It felt like a very familiar Christmas Day for the Bulls.
Too irrelevant to be scheduled to play on the NBA’s showcase holiday, but front and center in the trade-rumor mill.
As always with the Bulls, the question is will they pull the trigger if the right deal presents itself.
The offseason trade that sent Alex Caruso to the Thunder for Josh Giddey was significant because it was the first real trade executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas made since 2021, when he dealt Lauri Markkanen.
Karnisovas also made it very clear at media day in late October that the roster was a work in progress.
After a long quiet period, there are some whispers of activity. With the Bulls looking to move assets sooner than later, things could get interesting before the trade deadline Feb. 6.
The tricky part will be deciphering what’s true and what’s false. There’s never a black-and-white answer when it comes to the Bulls.
Zach LaVine
There’s no secret that LaVine has been the top trade piece the Bulls have been looking to move, and it has been that way for over two seasons.
The original plan last year was to move him so that they had the money to re-sign veteran DeMar DeRozan. But when LaVine opted for season-ending surgery on his foot, the writing was on the wall that it would be DeRozan who would have to go.
So here the Bulls stand with LaVine playing some of his best basketball in years and, more impressively, stepping up in the leadership and teammate department. He has been a joy for them to watch on the court and a joy to be around off of it.
That doesn’t mean the Bulls are looking to keep him around, though.
There have been whispers about the Lakers for over a year, but a source said the pieces that would have to be swapped don’t fit, and the Lakers remain steadfast that Austin Reaves isn’t going to be included.
The Sun-Times reported that the Nuggets rumor did have “light momentum” as of last week, but that’s as far as it has gotten. Both teams have sent out feelers in early talks of what a deal would look like, but it hasn’t progressed.
That’s about the extent of the market right now, but a major injury could always change things in a hurry.
LaVine rumors: Fact.
Nikola Vucevic
Like with LaVine, the Bulls are looking to trade a multiyear contract in the hopes of getting draft picks and an expiring deal.
There are numerous fits for Vucevic with his salary ($20 million this season and $21 million next season) but still nothing more than feelers going out.
There was one report that said the Bulls were looking for a first-round pick in the 2025 draft in the package for Vucevic, but a source recently said that’s not necessarily the case. Very few teams — even playoff-caliber — are hanging 2025 first-round picks out there, so multiple second-rounders will likely be included.
Vucevic rumors: More fiction than fact right now.
Lonzo Ball
The Bulls would love to get the key reserve showing he can stay healthy long-term, especially since he has missed 18 games so far. But until they can do that, the Ball trade rumors are more speculative than anything.
A solid next few weeks from Ball could start generating some interest, especially because he’s working on an expiring contract. All the Bulls would be looking to do is swap an expiring contract and grab a few possible second-rounders in the deal.
Ball rumors: Fiction for now.