Just for fun: What do you do to go all in on this team?

[coldfish]

So, let's say that all the best case scenarios actually play out. Matas becomes a 20 PER player. Giddey is near a triple double every night. Coby is good Coby. The depth looks good and the team continues to hustle. They are starting to look like a mid 40's win team and you actually want to build on it. The Bulls have tons of expiring deals and all their picks. The east looks wide open.

How do you do that? What position do you target? Who do you trade? Who do you trade for?

One of the interesting things is that I think that Matas would be fine as either a SF or PF.

Huerter + Patrick + Carter + 1st for Lauri?
Giddey
Coby
Matas
Lauri
Vuc / Collins

Vucevic + Patrick + Carter + 2 1sts for Adebayo?

Take a chance on Zion?
Brandon Ingram?
Sabonis?

Who else is out there who could possibly be available?

Are you of the mindset that there is no possible way that you would ever "invest" in this team? Even if they start 20-2 or something, its fool's gold so don't do it.

Last note: I fully expect the team to go back and forth between wins and losses all season and people to be bagging on everyone and doom and gloom after the losses. We just tend to focus on the downside here and rarely discuss the upside.

[dougthonus]

So, let's say that all the best case scenarios actually play out. Matas becomes a 20 PER player. Giddey is near a triple double every night. Coby is good Coby. The depth looks good and the team continues to hustle. They are starting to look like a mid 40's win team and you actually want to build on it. The Bulls have tons of expiring deals and all their picks. The east looks wide open.

How do you do that? What position do you target? Who do you trade? Who do you trade for?

One of the interesting things is that I think that Matas would be fine as either a SF or PF.

Huerter + Patrick + Carter + 1st for Lauri?
Giddey
Coby
Matas
Lauri
Vuc / Collins

Vucevic + Patrick + Carter + 2 1sts for Adebayo?

Take a chance on Zion?
Brandon Ingram?
Sabonis?

Who else is out there who could possibly be available?

Are you of the mindset that there is no possible way that you would ever "invest" in this team? Even if they start 20-2 or something, its fool's gold so don't do it.

Last note: I fully expect the team to go back and forth between wins and losses all season and people to be bagging on everyone and doom and gloom after the losses. We just tend to focus on the downside here and rarely discuss the upside.

Obviously just depends on who is available. Your Adebayo trade might be the best all-in move that feels reasonable in terms of Adebayo being the type of guy who would help a lot, the price being about right, and him being available. Your Lauri trade is also reasonable, but Lauri helping us, but I'd certainly do it in an all-in move if I couldn't find something better.

Zion feels like a guy who simply won't be available if he is healthy to me, or the price will exceed the risk. At the point you get over the hump to say yes, NOP probably refuses to trade him. Would say no to Ingram/Sabonis, just not good fits IMO and wouldn't actually make us any better.

Should Giannis become available, that's obviously an option, but odds are we couldn't bid high enough even if we wanted to, and it would only make sense if he agreed to an extension as part of the deal, so he'd also have to pick us over his other options.

Is there a world where the Suns are like F it, and trade Devin Booker? That might be intriguing.

If Memphis struggles, any chance they put JJJ on the market? He'd be perfect for what the Bulls need.

The interesting problem is also that as the players you want get better, your ability to get them also diminishes. Say one of JJJ or Booker or Giannis is on the market, could you even be top bidder? I guess same is true of Adebayo / Lauri to a degree too.

Of the options you named and the ones I named that are less certain, the Lauri trade feels like the one you could probably be top bidder on if you wanted to do it, because I think the league is not convinced about whether Lauri is on a good or bad contract.

[coldfish]

So, let's say that all the best case scenarios actually play out. Matas becomes a 20 PER player. Giddey is near a triple double every night. Coby is good Coby. The depth looks good and the team continues to hustle. They are starting to look like a mid 40's win team and you actually want to build on it. The Bulls have tons of expiring deals and all their picks. The east looks wide open.

How do you do that? What position do you target? Who do you trade? Who do you trade for?

One of the interesting things is that I think that Matas would be fine as either a SF or PF.

