NBA Trade Thread #12

[MrSparkle]

My main problem with trading Coby (assuming we don’t get the Isiah Thomas, Billy King, Arturas haul) is that it’s likely the next 4Y will be the best of his career.

My main problem with resigning him is any jump to perennial stardom would be a significant/far-fetched rise in consistency and ceiling that he hasn’t shown in his 6 years. That’s a lot of sample size. At this point, even if he has a Lauri/Utah revenge season next year (in his contract year, sigh), you can easily foresee a drop back down to reality. He’s a career 13.4 PER guard with weak defense. Even with his gradual improvement, that is ways away from any young top-10 guard, who leaves 15 PER in the dust after 2-3 seasons.

Anyway, given this dilemma, I trust that AK will do the worst thing possible. Overpay him and watch us struggle with no real #1 scoring option, or trade him for Zion.

IMO Coby won’t accept this eligible max, but to me even that amount is slightly rich. He’s consistently started seasons SO flat. And he also finishes his seasons on a flat note. He also tends to play well only 1 half of a game. Those are the 2 most important times in the NBA- opening month: getting a good start against motivated healthy teams in November, and the mid April playoffs. If you’re gonna show off your peak game in March every season, all you are is a rich man’s Kilpatrick.

The full season averages don’t lie. He had INCREDIBLE numbers in March, and they still didn’t make his season averages look exceptional. 15.5 PER and -0.5 BPM sounds like a rising star rookie, not a 6-year vet.

Doesn't the amount he gets paid figure into whether he's worth it, though? $20-$25 mill is average starter/good sixth man money. Per was 12.5 two years ago, 14.5 last year, 15.5 this year. Seems like he is improving, by that metric. $20-$25 mil is fair money. People expecting him to be a number 1 scorer capable of leading us should be projecting $40-$60 mill, that's what those guys are getting in year 6 nowadays. I'm looking at this like a Lou Will/Jamal Crawford type contract, not Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady.

Last year Zach started the season and played 25 games. This season Zach played the first 42 games. May not be just coincidence or streakiness that Coby's trends up when he's not on the floor with Zach in the second half of the season, or he started the two seasons at a lower level. Not playing with Zach seemed to unlock Giddey pretty quickly.

You think trading Coby for Zion is one of the worst things possible, but he's not good enough to keep? You must REALLY not want Zion, lol!

I don’t want a team built around talented guys who average 29 games a season and 1 knee surgery a year.

[Infinity2152]

My main problem with trading Coby (assuming we don’t get the Isiah Thomas, Billy King, Arturas haul) is that it’s likely the next 4Y will be the best of his career.

My main problem with resigning him is any jump to perennial stardom would be a significant/far-fetched rise in consistency and ceiling that he hasn’t shown in his 6 years. That’s a lot of sample size. At this point, even if he has a Lauri/Utah revenge season next year (in his contract year, sigh), you can easily foresee a drop back down to reality. He’s a career 13.4 PER guard with weak defense. Even with his gradual improvement, that is ways away from any young top-10 guard, who leaves 15 PER in the dust after 2-3 seasons.

Anyway, given this dilemma, I trust that AK will do the worst thing possible. Overpay him and watch us struggle with no real #1 scoring option, or trade him for Zion.

IMO Coby won’t accept this eligible max, but to me even that amount is slightly rich. He’s consistently started seasons SO flat. And he also finishes his seasons on a flat note. He also tends to play well only 1 half of a game. Those are the 2 most important times in the NBA- opening month: getting a good start against motivated healthy teams in November, and the mid April playoffs. If you’re gonna show off your peak game in March every season, all you are is a rich man’s Kilpatrick.

The full season averages don’t lie. He had INCREDIBLE numbers in March, and they still didn’t make his season averages look exceptional. 15.5 PER and -0.5 BPM sounds like a rising star rookie, not a 6-year vet.

