The Bulls have another $7 million or so of luxury tax space and their MLE trade exception, so they should end up with at minimum a couple more seconds for facilitating the ritual trade deadline luxury tax ducking by teams like Toronto and Philadelphia.
You're right, but the Bulls can be a fallback if nobody wants to give him that chance. I think he can play, and never really got why Billy Donovan didn't think so when he will play any guard
Alrighty, my stupid Bulls fan brain has been going crazy today after hearing of this trade. Could AK finally be blowing this thing up?! I fired up the ol' trade machine to come up with some ideas as to what moves could be made this week. I'm sure nothing will be happen and we'll all be disappointed, but why not have some fun in the meantime?
Admittedly I'm not the best with the financial side of things. All of these trades pass in a bubble, but I'm not sure how each would affect the others. So if there are issues with these, feel free to point them out. Anyway, here they are.
Bulls/Rockets:
- Rockets receive Ayo.
- Bulls receive Eason and any one of Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday, or Josh Okogie (they're all on minimum contracts, so whichever gets the deal done is fine).
Bulls/Timberwolves:
- Timberwolves receive Coby.
- Bulls receive Joan Beringer, Mike Conley, and a second round pick or two.
Bulls/Nuggets:
- Nuggets receive Tre Jones.
- Bulls receive Peyton Watson and Jonas Valanciunas.
As I'm sure you've quickly noticed, there isn't a lot of draft capital coming the Bulls' way in these trades. While I have a sliver of hope that AK is going to make serious changes this deadline, I don't think it'll be in the form of blowing the team up for draft capital. I don't think he wants to do that and I especially don't think his bosses want that either. So we're going the "young players with experience" route that we all know AK loves.
Now for a breakdown of these trades. I know there's been plenty of talk throughout the season about how the Rockets could use one of the Bulls many guards. I can't remember if any of that has been actual rumors or if it's just been people saying the Bulls have what the Rockets need.
Anyway, I think Ayo fits what the Rockets need the most. He's a versatile guard that can play on or off the ball. He's a good enough three point shooter (great this year, even) and a solid defender. He also likely won't cost too much this summer. Eason is probably the better player, but the Rockets have a bit of a blockage at the forward positions and he's likely to cost them more than they'd prefer to pay him this summer. The Bulls would just waive whatever minimum player they get in the trade.
There's been a lot of smoke coming from the Timberwolves about their desire for Coby. Maybe there are other interested teams that could offer a better return, but none sprang to mind while running through the trade machine. This trade essentially gets Chicago a young, athletic, defense-first center with lots of room to grow. Maybe he'll be a bust but I think he's worth a shot. Mike Conley likely gets waived or routed to a third team. The Bulls also get a little draft capital.
The trade with the Nuggets is probably the most unlikely and might just be me living in fantasy land. My thinking is that the Nuggets likely won't be able to afford Watson this summer, so they may look to move him at the deadline. If that's the case, there will likely be a lot of teams who are interested, so it's possible the Bulls couldn't get the deal done with only Jones. I'd be fine with them attaching a second round pick or two if needed.
Anyway, Jones would be a great fit in Denver. He'd be an excellent backup to Murray and could spot start when Murray gets injured. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to be useful, which means he'll play well alongside Jokic. I could also see him playing some secondary facilitator while Jokic rests. He also gives them three playoff runs at only $8 million per year.
The Bulls would end up with some really interesting young talent. Both Watson and Eason look like they will be solid 3-and-D wings at minimum and could easily become more. Beringer is a pretty big unknown, but is worth taking a swing on.
A starting five of Giddey, Watson, Eason, Matas, and Smith(?) would be quite interesting. They'd be big, athletic, and fairly good shooters. They'd have multiple plus defenders on the wings, which would also be a solid bonus. And they'd have a ton of room to grow.
They'd have to find a backup point guard, but they'd have Okoro, Essengue, Beringer, and Valanciunas coming off the bench. Then Pat and maybe Phillips would be the end-of-bench guys. They could try to bring Huerter back on a much cheaper deal to add some veteran shooting to the bench.
Even if they signed Eason and Watson to $25 million per year deals next summer, that would put the Bulls at about $140 million in salary next year, which would give them a fair amount of room to make other signings. Specifically I think they would need to go after a center and a backup point guard.