Huerter + Patrick + Carter + 1st for Lauri?
Giddey
Coby
Matas
Lauri
Vuc / Collins

Vucevic + Patrick + Carter + 2 1sts for Adebayo?

Take a chance on Zion?
Brandon Ingram?
Sabonis?

Who else is out there who could possibly be available?

Are you of the mindset that there is no possible way that you would ever "invest" in this team? Even if they start 20-2 or something, its fool's gold so don't do it.

Last note: I fully expect the team to go back and forth between wins and losses all season and people to be bagging on everyone and doom and gloom after the losses. We just tend to focus on the downside here and rarely discuss the upside.

Obviously just depends on who is available. Your Adebayo trade might be the best all-in move that feels reasonable in terms of Adebayo being the type of guy who would help a lot, the price being about right, and him being available. Your Lauri trade is also reasonable, but Lauri helping us, but I'd certainly do it in an all-in move if I couldn't find something better.

Zion feels like a guy who simply won't be available if he is healthy to me, or the price will exceed the risk. At the point you get over the hump to say yes, NOP probably refuses to trade him. Would say no to Ingram/Sabonis, just not good fits IMO and wouldn't actually make us any better.

Should Giannis become available, that's obviously an option, but odds are we couldn't bid high enough even if we wanted to, and it would only make sense if he agreed to an extension as part of the deal, so he'd also have to pick us over his other options.

Is there a world where the Suns are like F it, and trade Devin Booker? That might be intriguing.

This thread actually comes from a post where Seccci suggested that. Can't find the post right now but I should give him credit.

As I was writing down Sabonis my first thought was "don't do another Vuc trade". If the Bulls are going to go "all in" it should be for a guy who is a legit needle mover and not just the only guy who is available in trade. Personally I would rather see the team sit pat and see what it can do in free agency or something before giving up future firsts for a guy like him.

[dougthonus]

This thread actually comes from a post where Seccci suggested that. Can't find the post right now but I should give him credit.

As I was writing down Sabonis my first thought was "don't do another Vuc trade". If the Bulls are going to go "all in" it should be for a guy who is a legit needle mover and not just the only guy who is available in trade. Personally I would rather see the team sit pat and see what it can do in free agency or something before giving up future firsts for a guy like him.

I made an edit after your quote, but JJJ if the Grizzlies say F it, let's just go the Thunder route and move him and Ja for a crap ton of picks and see what we can do with 3 1sts every year. He would be the unicorn center we need next to Giddey, then if Matas and Essengue are both hits, and you are running out a 3-5 that's 6'10 and super athletic and can all block shots all over the place, that would be super interesting.

[coldfish]

This thread actually comes from a post where Seccci suggested that. Can't find the post right now but I should give him credit.

As I was writing down Sabonis my first thought was "don't do another Vuc trade". If the Bulls are going to go "all in" it should be for a guy who is a legit needle mover and not just the only guy who is available in trade. Personally I would rather see the team sit pat and see what it can do in free agency or something before giving up future firsts for a guy like him.

I made an edit after your quote, but JJJ if the Grizzlies say F it, let's just go the Thunder route and move him and Ja for a crap ton of picks and see what we can do with 3 1sts every year. He would be the unicorn center we need next to Giddey, then if Matas and Essengue are both hits, and you are running out a 3-5 that's 6'10 and super athletic and can all block shots all over the place, that would be super interesting.

Its funny you say that. I was going through PER leaders, positions, etc. and the one guy who stuck out was JJJ as a perfect fit for what the Bulls are doing. I just thought there would be no chance he would be available but yeah, if Giddey and Matas are legit, JJJ is the guy who kind of makes you go hmmmm.

Still don't think that's a title contender but with how weak the east is, its a contender to lose 4-1 in the finals.

[dougthonus]

Its funny you say that. I was going through PER leaders, positions, etc. and the one guy who stuck out was JJJ as a perfect fit for what the Bulls are doing. I just thought there would be no chance he would be available but yeah, if Giddey and Matas are legit, JJJ is the guy who kind of makes you go hmmmm.

Still don't think that's a title contender but with how weak the east is, its a contender to lose 4-1 in the finals.