Doesn't the amount he gets paid figure into whether he's worth it, though? $20-$25 mill is average starter/good sixth man money. Per was 12.5 two years ago, 14.5 last year, 15.5 this year. Seems like he is improving, by that metric. $20-$25 mil is fair money. People expecting him to be a number 1 scorer capable of leading us should be projecting $40-$60 mill, that's what those guys are getting in year 6 nowadays. I'm looking at this like a Lou Will/Jamal Crawford type contract, not Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady.

Last year Zach started the season and played 25 games. This season Zach played the first 42 games. May not be just coincidence or streakiness that Coby's trends up when he's not on the floor with Zach in the second half of the season, or he started the two seasons at a lower level. Not playing with Zach seemed to unlock Giddey pretty quickly.

You think trading Coby for Zion is one of the worst things possible, but he's not good enough to keep? You must REALLY not want Zion, lol!

I don’t want a team built around talented guys who average 29 games a season and 1 knee surgery a year.

Definitely major pros and con to adding Zion as your number 1. But look at the other available number 1's. Are there any? How much do they cost to add and what risk do they carry? What's their injury history over the last 4-5 years?

IMO, there are maybe 10-15 guys you could call actual number 1's, as in in they could be the best player on a championship team, not necessarily be the team leader. You're not getting Curry, Butler, Lebron, Luka, Jokic, Wemby, Tatum, SGA, Mitchell, Leonard, Giannis. Maybe Flagg joins them this summer, not getting him without the number 1 pick. And most of those guys are 32 or older, up to 40. Zion is just 24.

Of the remaining, only Zion and Embid look gettable. Embid's injury history is just as bad as Zion's and he's much older. You might add 1-2 number 1's to the league each year, or maybe none. We should take the chance, imo. Zion's contract is heavily insured and protected and we're not talking about giving up our most valuable resources to get him. Proposals have mostly been Coby, expiring Vuc and/or Collins and a couple of picks.

Adding Zion at $39 mill does not stop us from adding another great player in 2026 if Coby and Vuc are going in the deal. Even if/when Zion is hurt we should be able to field a strong team. If/when he's not, could be a top team in the league.

What's not mentioned is that Zion's contract is the lowest for a number 1 outside Wemby, who's on a rookie contract. Next year: Curry $59.6, Embid $55.2, Jokic $55.2, Tatum $54.1, Giannis $54.1, Lebron $52.6, Kawhi $50 mill, Donovan Mitchell $46.3, etc. Zion's tied for #30 with two people at $39.4.

Zion's younger than pretty much all of them, and you can still add another $10-$20 mil dollar player to mitigate some of the loss if/when Zion is injured.

Did you know the future years of his contract are unguaranteed? His 2026 becomes guaranteed on July 15, 2025, 2027 guaranteed on July 15, 2026 and so forth.
20% of 2025 contract guaranteed if he passed all six weigh-ins. Don't know.
40% of his 2025 contract would be guaranteed if he played >= 41 games in 2024 season.
20% if he plays in >= 51 games
20% if he plays in >= 61 games in 2024-2025 season

He only played 30, had a back contusion. His contract next year might not even be guaranteed. Or at most, 20% guaranteed.

[sco]

Doesn't the amount he gets paid figure into whether he's worth it, though? $20-$25 mill is average starter/good sixth man money. Per was 12.5 two years ago, 14.5 last year, 15.5 this year. Seems like he is improving, by that metric. $20-$25 mil is fair money. People expecting him to be a number 1 scorer capable of leading us should be projecting $40-$60 mill, that's what those guys are getting in year 6 nowadays. I'm looking at this like a Lou Will/Jamal Crawford type contract, not Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady.

Last year Zach started the season and played 25 games. This season Zach played the first 42 games. May not be just coincidence or streakiness that Coby's trends up when he's not on the floor with Zach in the second half of the season, or he started the two seasons at a lower level. Not playing with Zach seemed to unlock Giddey pretty quickly.

You think trading Coby for Zion is one of the worst things possible, but he's not good enough to keep? You must REALLY not want Zion, lol!

I don’t want a team built around talented guys who average 29 games a season and 1 knee surgery a year.

