As the Chicago Bulls prepare for a mammoth rebuild, much has been said about the futures of their two former All-Stars, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. It’s not difficult to understand why.
If the Bulls are to rebuild successfully in the near future, players like LaVine and Vucevic will have to be let go. They’ve already said farewell to DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso.
Unfortunately, many players’ futures with the Bulls remain questionable. One of them must be Lonzo Ball.
Ball had shown enormous potential early in his career with the Bulls, but injury troubles quickly undermined all the team had worked for.
Ball hasn’t played in more than two seasons and has had several operations during that time. While there is hope that he will return next season, it is not guaranteed.
Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman proposed a three-team deal for the Atlanta Hawks in a SI piece. It would result in the Bulls receiving Brandon Ingram, Kobe Bufkin, Cody Zeller, and Garrison Matthews. The Hawks would acquire Ayo Dosunmu and Jordan Hawkins. The New Orleans Pelicans also receive Ball, Vucevic, and a 2028 second-round draft pick (via Chicago).
We’re not sure if this is a great move for the Bulls. It feels like a sideways move. And that is not an appealing proposition when you are in no man’s land.
According to the publication, “This move does not improve Chicago, and they will still struggle to qualify for the play-in tournament. The Bulls’ defensive lineup of Coby White, Josh Giddey, Zach LaVine, and Brandon Ingram is ineffective, and they lack an obvious center option. Will the Bulls pay Ingram if they make the trade? Dosunmu is a promising young player whom they should probably keep.
Yes, they will sign Ingram, who was an All-Star in his day and is still in his prime. However, it is thought that he is looking for a $200 million contract extension. The move allows the Bulls to get Vucevic and Ball’s contracts off the books.
