Would The Bulls Really Trade UP in the NBA Draft?

Would The Bulls Really Trade UP in the NBA Draft?

So, while the Bulls wait for the NBA season to conclude to see how things shake out, what players will potentially become available, which teams will potentially look to make drastic changes to their roster, we of course as Bulls fans can’t help but think how the Bulls could potentially get involved on some of the changes and movements throughout the league. Like, I’ve seen a lot of different mock trades and scenarios where the Bulls are sending Kobe White to the Nuggets in exchange for draft capital. And then I’ve also seen a number of scenarios where the Bulls trade up in the draft to be able to select higher than where they’re currently slated at number 12. And really, it’s all fantasy, speculation, and rumors at this point. To be honest, we won’t find out for a while if the Bulls do in fact make a big trade until probably we get closer to the draft or even after the draft, which is still more than a month away. But it also doesn’t stop us from putting together hypothetical scenarios and see what options are the most intriguing. So, in this video, we’ll talk about the Bulls potentially trading up in the draft, whether it’s worth it, and what would be the teams most likely to be willing to trade down. So, what’s going on everyone? You’re listening to Bull Central here. Hope you’re all doing well. Now, look, even though the Bulls aren’t in the playoffs, it should not stop you from watching some of the most entertaining basketball in the postseason. And what better way to watch it and get in on the action by playing in the playoffs, well, one, it’s the playoffs. Some of the best basketball out there. And two, once you have teams getting eliminated, you see the influx of rumors, trade speculation, and what’s next for the teams that couldn’t win the title. The Denver Nuggets being the latest casualty. Naturally, you’re already hearing about what they’re going to do to get Jokic another star level player or if Jokic would potentially request a trade out after being in backto-back second round exits for the best player in the world. Doubt that it happens, but it’s obviously going to come up. Now, when it comes to the Bulls, well, the sad thing about the state of this franchise is that they’re not really in any of these discussions or trade packages involving some of these teams. But it’s worth noting given where the Bulls are at with their current roster, AK’s desire to get young players with upside, that the Bulls could conceivably trade up in the draft to get a better pick and snag a more talented prospect. Now, when it comes to which picks are realistic for the Bulls to trade up in the draft, it really comes down to a handful. I mean, the Mavs aren’t trading the number one pick. I don’t care what anyone says. The Spurs, while I think it might actually best serve them to capitalize on that valuable pick to add, say, another ready-made star, reports are saying the Spurs have no interest in trading that pick, at least at the time of this recording. Anyway, uh the Sixers, however, that one is intriguing because reports are coming out that the Sixers are willing to listen to offers on trading their number three pick, which makes sense because even though the Sixers had a disastrous season last year, they’re still hoping to contend with Embiid returning, hopefully Paul George returning. They don’t really have time to develop a 19-year-old prospect, nor would they likely have a prominent role for that player. But because it’s my guess is he’s going to have some insane unrealistic expectation for what they would want in exchange for that pick. Now, I had asked Twitter a few days ago whether you all would trade Kobe White to the Sixers for the number three pick. And I was actually expecting a lot more yeses. Like still 69% yes versus 31% no. But in my view, given where the Bulls are at and knowing they’re going to need to pay Kobe soon, who is going to be 26 years old, does it make sense to keep him around long term? And if given the opportunity to move to the third pick in the draft and get a prospect you can start working with now is kind of a no-brainer. If anything, I would say the Sixers would probably say no to this because they would want more in return. That said, I think my biggest hesitation about trading up in this draft is that the more and more I watch draft combine workouts, player highlights, the more I’m seeing this being a very top two heavy draft class. Like you can still find some great talent in the top five all the way down to the end of the lottery, but you’re not going to get any franchise game changers. And so even in a scenario where you’re trading Kobe for the number three pick, you have to ask yourself, is it worth the risk? Do you trade probably your most valuable trade chip at this point and your best scoring option for a top prospect? I think it’s worth it, but I also get why some fans would say it’s not. Now, the other thing I’m seeing a lot of is the Bulls trading with the Sixers to get the number three pick while also taking on Paul George’s contract. And then the Bulls wouldn’t need to give up Kobe to get the number three pick because the Bulls would be throwing the Sixers a bone in getting out of Paul George’s contract, his max contract, to give them more flexibility to build around Joel Embiid. Now, to me, this is a hard pass and I don’t see