Definitely major pros and con to adding Zion as your number 1. But look at the other available number 1's. Are there any? How much do they cost to add and what risk do they carry? What's their injury history over the last 4-5 years?

IMO, there are maybe 10-15 guys you could call actual number 1's, as in in they could be the best player on a championship team, not necessarily be the team leader. You're not getting Curry, Butler, Lebron, Luka, Jokic, Wemby, Tatum, SGA, Mitchell, Leonard, Giannis. Maybe Flagg joins them this summer, not getting him without the number 1 pick. And most of those guys are 32 or older, up to 40. Zion is just 24.

Of the remaining, only Zion and Embid look gettable. Embid's injury history is just as bad as Zion's and he's much older. You might add 1-2 number 1's to the league each year, or maybe none. We should take the chance, imo. Zion's contract is heavily insured and protected and we're not talking about giving up our most valuable resources to get him. Proposals have mostly been Coby, expiring Vuc and/or Collins and a couple of picks.

Adding Zion at $39 mill does not stop us from adding another great player in 2026 if Coby and Vuc are going in the deal. Even if/when Zion is hurt we should be able to field a strong team. If/when he's not, could be a top team in the league.

What's not mentioned is that Zion's contract is the lowest for a number 1 outside Wemby, who's on a rookie contract. Next year: Curry $59.6, Embid $55.2, Jokic $55.2, Tatum $54.1, Giannis $54.1, Lebron $52.6, Kawhi $50 mill, Donovan Mitchell $46.3, etc. Zion's tied for #30 with two people at $39.4.

Zion's younger than pretty much all of them, and you can still add another $10-$20 mil dollar player to mitigate some of the loss if/when Zion is injured.

Did you know the future years of his contract are unguaranteed? His 2026 becomes guaranteed on July 15, 2025, 2027 guaranteed on July 15, 2026 and so forth.
20% of 2025 contract guaranteed if he passed all six weigh-ins. Don't know.
40% of his 2025 contract would be guaranteed if he played >= 41 games in 2024 season.
20% if he plays in >= 51 games
20% if he plays in >= 61 games in 2024-2025 season

He only played 30, had a back contusion. His contract next year might not even be guaranteed. Or at most, 20% guaranteed.

I'll say it slightly differently.

Zion is interesting from the perspective that there are very few #1 options in the NBA who aren't the primary ball handler. We have our primary ball handler in Giddey who isn't a #1 option. The pairing might maximize each other's games. Add to that Zion's price probably can't get lower than now, and you get health protections in his contract. I'm not saying he's the perfect #1 option, but he may be the best we can realistically get (although I'm still rooting for a Flagg miracle in the draft - could you imagine?).

[Infinity2152]

I don’t want a team built around talented guys who average 29 games a season and 1 knee surgery a year.

Definitely major pros and con to adding Zion as your number 1. But look at the other available number 1's. Are there any? How much do they cost to add and what risk do they carry? What's their injury history over the last 4-5 years?

IMO, there are maybe 10-15 guys you could call actual number 1's, as in in they could be the best player on a championship team, not necessarily be the team leader. You're not getting Curry, Butler, Lebron, Luka, Jokic, Wemby, Tatum, SGA, Mitchell, Leonard, Giannis. Maybe Flagg joins them this summer, not getting him without the number 1 pick. And most of those guys are 32 or older, up to 40. Zion is just 24.

Of the remaining, only Zion and Embid look gettable. Embid's injury history is just as bad as Zion's and he's much older. You might add 1-2 number 1's to the league each year, or maybe none. We should take the chance, imo. Zion's contract is heavily insured and protected and we're not talking about giving up our most valuable resources to get him. Proposals have mostly been Coby, expiring Vuc and/or Collins and a couple of picks.

Adding Zion at $39 mill does not stop us from adding another great player in 2026 if Coby and Vuc are going in the deal. Even if/when Zion is hurt we should be able to field a strong team. If/when he's not, could be a top team in the league.