DEN will keep Watson...if anything they will find a way to jettison Cam Johnson.
I like Eason but he's not a quality starting 3. He is a good 25 minute tweener forward....he's more of a 4 to me, he doesnt have the ball skills to be a full time SF.
I'd like to try and get a late 1st for Ayo at least.
Also DEN is very high on JV as a backup 5, he's prob the best one they've had in the Jokic era. I don't see them giving up two solid players for a small solid backup PG
Agree Eason is more of a 4 but he will be a high level starter for somebody.
JV sucks and Denver knows he sucks. Nuggets have major decisions to make. One of their good players will be gone next year. You are right it may be someone other than Watson. The problem with trying to keep Watson though is they don't know what they will have to pay him. Lakers and Bulls will probably be coming after him. Maybe Jazz and Wizards too. So Denver doesn't have control over negotiations for him, they would just need to match the highest offer.
Hopefully AK has learned that Billy has figured out a way to win 40ish games in the East every year no matter who is on the court (which is the Reinsdorfs only goal), so he has no reason to avoid making trades for assets.
It’s not lost on me that the two other teams in this trade are the last two teams the Bulls traded with.
There’s a lesson to be learned here, AK! The more you work with people, the more they’ll want to work with you in the future. Now keep expanding your network!
also good policy to find the bigger dumbass in the room (Kangz), I don't really get their urgency to get out of Schroder's contract for an even bigger one in Hunter. Hunter is a better on-court fit but who cares you're rebuilding
Let me be a cynic for a second: the Bulls actually plan on playing Saric as part of the rotation while Collins is out, and he'll be 5th in the big-man rotation if everyone is healthy (Buzelis, Smith, Vucevic, Collins, Saric). I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I do genuinely (cynically) think they believe they got a good deal and an actual player; otherwise they wouldn't have been in on this.
I mean, it's still a good trade for sure, and it's probably a good move from the team even for that standpoint, but I'm hesitant to think there will be any change in philosophy and probably shouldn't expect more of the same unless they can get an actual player they think can play.
(Also wouldn't be surprised if they waived Carter because they felt they weren't getting any good offers for White and Dosunmu, and they just plan on keeping them.)
*I'm obviously not saying I know any of this or that I think it's even most likely, but I'm going to look at any move cynically until proven otherwise; it's served me well for the past 15+ years.)
I read a quote from Billy talking like he’s going to play. I could see it with Collins and Smith both out. I’d be fine with a bit less of the Lachlan Olbrich Experience.
I think you missed my point. I agreed that it was a solid deal without Saric. My point is the Bulls might not (probably don't) see it that way. The only reason they made the deal is that they expect Saric to play and provide value. They couldn't care less about the 2nd round picks.
Naw. It's all about the picks. We're only on the hook for $2.2 million pro rated for Saric. If we sell those picks for $2 million each that's a $1.8 million profit. Easy money!
Pre-AKME, I’d certainly agree. My mantra was always to first ask: “how’s this benefit the Bulls financially?” If you started with that idea, you could often get directly to the “why” of a move pretty easily. Even if the intention was to get better, it had to make sense in a “maximally profitable” way first.
I think AKME has largely gotten past that because their whole team ethos is fits right into maximum profitability: be “competitive” and as the only game in town, they sell oodles of tickets. But yeah, I’m sure they’re always looking for more money.
AK is that dumb, sure. He could've seen Saric's availability as some rare opportunity, and it was a no risk move to also get some 2nd rounders. Maybe even had to be told he was the one getting them.
Any ideas why the betting houses now have Bulls as 2nd favorite to get Giannis? I was just getting ready to put a bet down and saw that Bulls odds are 4-to-1 to get him. Crazy.
It is pretty stunning the odds moved that much in one day. Who knows whether or not it actually means anything.
For as much as I love draft picks, I’d happily give up a bunch of them for Giannis. Would the team be title contenders immediately after trading for him? No. But I’d rather be a 40-something win team with Giannis and additional money to spend than a 39-win team with perennial late lottery picks.
Regardless, I doubt the Bulls will trade for Giannis.