any scenario where the Bulls would even entertain this after what they went through years of when trying to trade Zack Lavine in his contract. Like, forget for a second that Paul George had arguably one of his worst seasons and was barely able to play and stay on the court. His contract alone under the new CBA would hamstring the Bulls in their attempt to duck the tax. And it’s a contract they would have on their books for the next 3 years that they could very well never be able to trade out of. Like I get the argument of well take on a distressed asset, a bad contract so you can get a valuable asset like the number three pick and then hope that that bad contract in this case Paul George recoups his value and you’re able to flip him for more than what you got him for. But that’s such a risky move because there is a real world where at Paul George’s age, his injury history that you’re stuck with his contract until it runs out and the Bulls do not want to be in that business. But anyway, all of that to say, I could see the number three pick being an option the Bulls could look at to move up to. Now, the Hornets having the number four pick, given they’re still rebuilding. Well, they’re always rebuilding, but given where they are, I don’t see them looking to trade that pick. They’re going to want to use it. The Jazz and the Wizards with the fifth and the sixth pick. I mean, they tanked all season long to get those picks and ended up falling in the lottery. So, they’re going to do what they can with those. Um, the seventh pick is interesting because it’s with the Pelicans who going into this past season had plans to contend. They made a big trade to land Jante Murray to add to Zion Williamson and CJ McCullum and then of course injuries but also falling below expectations in general that led them to the lottery. Would they try and do what the Sixers are looking to do and taking advantage of having a high pick to add more win now talent? Maybe. I think the question is how much should the Bulls be willing to give up just to move up five spots in a draft that looks to have pretty comparable talent from spots 7 through 12. I mean, if you don’t have to give up that much or give up a player that isn’t going to be part of their long-term plan, like Vuvich, and there’s really a player that you really like that is still available at number seven, but you think might not be there at 12, then okay, but I wouldn’t trade a Hall just to move up to seven. Then you’ve got the Nets at number eight. They’re not trading that pick. If anything, they might try to move up themselves. The Raptors at 9, they’re not going to trade that pick either. The Rockets a 10. I could absolutely see them trading that pick to add star level talent, more offensive firepower after falling short in the playoffs. Kobe White could honestly be a big pickup for them as he would fit what they need on the scoring front. But now we’re talking about moving up just two spots. You’re not trading Kobe White to move up to 10th. Now, if the Rockets are willing to throw in some additional draft capital, maybe one of their younger players like Reed Shepard or even Jabari Smith Jr., then we’re talking. But I don’t see the Rockets being interested in doing that if they have to give up that much to get Kobe White. And then of course you have the Blazers with the 11th pick which they’re going to keep and it’s not really going to make sense for the Bulls to trade up to just move up one spot unless they really really have their heart set on someone that the Blazers take at 11. But in that instance, the most you can really justify in trading to get up just one spot is maybe a far out second round pick. Now, that said, I say all of these with the assumption that the Bulls would swap their 12th pick with any of these teams that have higher picks. If you’re talking about the Bulls trading up to get a higher lottery pick while also retaining their own pick at number 12, then that’s a completely different scenario as the Bulls would have to be willing to give up a lot more if they’re straight up looking to have another team’s lottery pick while also keeping their own. Now, as far as what I think will happen, to be honest, I don’t see the Bulls trading up. One, because I don’t see AK having the negotiation skills to get a deal like that done. And two, I actually don’t really think it’s worth it unless you can trade up into the top two, which isn’t going to happen because the Mavs and the Spurs aren’t going to give up those picks for just anything. And even if they were entertaining trading those picks, the Bulls also just don’t have the trade chips to make that happen. So, my guess is the Bulls stay at number 12 and they’re going to take the best player available that falls to them, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as I do think there are some great prospects that will be available come the number 12 selection, which by the way, I’ll be doing another draft prospects video later this week. So, be on the lookout for that. Let me know what you guys think about the Bulls potentially trading up into the draft and are you for or against it. You let me know in the comments, of course. As always, be sure to subscribe, and I will see you in the next one.

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Discussing the possibility of the Bulls moving up in the 2025 NBA Draft

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