Massive Chicago Bulls trade rumors were just confirmed true

After seeing veterans Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan traded away for younger and cheaper assets over the summer, many expected the Bulls to complete a complete rebuild. This will include cutting ties with the rest of the veteran pieces and presumably moving on from 29-year-old Zach LaVine and 34-year-old Nikola Vucevic. After a quiet offseason following these two blockbuster deals, Chicago entered the 2024-25 season with a huge question mark as to how this year would play out. With some new young additions such as Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Jalen Smith and a freshman Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, the fanbase assumed it would be a new look. However, LaVine and Vucevic were intent on making the postseason, and they’ve still carried the load. Meanwhile, Torrey Craig and Patrick Williams are still seeing significant minutes despite a continued lack of success. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times just confirmed the validity of one of the biggest rumors swirling around the franchise for over six months, and it will benefit the organization for years to come.

There was no question the Bulls actively tried to get rid of LaVine at last year’s trade deadline, and barring a season-ending injury suffered the week before the cutoff, he might already be on different threads. Cowley says Chicago is not only still looking to dump their two-time All-Star guard, but they’re also trying to find a suitor for their 34-year-old center Vucevic, who is currently embarking on one of his best seasons. career. The big man’s price will continue to rise as his game becomes more consistent and the three-point shot remains incredibly effective. LaVine’s value has been stagnant for the past two years due to his lucrative contract and injury history, and that hasn’t changed much. Anything the Bulls can do to move on from the duo will proactively build a better future.

Retains their first round pick

Saying the Bulls won’t contend for a championship anytime soon doesn’t make headlines or turn heads. But what remains to be seen is whether they will continue to build a strong, young core by using another top-ten draft pick in a reportedly loaded 2025 NBA Draft class. Looming at the top of this draft class is Duke freshman star Cooper Flagg, who many have said is the unanimous first-overall selection bound to change the trajectory of whichever franchise he joins at the NBA level. He was seen competing against the 2024 Paris Olympic team this summer, putting in impressive performances against some of the league’s biggest stars. Chicago currently has a 6.7% chance of picking first in the 2025 NBA Draft and a 29% chance of picking in the top four. They would lose the rights to their draft pick entirely if it lands outside the top ten.

The Bulls are currently on a 32-game winning streak, which equates to 20th or 21st and flirting with top-ten protection. By trading away LaVine, Vucevic, or both, this projection would surely tail off and drop quickly. With Chicago not making the playoffs or competing for a championship, they should pursue the highest possible draft capital this coming summer and trade away any veteran assets for future additions while they still have value.

Would you support a #TankForFlagg movement or should the Bulls ride it out with the current roster?