Probably the best fit. Obviously an ALL-NBA guy would be better even without fit, but JJJ is the best I can come up with that I can squint real hard and see how it's possible we're both the high bidder and possible that he might be available if the cards fall a certain way.

[Evil_Headband]

If Giannis wants out, the Bucks could decide to dump Myles Turner.

[dougthonus]

If Giannis wants out, the Bucks could decide to dump Myles Turner.

If Giannis wanted out, Turner would be a good prize for us to try and 50ish win team.

[Red Larrivee]

This thread actually comes from a post where Seccci suggested that. Can't find the post right now but I should give him credit.

As I was writing down Sabonis my first thought was "don't do another Vuc trade". If the Bulls are going to go "all in" it should be for a guy who is a legit needle mover and not just the only guy who is available in trade. Personally I would rather see the team sit pat and see what it can do in free agency or something before giving up future firsts for a guy like him.

This is exactly why I wouldn't give up a haul for Markkanen. Your proposed deal is reasonable, but I can't see Ainge moving him for anything less than a boatload of draft picks. I'm also not convinced Markkanen is a needle mover unless you already have a superstar.

Bam is the best fit. Jackson is also a good fit, but I think he's very unique in that he rarely averages 30mpg and fouls a lot. Jarrett Allen is interesting if he's available while Cleveland is fighting the second apron.

[pipfan]

If Giannis wants out, the Bucks could decide to dump Myles Turner.

If Giannis wanted out, Turner would be a good prize for us to try and 50ish win team.

I just posted this on a thread on the Trade Board-SA goes for Giannis, we are about .500 and looking solid and do Vuc/Carter/2026 unprotected Bulls' 1st for Turner (might need Port pick too).

I can imagine this lineup getting to the 2nd round
White/Jones
Okoro/Ayo
Giddey/Huerter
Matas/PWill
Turner/Collins
still have Noa to develop and JSmith on the bench, plus Terry/Phillips. We'd still have our picks moving forward

Milw gets a pick for 2026 and saves $ long term

[Guru]

Its not exactly all in but I would try to get Claxton. I think that's a solid slow build. I wouldn't necessarily get rid of Vuc either. Claxton and Vuc as a platoon sounds pretty good at C. Vuc leadership and vet saavy would help this team all around and Claxton in particular to develop in all the things Claxton isn't great at.

[sco]

If (big IF) we are around .500 at the ASB, I could see AK doing a big move in order to use all of the expirings that we have. It will be mostly luck as to who comes available. I worry that AK may jump on a bad fit just to do something...like Sabonis. The guys who would be good moves, obviously depending on price, are:

Giannis
Brown
KAT
Turner
Booker

Bad moves would be guys like:

Sabonis (Vuc 2)
Lauri (not a #1 and a bad defender)
Kuminga (not a 3pt shooter or defender)

[Jcool0]

JJJ just signed a 240M contract extension so not only would that be hard to trade for, I also don't think Memphis would be looking to trade him 6 months later. Also he's had injury issues in 5 of his 7 seasons in the NBA and already had a turf toe injury this offseason.

[coldfish]

JJJ just signed a 240M contract extension so not only would that be hard to trade for, I also don't think Memphis would be looking to trade him 6 months later. Also he's had injury issues in 5 of his 7 seasons in the NBA and already had a turf toe injury this offseason.

Yeah, I don't think he is realistic.

I'm just curious about who fans here think is realistic and if they would be worth their price. So far the only real name I have seen floated is Booker. Maybe Bam if the wheels fall off in Miami.

[Jcool0]

JJJ just signed a 240M contract extension so not only would that be hard to trade for, I also don't think Memphis would be looking to trade him 6 months later. Also he's had injury issues in 5 of his 7 seasons in the NBA and already had a turf toe injury this offseason.

Yeah, I don't think he is realistic.

I'm just curious about who fans here think is realistic and if they would be worth their price. So far the only real name I have seen floated is Booker. Maybe Bam if the wheels fall off in Miami.

Walker Kessler?

