Since the Chicago Bulls exited the 2022 NBA postseason early, everyone has wondered just what exactly this team will do differently to improve for next year.
Of course, the initial thought by the team, coaches and beat writers included the word “continuity,” which makes sense. This team is only one year into it after a whole bunch of new pieces came together last summer. Another offseason together should allow for much improvement.
However, the Bulls will have some decisions to make this summer. Not everyone will be coming back to this roster, whether it be due to expiring contracts or other reasons.
One player in recent rumors is guard Coby White, as ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote that rival executives believe the Bulls are “not in love with” White and could be shopping him with the 2022 NBA Draft nearing. In fact, Givony’s report stated that the Bulls could be looking to package White with their first-round pick.
The Chicago Bulls should make an effort to trade Coby White and the 18th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to improve the roster.
Bleacher Report’s is unsureAdam Wells whether the Bulls would look to be moving up in the draft with this type of trade, or if the team would be seeking a veteran in exchange for the package deal.
This year’s draft features some interesting talent that the Bulls could end up with if they were able to move towards the lottery. If the Bulls could move White and their pick and end up with somewhere around the no. 12 selection overall, by trading with the Oklahoma City Thunder (who also own the second overall pick), Chicago could potentially have their pick of a couple lottery names.
With recent reports that Zach LaVine is expected to re-sign in Chicago this summer, that eliminates any other thought of the Bulls going out and spending big on another name, and that goes for any trade as well. For the Bulls to trade White and a pick, they’d have to get a good enough player and on a relatively friendly deal in return.
The only big trade that could go down this offseason which would feature larger salaries, assuming LaVine stays, is if the Bulls engage in talks with the Utah Jazz around a deal including Rudy Gobert and Nikola Vucevic.
But, if the Bulls stand pat with their current core, trading White and their no. 18 pick for a player, they likely couldn’t take on a contract of a guy making more than $15-$18 million annually — assuming they’ll need a little more cash to fill out the rest of their roster.