I am reasonably pleased with the deal. Which will result in the following:
1. Maybe not one of these 2nd round picks, but at least one 2026 or 2027 2nd rounder will be sold for cash considerations. Was probably already likely but now you can take it to the bank.
2. Saric will get some minutes. And as much as he's a buffer for the full Lachlan Olbrich experience when our other bigs are out, imagine if/when Olbrich gets in foul trouble or twists an ankle.
I don't think this trade represents any kind of change in direction or philosophy. It's just "free money".
My predictions for the deadline:
1. Bulls do at least one more minor "trade facilitation" to net another 2nd rounder
2. Coby traded (possibly along with a 2nd) for a warm body and a heavily protected future 1st (or pick swap).
3. Ayo extended on deadline day to a deal that is "surprisingly fair for both sides" and yet also limits our cap flexibility next offseason.
Do I hope I'm right or hope I'm wrong? Honestly I'm not sure. I could see any given NBA GM doing much better than this, but I could also see AKME doing much worse.
The biggest surprise to me would be picking a lane other than "content to compete for a playoff spot while the core develops and gels". There's no scenario where AK convinces his bosses to go for an extended tank now. And I also believe AK realizes the Vuc trade and swing at the "Big Three" was a failure, so I don't see him taking a big swing for an aging star like Giannis, whose game isn't really built to survive an athletic decline.
NEW POST https://www.blogabull.com/p/are-bulls-willing-to-sacrifice-competitive
The Bulls have another $7 million or so of luxury tax space and their MLE trade exception, so they should end up with at minimum a couple more seconds for facilitating the ritual trade deadline luxury tax ducking by teams like Toronto and Philadelphia.
Genuinely was in awe seeing that the Bulls made a smart move on the margins
I’ll happily eat crow if this sets the tone for the rest of the trade deadline season. Hope Jevon lands in a good spot.
since he wasn't traded, I don't think there's any reason Carter can't re-sign with the Bulls if they have an open roster spot post-deadline?
I would think jevon wants to find a spot where he can play and show value for his next contract?
You're right, but the Bulls can be a fallback if nobody wants to give him that chance. I think he can play, and never really got why Billy Donovan didn't think so when he will play any guard
Alrighty, my stupid Bulls fan brain has been going crazy today after hearing of this trade. Could AK finally be blowing this thing up?! I fired up the ol' trade machine to come up with some ideas as to what moves could be made this week. I'm sure nothing will be happen and we'll all be disappointed, but why not have some fun in the meantime?
Admittedly I'm not the best with the financial side of things. All of these trades pass in a bubble, but I'm not sure how each would affect the others. So if there are issues with these, feel free to point them out. Anyway, here they are.
Bulls/Rockets:
- Rockets receive Ayo.
- Bulls receive Eason and any one of Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday, or Josh Okogie (they're all on minimum contracts, so whichever gets the deal done is fine).
Bulls/Timberwolves:
- Timberwolves receive Coby.
- Bulls receive Joan Beringer, Mike Conley, and a second round pick or two.
Bulls/Nuggets:
- Nuggets receive Tre Jones.
- Bulls receive Peyton Watson and Jonas Valanciunas.
As I'm sure you've quickly noticed, there isn't a lot of draft capital coming the Bulls' way in these trades. While I have a sliver of hope that AK is going to make serious changes this deadline, I don't think it'll be in the form of blowing the team up for draft capital. I don't think he wants to do that and I especially don't think his bosses want that either. So we're going the "young players with experience" route that we all know AK loves.
Now for a breakdown of these trades. I know there's been plenty of talk throughout the season about how the Rockets could use one of the Bulls many guards. I can't remember if any of that has been actual rumors or if it's just been people saying the Bulls have what the Rockets need.
Anyway, I think Ayo fits what the Rockets need the most. He's a versatile guard that can play on or off the ball. He's a good enough three point shooter (great this year, even) and a solid defender. He also likely won't cost too much this summer. Eason is probably the better player, but the Rockets have a bit of a blockage at the forward positions and he's likely to cost them more than they'd prefer to pay him this summer. The Bulls would just waive whatever minimum player they get in the trade.