What's not mentioned is that Zion's contract is the lowest for a number 1 outside Wemby, who's on a rookie contract. Next year: Curry $59.6, Embid $55.2, Jokic $55.2, Tatum $54.1, Giannis $54.1, Lebron $52.6, Kawhi $50 mill, Donovan Mitchell $46.3, etc. Zion's tied for #30 with two people at $39.4.

Zion's younger than pretty much all of them, and you can still add another $10-$20 mil dollar player to mitigate some of the loss if/when Zion is injured.

Did you know the future years of his contract are unguaranteed? His 2026 becomes guaranteed on July 15, 2025, 2027 guaranteed on July 15, 2026 and so forth.
20% of 2025 contract guaranteed if he passed all six weigh-ins. Don't know.
40% of his 2025 contract would be guaranteed if he played >= 41 games in 2024 season.
20% if he plays in >= 51 games
20% if he plays in >= 61 games in 2024-2025 season

He only played 30, had a back contusion. His contract next year might not even be guaranteed. Or at most, 20% guaranteed.

I'll say it slightly differently.

Zion is interesting from the perspective that there are very few #1 options in the NBA who aren't the primary ball handler. We have our primary ball handler in Giddey who isn't a #1 option. The pairing might maximize each other's games. Add to that Zion's price probably can't get lower than now, and you get health protections in his contract. I'm not saying he's the perfect #1 option, but he may be the best we can realistically get (although I'm still rooting for a Flagg miracle in the draft - could you imagine?).

Agree completely. Never going to say he's the ideal shot at a number 1, but he could be the only realistic one for the next few years. And his contract being unguaranteed means if a better option comes along we can use him or lose him. At the least with a voidable contract he's never a long term negative asset.

I think the idea Giddey can't be a number 1 is a short term look tough. He's 23. Most of the current top guys in the league will be old or gone in 4 years. Lebron, KD, Curry, Harden, maybe Embid, Jokic, Leonard, Butler just off the top. Giddey would be 27, competing with the young alphas in the league now and maybe 1 or 2 additions. You got Ant Edwards, SGA, Wemby, Banchero, Mitchell, a few more. Not a lot of proven leaders. I think a 3-4 year improved Giddey could stand tall with the number 1's, as far as being a top player contributing to wins.

[Rose2Boozer]

Who says no, Bulls send Vucevic, Smith, 25 1st, and Protected Blazers pick to the Jazz for Collins and Kessler.

[sco]

Who says no, Bulls send Vucevic, Smith, 25 1st, and Protected Blazers pick to the Jazz for Collins and Kessler.

Us. While I agree that Collins and Kessler are probably better than those picks, I'd try to keep our '25 pick and try to work Williams and/or Ayo instead.

[Infinity2152]

Who says no, Bulls send Vucevic, Smith, 25 1st, and Protected Blazers pick to the Jazz for Collins and Kessler.

Team would certainly get better right away. Couple of problems. Kessler will be looking for a big contract in 2026. Add Collins contract and take away Vuc's expiring, we've significantly worsened our cap situation. Giving up our 2025 first takes away another cheap good player. We're almost locked into that team.

Kessler's not enough of an upgrade, imo.
PER 36 this year: Kessler: 13.3 pts, 14.6 rbs, 2.9 blocks. 66% FG, but only 18% from 3, so only at the basket. Elite paint protector, shot blocker
Smith: 19.6 pts, 13.4 rbs, 1.6 blocks. 47% FG, 32% from three this season. Good paint protector, good shot blocker, can space floor

Smith has an extra year on his contract at $9 mill, when Kessler on that high second contract. We have a great center prospect if Billy plays him. They have to take Pat Williams contract if they want to send Collins, at minimum. Would much rather just draft Maluach, keep Smith and use Vuc and Portland first in a deal better than John Collins.

[2weekswithpay]

Who says no, Bulls send Vucevic, Smith, 25 1st, and Protected Blazers pick to the Jazz for Collins and Kessler.

Ainge. Unless he gets a Godfather offer, he's not trading Kessler.

