's been any positive reports about with regard to being traded. The only one I've seen about Zach is that Denver trash and I refuse to believe that rumor for now.

Not sure how much you followed this one, but the Bulls turned it down which makes it quite believable that Denver would offer trash and we would say no.

[dougthonus]

I think we'll either unload Vuc or Zach or do nothing. It seems like we're trying hard on both but have no takers and that might remain the case throughout the deadline. Zach's playing at a level where it's pretty nuts there are no takers by traditional standards and so is Vuc, but if we can't find someone willing to advance our goals in some way then nothing it is.

I won't really be mad at AK for not making a trade if the markets don't exist, and it sure looks like the markets don't exist.

[sco]

I think we'll either unload Vuc or Zach or do nothing. It seems like we're trying hard on both but have not takes and that might remain the case throughout the deadline. Zach's playing at a level where it's pretty nuts there are no takes by traditional standards and so is Vuc, but if we can't find someone willing to advance our goals in some way then nothing it is.

I won't really be mad at AK for not making a trade if the markets don't exist, and it sure looks like the markets don't exist.

Yeah. I would love to tank the season, but AK has never intimated he's willing to do that. I think taking back 2nd's and expirings will do little to make this team better. I'd rather see us get rid of Coby, Pat and the POR 1st in a deal to bring back another good starter.

[HearshotKDS]

I predict they are going to stand pat. The AKME Bulls have stood pat in much more pressing trade deadlines than the one they currently find themselves in, they will stand pat. Maybe trade a fringe player like Carter for cash.

[ChiTownHero1992]

Mixed bag "with a twist"...they will trade a significant player for a piece that they say is a new significant piece to their team, only for us to find out new piece is mediocre at best