Bulls are confident that they will make at least one big trade before the deadline

The Chicago Bulls might blow up the roster a few seasons too late, but at least they’re more open to the idea now. As a team good enough to qualify for the play-in but not talented enough to advance deep into the playoffs, the Bulls will have to make major adjustments to their roster, which includes trading players like Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball before the trade deadline includes . Otherwise, they could look to trade that high-profile talent for another high-profile veteran instead of the half-baked Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey deal that can make a real difference in winning games.

The Bulls have reportedly expressed confidence that they can complete a deal for a high-profile veteran player before the February deadline.

“I can report that I have heard the same thing and that there is even a confidence emanating from the Windy City that the Bulls believe they will make at least one significant deal before the February 6th trade deadline to acquire at least one quality veteran from the Squad to be cut.” NBA insider Marc Stein wrote for The Stein Line.

Should the Bulls blow it up?

Additionally, the Bulls have multiple assets they can bring into a trade to lure playoff contenders or up-and-coming playoff teams looking for a person to fill a need or move them to the postseason, similar to Rasheed Wallace for the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

For example, the Bulls could consider trading “Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball before the deadline,” Stein continued, citing a previous report from Jake Fischer.

The three players form the team’s remaining core after DeMar DeRozan signed with the Sacramento Kings in the offseason and the team traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey.

But it’s clear that despite their talent, these players simply aren’t good enough together to lead the Bulls to postseason success.

However, to be fair, Ball has just returned from an injury that sidelined him for two years, but the roster he has returned to is not the same one that once had the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Trading scenarios

Likewise, it could be in both the Bulls’ and Lonzo’s best interests to look for deals to put him elsewhere. Additionally, Vucevic has seen some late-career resurgence, meaning many big man-needy contenders may want him as a backup for a strong playoff run.

“Ball has an expiring contract worth $21.4 million, making him theoretically the most tradeable, but Vucevic – a two-time All-Star – is playing at an All-Star level again at 34,” Stein added.

Additionally, LaVine has a gigantic $215 million contract that would make him hard to trade, but his value in the league could now be low enough for other teams to bite him, especially those looking for extra points need the guard position.

Sometimes in the NBA it’s better to be completely bad than mediocre, and the Bulls may have seen the light before it was too late.