[Infinity2152]

Who says no, Bulls send Vucevic, Smith, 25 1st, and Protected Blazers pick to the Jazz for Collins and Kessler.

Ainge. Unless he gets a Godfather offer, he's not trading Kessler.

That offer he proposed would be too much for Kessler, imo. 23 yr old guy played 58 games this season and averaged 11 and 12 with 2.4 blocks and is expiring, maybe getting near rookie max in 2026. They're getting back a 24 yr old center who played 64 games and put up similar per 36 stats (6 more points, 1 less rebound, 0.8 less blocks) with an extra cheap year left, a lottery first round pick in this draft like Maluach, plus an extra first round pick. I'd consider Collins and Vuc a wash as assets, maybe slightly above neutral as far as trade value.

Kessler's a great paint protector, but limited offensively.

That's an outstanding return for a #22 pick you just drafted 3 years ago and you're about to have to pay big bucks.

Sounds just like an Ainge move. He gets Maluach or whoever and they end up better than Kessler for 4 years on rookie contract plus Smith plus another protected first plus clears $20 mill in cap from the Collins trade and Vuc expiring while we pay Kessler $30 mill and Collins contract.

Hopefully AK won't be allowed to or wouldn't dare trade our 2025 lottery pick for anything less than a superstar trade.

[sco]

Who says no, Bulls send Vucevic, Smith, 25 1st, and Protected Blazers pick to the Jazz for Collins and Kessler.

Team would certainly get better right away. Couple of problems. Kessler will be looking for a big contract in 2026. Add Collins contract and take away Vuc's expiring, we've significantly worsened our cap situation. Giving up our 2025 first takes away another cheap good player. We're almost locked into that team.

Kessler's not enough of an upgrade, imo.
PER 36 this year: Kessler: 13.3 pts, 14.6 rbs, 2.9 blocks. 66% FG, but only 18% from 3, so only at the basket. Elite paint protector, shot blocker
Smith: 19.6 pts, 13.4 rbs, 1.6 blocks. 47% FG, 32% from three this season. Good paint protector, good shot blocker, can space floor

Smith has an extra year on his contract at $9 mill, when Kessler on that high second contract. We have a great center prospect if Billy plays him. They have to take Pat Williams contract if they want to send Collins, at minimum. Would much rather just draft Maluach, keep Smith and use Vuc and Portland first in a deal better than John Collins.

I'm with you EXCEPT Smith is clearly on Billy's NO PLAY LIST. I really like him, but if he's glued to the bench. It would be good to get value for him. It's DJJ all over again.

[sco]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/280089/Bulls-To-Look-To-Trade-Nikola-Vuceivc-This-Offseason

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2025/04/19/bulls-big-three-but-also-have-three-big-decisions-to-make

This would be great, but no real sources to suggest interest by the Bulls, or equally important, interest by other clubs. Vuc's comments were encouraging. Zion trade comments were fun too.

[ChettheJet]

Who says no, Bulls send Vucevic, Smith, 25 1st, and Protected Blazers pick to the Jazz for Collins and Kessler.

With where the Bulls were a year or even two years ago I would have jumped at this. At that point I wanted a genuine PF who would be able to shoot the three and at least show up on defense. I was tired of Caruso, Javonte Green and Ayo imitating a PF because that's how Billy was playing it. Kessler would have been a good change from Vuc then when we had Drummond and now with Zach Collins. The pick for stability.

Things are different now and so is my approach. I'm willing to help figure out a way to move Vuc because I'm comfortable withe Collins and Smith with some low pay veteran behind them for one year. Matas needs some muscle but he looks like he could be the PF so I no longer need to look at a $20M John Collins. That and no way I'm giving up this years pick for any short term guy, it's a major investment not a hole fiiller. Maybe #11 doesn't start or play much he should be in the rotation after the deadline when more moves should be made and contributing in 2026-27.

