Options to fix the PF hole

[HomoSapien]

Just wanted to add that if we can trade for a defensive-minded PF, it'll allow JaVonte to spend some time defending guards again which will go a long way towards holding us over until Caruso and Ball return.

He’s already pretty much doing it now. Unless our opponent has a PF that the offense runs through, we play Green on guards. He was guarding CJ against the Blazers while DDR sat on RoCo.

The entire season we’ve had a plus defender in the front-court and a plus defender in the backcourt. That’s what’s allowed us to be a disruptive team that runs a lot. Moving Green to the 2 and DDR to the 4 is just swapping one defensive problem for the other. Even if he’s on guarding a low usage guy, it’s still affecting our abilities to guard the paint, stop drives, switch on pick and rolls, etc. If we trade for another plus defender up front it’ll allow us to get back to what was making us tick earlier in the season.

[sco]

Just wanted to add that if we can trade for a defensive-minded PF, it'll allow JaVonte to spend some time defending guards again which will go a long way towards holding us over until Caruso and Ball return.

He’s already pretty much doing it now. Unless our opponent has a PF that the offense runs through, we play Green on guards. He was guarding CJ against the Blazers while DDR sat on RoCo.

The entire season we’ve had a plus defender in the front-court and a plus defender in the backcourt. That’s what’s allowed us to be a disruptive team that runs a lot. Moving Green to the 2 and DDR to the 4 is just swapping one defensive problem for the other. Even if he’s on guarding a low usage guy, it’s still affecting our abilities to guard the paint, stop drives, switch on pick and rolls, etc. If we trade for another plus defender up front it’ll allow us to get back to what was making us tick earlier in the season.

I find myself thinking that if we don't do a trade (which would be a bit of a fail, but it takes two to trade), after Ball and Caruso come back, if it doesn't make sense to start Ayo over Green. Ayo adds a dimension of 1/2 court playmaking and Ball can both be the "full court PG" and guard opponent's better forward.

[HomoSapien]

We need an actual big, not another tweener. I don’t know much about Rui but Deni is no big man

I think Deni is the sort of guy who Billy likes, due to his ability to switch 1-4. He's had a rough 2nd year, but his defense is very good. I like Rui as he seems like another buy-low candidate with upside. The problem I see is that both are young, with upside on rookie deals. I can't see nabbing either without using White, Pat or POR 1st, and while I might use the POR 1st, I would want more back, but then you get into salary matching problems.

I like Deni too but I'm not sure if he solves any of our issues

I haven't seen much of him besides when we play them, but every time I do see him he just looks dead inside. Like playing basketball is a chore and someone is forcing him to do this thing he hates. Maybe that's just a byproduct of playing on the Wizards, but there is no joy in that guy's game.

[Macallan]

No way I’m trading DJJ for the remains of Serge Ibaka.

Also, am I the only one who’s annoyed by the fact that approximately 95% of the players in this thread are backup center solutions?

Totally with you. DJJ > 2022 Ibaka.

Agreed, OK now do 2022 Ibaka vs DJJ missing 1 index finger on non-shooting hand?

I'd venture DJJ + any 4/5 buy out candidate is better than adding 2022 Ibaka at the cost of DJJ. Why burn that salary filler for a nominal player?

[jacoby1us]

How do we feel about a trade proposal to the Rockets as they are definitely sellers at this point:

Bulls trade:
DJJ (Expiring $9.7M)
Brown Jr. (Expiring $5.1M)
2026 1RP (Lottery Protected)

Rockets trade:
C. Wood ($13.6M, 2 years remaining)
K. Martin Jr. ($1.5M, 3 years remaining)

With this trade the Bulls cover the needed help and LENGTH in the front court to make up for Vucevic's liability on the perimeter when defending PNRs and help on the glass. In addition, we recover what we lost in DJJ and Brown Jr. in Martin Jr. This kid is younger, with a higher ceiling than both. Only issue this trade could cause for Bulls management and coaching is Patrick Williams return, does he move to the bench or should he be used to replenish the outgoing 2026 lottery protected asset?

As well all know the Rockets are rebuilding and their new owner is all about saving money at all costs, this will actually drop some much needed salary off the books with moving Wood and Martin Jr. while gaining a future asset for their full rebuild.

[biggestbullsfan]

Read on Twitter

If we can’t bring back T. Young by some miracle, i would be fine with his addition being the main move.

I don’t see us making a huge trade with our current team.

[PaKii94]

With ayo looking like a stud, I am more willing to let Lonzo get moved. I want to go after Simmons. He would fit perfectly at the 4 (and backup small ball 5 like thadgic and dreymond green). It would give us another elite all NBA level defender who can actually guard big wings like Giannis/KD. Imagine how stifling the defense would be with a ayo/Caruso/Simmons trio.

