Trades We NEED to See From the Bulls

Trades We NEED to See From the Bulls

NBA trade season is unofficially underway. We say unofficially because trade season has really been ongoing since the offseason. Trades could have been made even at the start of the year. But December 15th is a day in which around 90% of the league is now trade eligible as most players who sign new contracts or contract extensions were not eligible to be traded until December 15th. And there are a handful of players who actually cannot be traded until January 15th depending on when they sign their latest deals. And yes, important to note when it comes to the Bulls anyway, that includes Jonathan Kaminga, who cannot be traded until the 15th of January, who is still a player that has been linked to the Bulls in a trade, which I'll talk about in a little bit. But either way, it is trade season, one of my favorite times of the year in the NBA, although can't really say it's my favorite time of the year for the Bulls, who historically have done very little when it comes to inseason trades. But based on where this team is at, the piss poor level of play we've seen from this team over the past 10 to 15 games, my hope, and it might be wishful thinking on my part, but my hope is that we will finally see some change, some big trades coming from this team over the next 6 weeks or so as we get closer to the trade deadline on February 5th. And so in this video, I'm going to be discussing the players that are most likely on the trade block. I'm sure you already know who these players are, what the Bulls could get for said players, and what should be their ultimate focus going into the trade deadline. So, what's going on everyone? You're listening to Bull Central here. Hope you're all doing well. Now, of course, it's worth noting that AK generally speaking, is not one to make in season trades. The Bulls were the only team for three straight seasons that did not make a move at the deadline, even though it was clear as day that they had some gaping holes in their roster and desperately needed to make some changes. Last season, obviously, they made their first in- season trade where they moved on from Zack Lavine and brought in Trey Jones, Kevin Hurard, Zack Collins, but that was really the first major transaction since the Bulls traded for Nicolvich all those years ago at the deadline. So, while [music] I think we'd all like to think that there's going to be some massive cleanup of the house, I wouldn't get your hopes up just yet. That said, though, the most likely trade candidate, a player we've been talking about as a potential trade ship for the Bulls, even dating back to last season, is of course Kobe White. Kobe is in the final year of his contract. He's due for a big extension and he's expecting to get paid despite his slow start to the season, one in which he missed the first couple of weeks of the year. And because he's due for a contract and he's slated to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, the Bulls don't want to lose one of their better players who is in their prime for nothing. The problem though is that Kobe's value right now is not great. He's only played in nine games so far this season. His shooting numbers are down across the board. His three-point shooting has by far and a way been the worst it's been throughout his career, even lower than his rookie season, shooting a career-l 26% from deep on seven attempts per game. And his turnovers are up, the highest of his career. Small sample size, yes, nine games, but so far this season, Kobe has not played well. Yeah, he's averaging 21 points per game, but a very inefficient 21 points and not something teams are going to be chomping at the bit for, especially knowing they're going to have to extend him to a big contract if they trade for him anyway. That said though, I do think there will be some suitors for Kobe White services. At the end of the day, he is still a 25-year-old combo guard who can play on and off the ball. And you'd have to think his three-point shooting will tick up a bit from what we're currently seeing. He's a physical guard who can get into the paint, draw contact, get to the foul line. And who knows, maybe his play means he's not going to be getting a contract in the 30 to $35 million a year range like everyone was expecting, but maybe somewhere in that 20 to $25 million a year range. We'll see. A lot of it depends on how Kobe performs over the next few weeks, but the way I look at it is Kobe can help a team that is trying to contend and give them that extra offensive firepower that they might need, even if it means a role in which Kobe comes off the bench. Now, the most recent report that has made a lot of noise and seems to carry the most weight is Joe Calli's reporting that the Wolves have expressed interest in Kobe White, which makes sense given the Wolves really need a point guard right now, especially when Mike Connley is no longer going to be that guy for you at this stage