There's been a lot of smoke coming from the Timberwolves about their desire for Coby. Maybe there are other interested teams that could offer a better return, but none sprang to mind while running through the trade machine. This trade essentially gets Chicago a young, athletic, defense-first center with lots of room to grow. Maybe he'll be a bust but I think he's worth a shot. Mike Conley likely gets waived or routed to a third team. The Bulls also get a little draft capital.
The trade with the Nuggets is probably the most unlikely and might just be me living in fantasy land. My thinking is that the Nuggets likely won't be able to afford Watson this summer, so they may look to move him at the deadline. If that's the case, there will likely be a lot of teams who are interested, so it's possible the Bulls couldn't get the deal done with only Jones. I'd be fine with them attaching a second round pick or two if needed.
Anyway, Jones would be a great fit in Denver. He'd be an excellent backup to Murray and could spot start when Murray gets injured. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to be useful, which means he'll play well alongside Jokic. I could also see him playing some secondary facilitator while Jokic rests. He also gives them three playoff runs at only $8 million per year.
The Bulls would end up with some really interesting young talent. Both Watson and Eason look like they will be solid 3-and-D wings at minimum and could easily become more. Beringer is a pretty big unknown, but is worth taking a swing on.
A starting five of Giddey, Watson, Eason, Matas, and Smith(?) would be quite interesting. They'd be big, athletic, and fairly good shooters. They'd have multiple plus defenders on the wings, which would also be a solid bonus. And they'd have a ton of room to grow.
They'd have to find a backup point guard, but they'd have Okoro, Essengue, Beringer, and Valanciunas coming off the bench. Then Pat and maybe Phillips would be the end-of-bench guys. They could try to bring Huerter back on a much cheaper deal to add some veteran shooting to the bench.
Even if they signed Eason and Watson to $25 million per year deals next summer, that would put the Bulls at about $140 million in salary next year, which would give them a fair amount of room to make other signings. Specifically I think they would need to go after a center and a backup point guard.
Back to reality!
IMO Eason and Watson are not gettable
DEN will keep Watson...if anything they will find a way to jettison Cam Johnson.
I like Eason but he's not a quality starting 3. He is a good 25 minute tweener forward....he's more of a 4 to me, he doesnt have the ball skills to be a full time SF.
I'd like to try and get a late 1st for Ayo at least.
Also DEN is very high on JV as a backup 5, he's prob the best one they've had in the Jokic era. I don't see them giving up two solid players for a small solid backup PG
Agree Eason is more of a 4 but he will be a high level starter for somebody.
JV sucks and Denver knows he sucks. Nuggets have major decisions to make. One of their good players will be gone next year. You are right it may be someone other than Watson. The problem with trying to keep Watson though is they don't know what they will have to pay him. Lakers and Bulls will probably be coming after him. Maybe Jazz and Wizards too. So Denver doesn't have control over negotiations for him, they would just need to match the highest offer.
Even so, its not a decision they need to make now, they're trying to win the title this year
Agree. They want to get under the tax so they will probably do something, but with Gordon out now they probably can't afford to lose Watson.
They're like 500k over. They are a shamefully cheap franchise so they will get under, but it can just be, like, Hunter Tyson
Yep
A good trade by AK! Hallelujah!
Hopefully AK has learned that Billy has figured out a way to win 40ish games in the East every year no matter who is on the court (which is the Reinsdorfs only goal), so he has no reason to avoid making trades for assets.
It’s not lost on me that the two other teams in this trade are the last two teams the Bulls traded with.
There’s a lesson to be learned here, AK! The more you work with people, the more they’ll want to work with you in the future. Now keep expanding your network!
also good policy to find the bigger dumbass in the room (Kangz), I don't really get their urgency to get out of Schroder's contract for an even bigger one in Hunter. Hunter is a better on-court fit but who cares you're rebuilding
Let me be a cynic for a second: the Bulls actually plan on playing Saric as part of the rotation while Collins is out, and he'll be 5th in the big-man rotation if everyone is healthy (Buzelis, Smith, Vucevic, Collins, Saric). I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I do genuinely (cynically) think they believe they got a good deal and an actual player; otherwise they wouldn't have been in on this.
I mean, it's still a good trade for sure, and it's probably a good move from the team even for that standpoint, but I'm hesitant to think there will be any change in philosophy and probably shouldn't expect more of the same unless they can get an actual player they think can play.