[coldfish]

JJJ just signed a 240M contract extension so not only would that be hard to trade for, I also don't think Memphis would be looking to trade him 6 months later. Also he's had injury issues in 5 of his 7 seasons in the NBA and already had a turf toe injury this offseason.

Yeah, I don't think he is realistic.

I'm just curious about who fans here think is realistic and if they would be worth their price. So far the only real name I have seen floated is Booker. Maybe Bam if the wheels fall off in Miami.

Walker Kessler?

He is another one that kind of caught my eye as filling a need and being possibly available.

.......

Just in general . . . what do the Bulls need? You have Coby and Vuc as free agents and you have Matas who can play either the 3 or 4. They basically could take the best available 2, 3 or 5 and look at as a long term piece. What kind of 5 do you want? A shooter? athletic defender? Big bulky guy in the middle?

Chicago has a lot of questions and for the first time in YEARS its kind of fun to ask them.

[MikeDC]

1. The first step is to not pretend that good players are great players. Guys like Lauri and Bam are good, and even very good fits. But they are still an order of magnitude or two down the totem pole from Giannis.

In that sense, Giannis is the only ALL IN player available, because he's the only guy who's a top 5 player. You get him without selling the farm to do it and you have a contender.

How feasible that is, probably not very, but that's the biggest issue.

Just looking, I'd say something like:
Vuc, Collins, Huerter, Ayo, Noa, Terry, Phillips, and Smith
+ 4 unprotected firsts + 4 swaps (most we can offer)
for
Giannis, Turner, Portis, Trent, Sims
(The Bucks if they are trading Giannis, will really want to get off Portis and Turner's future year money as well)

Bulls
G- Coby, Trent
G- Giddey, Jones
F- Matas
F- Giannis, Pat
C- Turner, Portis, Sims

I mean, yeah... if Giannis would deign to come here, I'd do that.

2. I don't think any of the others past the cost-benefit test. Especially Booker. Booker making $53M and fading pretty quickly. He's a future Bradley Beale in the worst case, and a future Zach in the best case.

Seriously, anyone who would blanch at paying Coby $25M should think about if it makes sense to pay Booker > twice that. It's insane.

[dougthonus]

If Giannis wants out, the Bucks could decide to dump Myles Turner.

If Giannis wanted out, Turner would be a good prize for us to try and 50ish win team.

I just posted this on a thread on the Trade Board-SA goes for Giannis, we are about .500 and looking solid and do Vuc/Carter/2026 unprotected Bulls' 1st for Turner (might need Port pick too).

I can imagine this lineup getting to the 2nd round
White/Jones
Okoro/Ayo
Giddey/Huerter
Matas/PWill
Turner/Collins
still have Noa to develop and JSmith on the bench, plus Terry/Phillips. We'd still have our picks moving forward

Milw gets a pick for 2026 and saves $ long term

I don't see us having to give up 2 first rounders for Turner.

[dougthonus]

JJJ just signed a 240M contract extension so not only would that be hard to trade for, I also don't think Memphis would be looking to trade him 6 months later. Also he's had injury issues in 5 of his 7 seasons in the NBA and already had a turf toe injury this offseason.

If Memphis sucks isn't performing, that could be the exact reason they trade him. Do they want to be on the hook for that long? That said, he's probably then BYC which would make the math very hard.

[Red Larrivee]

He is another one that kind of caught my eye as filling a need and being possibly available.

.......

Just in general . . . what do the Bulls need? You have Coby and Vuc as free agents and you have Matas who can play either the 3 or 4. They basically could take the best available 2, 3 or 5 and look at as a long term piece. What kind of 5 do you want? A shooter? athletic defender? Big bulky guy in the middle?

Chicago has a lot of questions and for the first time in YEARS its kind of fun to ask them.

There's also some urgency to do something while Buzelis is still on a rookie deal and Giddey is reasonably paid. Similar to the NFL when you have to stack your team while you have a good QB on a rookie contract.

Outside of Giannis, I don't think there's a perfect move here. And I highly doubt Milwaukee would traded him within the division. So, there's some risk in virtually any other target.

I agree with Doug. Memphis is a situation worth monitoring. Jackson has some unique issues for an all-star, but he does fit really, really well with Giddey and Buzelis.