I agree with adding young players who still look like they can play and do without any expensive stars. I'd be more than happy to trade Vuc for 2 formerly high draft picks making $10M each coming up as RFA or UFA. If they seem to mature to show more than in the past like Giddey and Huerter have maybe you want to keep them otherwise you're moving on in the summer of 2026.

Looking at all the expiring contacts I'd like to go into next season with Coby, Giddey, Collins and Huerter even Jones and do my best to move Vucevic, Ayo and Carter, even Terry. I hate the idea of holding on to everyone and waiting until the deadline, that amounts to throwing away next season and another play in nothing.

[ChettheJet]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/280089/Bulls-To-Look-To-Trade-Nikola-Vuceivc-This-Offseason

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2025/04/19/bulls-big-three-but-also-have-three-big-decisions-to-make

This would be great, but no real sources to suggest interest by the Bulls, or equally important, interest by other clubs. Vuc's comments were encouraging. Zion trade comments were fun too.

Both Joe Cowley and he's not rated above half the posters here.

As far as Vuc saying he might want to stay. He's in no position of strength to say he wants to get out and he's not going to say something stupid knowing he's still here until he's not. From the Bulls side, they gave up 2 picks and real players to get him, they saw his contract run out and they resigned him instead of seeking out somebody else. Could they have found a way to get Zach Collins 2 years ago? AK can't look at the play in limit of the past 5 seasons and risk his own future in Chicago by betting on Vuc for his expiring year.

[2weekswithpay]

Who says no, Bulls send Vucevic, Smith, 25 1st, and Protected Blazers pick to the Jazz for Collins and Kessler.

Ainge. Unless he gets a Godfather offer, he's not trading Kessler.

That offer he proposed would be too much for Kessler, imo. 23 yr old guy played 58 games this season and averaged 11 and 12 with 2.4 blocks and is expiring, maybe getting near rookie max in 2026. They're getting back a 24 yr old center who played 64 games and put up similar per 36 stats (6 more points, 1 less rebound, 0.8 less blocks) with an extra cheap year left, a lottery first round pick in this draft like Maluach, plus an extra first round pick. I'd consider Collins and Vuc a wash as assets, maybe slightly above neutral as far as trade value.

Kessler's a great paint protector, but limited offensively.

That's an outstanding return for a #22 pick you just drafted 3 years ago and you're about to have to pay big bucks.

Sounds just like an Ainge move. He gets Maluach or whoever and they end up better than Kessler for 4 years on rookie contract plus Smith plus another protected first plus clears $20 mill in cap from the Collins trade and Vuc expiring while we pay Kessler $30 mill and Collins contract.

Hopefully AK won't be allowed to or wouldn't dare trade our 2025 lottery pick for anything less than a superstar trade.

The Jazz intentionally sat him to tank. I doubt he gets the rookie max, and while I wouldn't make this trade, Kessler is in a different tier compared to Smith.

Take out the 2025 pick and replace it with an unprotected 2030, and this trade is a no brainer for us.

[Infinity2152]

Don't think what happens with Vuc matters much long term. Chet had a great suggestion, try to move him for 2 mid value young players or vet around $10 mill apiece who will be free agents/RFA's. Even if they're at lower perceived value, they're still expiring if you don't want them and they're younger, may improve and you've added talent and it's restricted. Either way, Vuc's main value past this year is he's expiring, just don't take bad long term money for him.

Billy could very well be fired in the next year, one reason I'm not giving up on Smith. There are rumblings already.

[sco]

I'm thinking of Smith trades (not because I don't want him, but Billy won't play him and I'd want value for him). What about

Smith plus POR 1st to POR for Williams III and Por's 2025 pick (assuming it's not a top 4)

[JRoy]

Lol.

Not happening.

[ChettheJet]

I'm thinking of Smith trades (not because I don't want him, but Billy won't play him and I'd want value for him). What about

Smith plus POR 1st to POR for Williams III and Por's 2025 pick (assuming it's not a top 4)

Besides that trade being absurd. If the Bulls are trading with Port returning the pick with an expiring contract as part of relieving them of some unneeded veteran that fills a Bulls need is the plan. Not the Blazers adding another in between guy who is signed long term. They've gottoo many guys like that now.

have you asked yourself why Billy hadn't been playing Smith down the stretch?