in his career. Now, I personally don't know that Kobe is really going to be that guy since I've always kind of considered him to be more of a two guard than a point guard, but he is a decent playmaker. Like I said, he can play on and off the ball. So, it would allow for Anthony Edwards to be the primary ball handler and Kobe White can still be effective with Ant as the ball handler. And so for me, I'm curious what the Timberwolves would be willing to give up because you'd have to think they're not going to be willing to give up a ton to get him, especially when they don't really have many assets as it is. Would they do something like a swap for Dante Danchenzo who would actually help the Bulls shooting wos as a player on a pretty reasonable contract as well? And even add in Joan Beeringer or is it Beringier or something? I know that he's from France. I'm probably mispronouncing his last name. The rookie out of France that they drafted with the 17th pick who's barely seen the floor. Not that the Bulls have had the best of luck with these young French players, nor would Billy Donovan likely play him anyway. But he's a player that would have a lot of upside and would fit for all intents and purposes a rebuild [music] to go along with Modis Melis, Noah Sang, and Josh Giddy. If not for Bearinger, then I'll need to go with one of the Wolves first round picks, which I feel they're going to be very wary to part ways with for Kobe White. They're more likely to include Joan than a far future first as it's possible that pick could become very valuable if the Wolves don't get things together and eventually Anthony Edwards asks out in a trade and they have to go down a rebuild. The other team I could potentially see and I only say this because it came out yesterday I believe it was was that the Bucks they still have not closed the door on making a significant addition to try and convince Giannis to stay. And while I think that would be an absolute mistake on their part for the Bucks to just keep kicking the can down the road and not trading Giannis while he still has peak value, but Kobe White would be a player that would fit a need on that team, a need for shooting, a lead guard to run the offense around Giannis. The Bucks have even fewer assets than the Wolves do when it comes to young players or picks that would be enticing for the Bulls to take back. But to me, I actually feel like if you can get one of the Bucks first round picks in 2031 or 2032, they can only trade one of those picks, and those are the only first round picks they have available in a trade. If I'm the Bulls, I'm jumping on that because there is no doubt in my mind that even if they made a move like this, Giannis will eventually force his way out and the Bucks will go on a fire cell and sell off all their assets, meaning that pick in 2031 or 32 is more than likely going to be a high pick. Whether the Bulls use that selection to draft a player or use it as capital in another trade, that's the bigger question. But a valuable pick the Bulls could acquire nonetheless. And hey, to make the money work, maybe the Bulls could take on Bobby Portoris, bring Bobby back. He's 30 years old now and probably isn't going to add much to this team, but hey, he's an energy guy, a guy that is going to bring physicality at a minimum. And the Bulls need guys like that right now. It's one of the biggest things they're lacking. The only other team I can think of that would actually be a good fit for Kobe, but I doubt they would entertain this because they're playing so well and why try to fix something that isn't broken, but that's the Houston Rockets. No Fred Van Fleet this season. They could use another scoring guard who can help playmake, but again, I just don't see them moving future assets for Kobe. I'm sure the Bulls would love to have Reed Shepard, but I don't think Kobe is the play for them to be willing to let a young player in Shepard go. But look, I think at the end of the day though, the Bulls probably waited too long to trade Kobe White. They could have traded him when his value was at the highest it's ever been, but they [music] continued to believe that this core was the core that they wanted, and now they're probably going to get faced with getting much, far, much less for him in return. [music] Now, of course, the other guy that just no longer makes sense on this roster given the current timeline, a player who really should have been traded years ago, and it's shocking he's still on this team, and of course, that's Nicolvich. Problem is, similar to Kobe, but even worse, but VH's trade value right now is next to nothing. There are very few teams right now that could use a starting center, and for those that do, would probably prefer to have a center that isn't 35 years old, doesn't move well, and can't play defense to save his life. The other thing too also like Kobe Vu is playing on the final year of his contract. And while I don't think any team is going to pay Vevvic a big contract