Chicago has talked to the Nets, Bobcats and Pacers about swapping No. 16 and No. 26 to get into the lottery. It sounds like the Bulls are down to one potential trade partner in the lottery.
The Nets are leaning strongly toward keeping their pick at No. 11. And if the Bobcats made a promise to Williams at No. 12, they're out, too. That leaves the Pacers at No. 13.
The Pacers have been one of the hardest teams to peg in the draft. DeJuan Blair, Tyler Hansbrough, Eric Maynor, Ty Lawson and Jeff Teague all are on their board right now. If the Bulls want any of those guys -- or the guys the Suns (No. 14) and Pistons (No. 15) are looking at -- they'll have to make the deal.
I know cdash has stated trepidation about trading down, but if there truly are 3 guys we still like available at 13, then why not trade down to 16? We could still get Lawson/Maynor as our PG and then with 26 we could grab a swing player like Ellington or Budinger to shore that position up in Dunleavy's absence.
It sounds like at least one of our guys will still be available at 16 (you never know who drops) and then at 26 you also have no idea who could still be on the board. I'd be fine with this since I expect all my favorites to be gone by 13 anyway.