Ideally the trade would be: http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yb9tmq4y

But that's wishful thinking. I'd add some combo of picks/PWill/Coby to get him.

[Almost Retired]

With ayo looking like a stud, I am more willing to let Lonzo get moved. I want to go after Simmons. He would fit perfectly at the 4 (and backup small ball 5 like thadgic and dreymond green). It would give us another elite all NBA level defender who can actually guard big wings like Giannis/KD. Imagine how stifling the defense would be with a ayo/Caruso/Simmons trio.

Ideally the trade would be: http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yb9tmq4y

But that's wishful thinking. I'd add some combo of picks/PWill/Coby to get him.

That trade would be unpopular with the fan base and more importantly within the locker room. Ball coming over was a factor in us getting DeRozen. It makes no sense to screw up the chemistry we have. No matter who we would add we're probably not winning a championship this year. Lets hope for getting at least 2 rounds of Playoff experience this year, see how PWill looks post injury, and tweak the roster in the off season. We will know if we're getting Portland's pick this year (possibly doubtful). We need some help. But we don't need to add a head case who can't shoot like Simmons.

[Almost Retired]

Read on Twitter

If we can’t bring back T. Young by some miracle, i would be fine with his addition being the main move.

I don’t see us making a huge trade with our current team.

Milsap is too old to be of much help. There has to be a better option or two out there.

[sco]

Read on Twitter

If we can’t bring back T. Young by some miracle, i would be fine with his addition being the main move.

I don’t see us making a huge trade with our current team.

Milsap is too old to be of much help. There has to be a better option or two out there.

Milsap has played pretty well in 10-15 minute stints this year...he's buried in a very crowded front court. If he can be had for essentially nothing (ie Thomas or Marko plus a conditional 2nd and cash) he'd be a great pickup. Gives us a great vet at PF. There's a good chance that Pat won't be ready or will be super rusty come playoff time.

[kodo]

Hard to see Millsap out there doing what Javonte and Derrick Jones do for us. He's also been an awful perimeter defender as he's aged, Boozer-like out in space. I kind of question if I'd rather have him or Tyler Cook on Giannis.

[StunnerKO]

Milsap would be playing backup 5 were he’s much suited at this stage of his career than at the 4 spot the nets were trying to peg him in at . That’s why it’s not working along with the other bigs on that team that need to play the 5 spot.

[Mr. Tibbs]

With ayo looking like a stud, I am more willing to let Lonzo get moved. I want to go after Simmons. He would fit perfectly at the 4 (and backup small ball 5 like thadgic and dreymond green). It would give us another elite all NBA level defender who can actually guard big wings like Giannis/KD. Imagine how stifling the defense would be with a ayo/Caruso/Simmons trio.

Ideally the trade would be: http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yb9tmq4y

But that's wishful thinking. I'd add some combo of picks/PWill/Coby to get him.

While I appreciate the cajones of this deal, I see it working better in a video game than real life. I think this would really tear the fan base and disrupt the lockerroom more than it would positively impact the basketball product.

[biggestbullsfan]

I think Milsap would work for us because he isn't asked to be a big piece. But to shore up our front court.

Another name that could be bought out but might interest me: Tristan Thompson. Outside of the personal stuff, I think he could be serviceable as a backup

[KissedByaRose1]

Milsap is about as good as we're guna get in the buyout market i imagine.

Is he getting more DNPs on the Nets because he's a bad fit or is he just completely washed at this point?

[StunnerKO]

I don’t think he wants to be there anymore with how they fed him how he would be used and then they went to sign LA and played him more at the 4 than 5 . Not to mention he’s take a whole lot of personal days with the team

[LateNight]

I think Milsap would work for us because he isn't asked to be a big piece. But to shore up our front court.

Another name that could be bought out but might interest me: Tristan Thompson. Outside of the personal stuff, I think he could be serviceable as a backup

Apparently KC thinks Tristan is a realistic buyout option:

https://heavy.com/sports/chicago-bulls/tristan-thompson-buyout-trade-kings/

[Red8911]

Maybe AK brings in Millsap because he knows him well and could give him a small role. Possibly as a Vuc back up center, but would rather them get a bigger center for that role.

[MrSparkle]

Lot of small avenues to help address the size. Millsap and/or Thompson off waivers would be excellent pickups.

More than anything, it’d give the Bulls flexibility to shuffle the deck in trades… cause any consolidation trade is going to cost depth.

[FecesOfDeath]

AKME are not taking in any true PFs this season, as has been evidenced by all of their moves this season and last offseason. They want either tweeners or true centers. I don't think Millsap is a target, because I think he's stuck in the PF position at this point in his career.

The only way this happens is if AKME think otherwise (that either he can legitimately play center, or he can guard wings like Javaonte and DJJ have had to do).