through an extension, any team that maybe would have interest in Vu right now are likely going to be unwilling to trade for him when they could just sign him out right as a free agent. Why give up assets for a distressed asset when you can just get him for free in free agency? Well, not actually free, but you know what I mean. Or the only other scenario I could see where the Bulls move on from VHV is by attaching future assets with him in a package deal, which I would be very hesitant to do as the Bulls. Right now, they should not be in the business of moving future assets, but rather acquiring as many as they can. For example, Kaminga continues to be linked to the Bulls. There was no way the Warriors would do a straight Kaminga for VU swap as they could get more for Kaminga on the open market. But what may sway the Warriors who could use a floor spacing big man is if the Bulls attached a few second round picks or god forbid a first round pick. I sure hope they don't include a first round pick for Kaminga. A player that really isn't going to elevate this team and a player that doesn't really address some of their biggest flaws, most notably their defense. But what if what if the Bulls maybe made a play for Nick Claxton? Maybe they throw the Nets who are in the business right now of acquiring first round picks. They throw them a pick along with Vuvich. The Bulls get Claxton to give the Nets some salary relief since Vuvich is an expiring deal and they can just let him walk in free agency. I still hesitate on that one a bit because Claxton does still have two more years at $23 million and 20 million respectively. So, it is a descending deal which is nice and it'll eat into the Bulls cap space that they're trying to free up to have flexibility going into this offseason. But if they do end up trading Kobe though, then they can effectively use this salary of Claxton as a placeholder for what they otherwise would have paid Kobe. Thing is though, and I actually tweeted about this trade to get people's thoughts on it, the Nets are likely going to say no to this. They're probably going to want more draft picks just because of the insane haul they've been able to get from other guys like Kevin Durant when they sent him to Phoenix, Bridges when they sent him to the Knicks, [music] even getting a first round pick for Cam Johnson. uh they're probably a little spoiled and are looking for big packages, but I like this trade for the Bulls simply for the fact that it fits a big need down low. A big that can give you rim protection, athleticism, physicality. He fits better with Josh Giddy as well. But yeah, I do struggle in giving up first round picks with the current state that the Bulls are in right now. Yeah, I mean outside of some of those limited options, I really don't see a trade package for Vu where a team uh isn't even going to be willing to give the Bulls a second round pick or any prospect with the slightest amount of potential. It's likely going to be a package deal for salary dump if you're going to be including Vuch. Of course, there are other guys on the Bulls roster that I'm sure the Bulls would like to trade like Javon Carter, maybe Patrick Williams, but I doubt they're able to find trade partners for either of those guys. Kevin Herder and Zack Collins will be interesting because uh they're kind of perfect expiring deals that can package to help with salary matching purposes in any deal. Talked about it before, but that's where going after a big name, a high paid player like Anthony Davis or yes, even Giannis would come into play. I would say those options are effectively out though. Uh IO is another tricky one. Would the Bulls look to trade IO when he's in the same boat as Kobe? Young player in his prime on a killer deal, but is going to be a free agent and is going to look to get paid. What kind of value could they get for Io, who's actually been great this season thus far when he's been healthy. Anyway, I still think the Bulls are more likely to prioritize keeping Io over Kobe, mainly because IO is going to be cheaper from a contract perspective and he gives them more two-way versatility than what Kobe offers. I mean, really, when we talk about trade candidates for the Bulls and which guys are on the block outside of Modus and maybe Giddy, everyone else on the roster is up for grabs, or at least that's how the Bulls should be viewing it. But the two biggest ones that I'm looking at as far as players that really need to be on the move to create some sort of change is moving on from Kobe White and Nicolvich. I do think Kobe will ultimately get moved. I would say it's less likely VH's moved at the deadline, but I think most of us hope that will in fact be the case. Anyway, let me know what you guys think of some of these trades. Let me know in the comments. As always, be sure to subscribe and I will see you in the next one.

Exploring trades the Bulls need to make before the trade deadline

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