(Also wouldn't be surprised if they waived Carter because they felt they weren't getting any good offers for White and Dosunmu, and they just plan on keeping them.)
*I'm obviously not saying I know any of this or that I think it's even most likely, but I'm going to look at any move cynically until proven otherwise; it's served me well for the past 15+ years.)
Solid deal simply for the picks. Saric has been washed for a while so don't much of value from him
I read a quote from Billy talking like he’s going to play. I could see it with Collins and Smith both out. I’d be fine with a bit less of the Lachlan Olbrich Experience.
I find that kind of weird, typically coaches will plead ignorance on new acquisitions especially when not official
but we also know AK talks to Billy about personnel
I think you missed my point. I agreed that it was a solid deal without Saric. My point is the Bulls might not (probably don't) see it that way. The only reason they made the deal is that they expect Saric to play and provide value. They couldn't care less about the 2nd round picks.
Naw. It's all about the picks. We're only on the hook for $2.2 million pro rated for Saric. If we sell those picks for $2 million each that's a $1.8 million profit. Easy money!
Pre-AKME, I’d certainly agree. My mantra was always to first ask: “how’s this benefit the Bulls financially?” If you started with that idea, you could often get directly to the “why” of a move pretty easily. Even if the intention was to get better, it had to make sense in a “maximally profitable” way first.
I think AKME has largely gotten past that because their whole team ethos is fits right into maximum profitability: be “competitive” and as the only game in town, they sell oodles of tickets. But yeah, I’m sure they’re always looking for more money.
interesting note that the Bulls couldn't receive cash considerations in this trade, at least not from the Cavs, because they were in 2nd apron
AK is that dumb, sure. He could've seen Saric's availability as some rare opportunity, and it was a no risk move to also get some 2nd rounders. Maybe even had to be told he was the one getting them.
Any ideas why the betting houses now have Bulls as 2nd favorite to get Giannis? I was just getting ready to put a bet down and saw that Bulls odds are 4-to-1 to get him. Crazy.
I saw the Bulls getting significant odds, though no reporting or rumors in the media. Weird.
last I read was that GS had the best offer
didn't Giannis said he had some interest in the Bulls ? Maybe he want to spend off days in Milwaukee or keep a house there ?
It is pretty stunning the odds moved that much in one day. Who knows whether or not it actually means anything.
For as much as I love draft picks, I’d happily give up a bunch of them for Giannis. Would the team be title contenders immediately after trading for him? No. But I’d rather be a 40-something win team with Giannis and additional money to spend than a 39-win team with perennial late lottery picks.
Regardless, I doubt the Bulls will trade for Giannis.
Our guy Ricky O says Giannis just bought an apartment in Chicago and was spotted going to church here.
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/1101974/giannis-chicago-bulls-rumors-nba-trade-deadline-betting
I am reasonably pleased with the deal. Which will result in the following:
1. Maybe not one of these 2nd round picks, but at least one 2026 or 2027 2nd rounder will be sold for cash considerations. Was probably already likely but now you can take it to the bank.
2. Saric will get some minutes. And as much as he's a buffer for the full Lachlan Olbrich experience when our other bigs are out, imagine if/when Olbrich gets in foul trouble or twists an ankle.
I don't think this trade represents any kind of change in direction or philosophy. It's just "free money".
My predictions for the deadline:
1. Bulls do at least one more minor "trade facilitation" to net another 2nd rounder
2. Coby traded (possibly along with a 2nd) for a warm body and a heavily protected future 1st (or pick swap).
3. Ayo extended on deadline day to a deal that is "surprisingly fair for both sides" and yet also limits our cap flexibility next offseason.
Do I hope I'm right or hope I'm wrong? Honestly I'm not sure. I could see any given NBA GM doing much better than this, but I could also see AKME doing much worse.
The biggest surprise to me would be picking a lane other than "content to compete for a playoff spot while the core develops and gels". There's no scenario where AK convinces his bosses to go for an extended tank now. And I also believe AK realizes the Vuc trade and swing at the "Big Three" was a failure, so I don't see him taking a big swing for an aging star like Giannis, whose game isn't really built to survive an athletic decline.