From the start of the season did you not agree that it was in the team's best interest to play Zach Lavine to show he was healthy and build up his value so he wouldn't be all big contract and there would be some team out there to see him as a trade target? Well he put up terrific numbers, only missed a few games and the Bulls got more than just contracts in return for him.

Well how would it have looked for the Bulls to have started either Collins or Smith or even give them big minutes over a healthy Vucevic? It would have made Vuc out to be be more of a big, slow old and old school center. Instead they ended up 15-5, Vuc was 18-10, shot 40% from 3 and probably looked good to a team that is thin at the 5 and wanting to make a run next year could bring in as an expiring contract. I often don't like teams to wait until the deadline to add somebody, now there's the in season tournament to win so why not add a guy at the start of the season?

Post the trade, the Bulls saw they had Collins who would become an expiring and Smith signed for the longer term. Is it so difficult to imagine Billy, not the should be fired Billy but the solid NBA coach, having a talk with Smith and explaining just that scenario to him. You're with us next year and beyond you don't need 20 more games to show your value to the future of this team. it's no insult to you but if we play the older guys they become more tradable and we get some more help when you're back in the rotation.

[sco]

I'm thinking of Smith trades (not because I don't want him, but Billy won't play him and I'd want value for him). What about

Smith plus POR 1st to POR for Williams III and Por's 2025 pick (assuming it's not a top 4)

Besides that trade being absurd. If the Bulls are trading with Port returning the pick with an expiring contract as part of relieving them of some unneeded veteran that fills a Bulls need is the plan. Not the Blazers adding another in between guy who is signed long term. They've gottoo many guys like that now.

have you asked yourself why Billy hadn't been playing Smith down the stretch?

From the start of the season did you not agree that it was in the team's best interest to play Zach Lavine to show he was healthy and build up his value so he wouldn't be all big contract and there would be some team out there to see him as a trade target? Well he put up terrific numbers, only missed a few games and the Bulls got more than just contracts in return for him.

Well how would it have looked for the Bulls to have started either Collins or Smith or even give them big minutes over a healthy Vucevic? It would have made Vuc out to be be more of a big, slow old and old school center. Instead they ended up 15-5, Vuc was 18-10, shot 40% from 3 and probably looked good to a team that is thin at the 5 and wanting to make a run next year could bring in as an expiring contract. I often don't like teams to wait until the deadline to add somebody, now there's the in season tournament to win so why not add a guy at the start of the season?

Post the trade, the Bulls saw they had Collins who would become an expiring and Smith signed for the longer term. Is it so difficult to imagine Billy, not the should be fired Billy but the solid NBA coach, having a talk with Smith and explaining just that scenario to him. You're with us next year and beyond you don't need 20 more games to show your value to the future of this team. it's no insult to you but if we play the older guys they become more tradable and we get some more help when you're back in the rotation.

You could be right about Billy and Smith. I hope you are. That said, Billy did essentially the same thing with Jones Jr., who was clearly our best PF, but put him behind the horrible PWill and Green, and really only gave him small ball minutes at C. Even if you are right, there was no good reason to not play him over PWill.

[Infinity2152]

Yeah, don't see any way Smith was getting minutes over Vuc or Collins after he got here. Numbers squeeze. 100% agree he should have played over Pat Will at PF but I think Matas was getting most of the PF minutes , and Giddey played with two guards on the court most of the time, so he was effectively playing forward. Team was running high pace, two bigs would have slowed them down a lot. Our bigs aren't very quick, lol

I'm really hoping one of Vuc or Collins is gone this summer, Smith is by far the one I want to see on the court the most. Might get a chance to fight for the starter spot with Collins if Vuc leaves, don't think there's any way he starts over Vuc if Collins is the one to go.

Pat performed poorly, true fact. There was no way he wasn't getting minutes after just signing that contract though.