For this exercise let’s use the trade framework given to us by Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer which involves: Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams and the 18th pick in the 2022 NBA draft being sent to Utah while the Jazz only send Gobert to Chicago.

DEFENSIVELY:

Gobert would immediately slot into the starting lineup as the new center for the 2023 Bulls. He would likely remain in the role of guarding the opposing team’s best center and primarily roaming inside the paint, protecting the rim.

It would be a similar role we have seen Gobert play before in Utah. Despite the Jazz defense having a down year due to defensive personnel, Gobert still authored a strong defensive season and is still the league’s best rim protector. When opponents drove into the paint and went at Gobert, their field goal percentage went down by -13.39%, AT THE RIM!

Gobert would be an instant upgrade on defense. Factoring in elite point-of-attack defenders such as Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, you have the recipe for one of the best defenses in the league.

In addition, Gobert is also a fantastic defensive rebounder. He is still the vacuum on the boards that people expect him to be and has continued his dominance there. He would provide an immediate upgrade on the Bull’s defensive rebounding stats, ranked 22nd in 2022.

Schematically, Gobert would likely continue to play in a drop coverage role since letting him contest and guard near the basket is what he excels at. While many fans on social media lambast Gobert for dropping so far back in pick and rolls, the fault does not solely lie with him. That is a product of the Jazz defensive scheme and on former head coach Quin Snyder for not moving him up closer to the screen. It is important to note that when you move him up to the level to contain, the other defenders need to be able to guard the ensuing 4v3 advantage the offense has, something the Jazz defenders were not prepared to do with their personnel.

In addition, Gobert has also made strides (albeit smaller ones) into becoming a better switch and more versatile defender. Asking any center to contain small quicker penetrative guards on the perimeter is always difficult but Gobert has great recovery length and can somewhat contain switches.

Finally, should he be switched and forced into a weak side help defender role, I feel comfortable in him playing there as well. While there is less film on this because of the Jazz playing drop coverage most of the time, his length can allow him to rotate over and contest any shot near the rim.

Adding Gobert to this current Bulls team would 100% improve our overall defensive rankings and rebounding stats. Still, defense is still only one side of the game, so how would a potential offense involving the Bulls and Rudy Gobert look?

OFFENSIVELY:

While Gobert is an incredible defensive player, his offense is not at that level. Still, some of his best traits on offense would help the Bulls.

First, he is an excellent screener in pick-and-roll scenarios. The word, “Screen assists” has been thrown out a lot in Utah but it is real. Gobert is an excellent screener when he makes contact and his large frame makes him difficult to navigate around. Further, he is also a downhill lob threat and would provide a new dimension for this offense. The Bulls do not have a lob threat outside of Zach Lavine and leaving someone in the dunker’s spot providing a verticality threat would add a new wrinkle to Billy Donovan’s offense.

It is important to note that the Bull’s only reliable lob thrower is Ball. He is a great passer but is not someone who can force help and open up that lob by himself. The two players that can bend defenses are Lavine and Demar DeRozan but their ability to throw that lob isn’t a strong part of their passing repertoire. While it may open up something new for this offense, the personnel we have to execute this new wrinkle is far from adequate.

In addition, Gobert is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league and would aid in the Bull’s 29th ranked offensive rebounding. While this is partially because of Donovan choosing to prioritize transition defense instead of hunting the offensive rebound, Gobert would still help in this department.

While his strengths would help the Bulls, there are holes in his offensive game that would also hinder this offense.

Primary is Gobert’s inability to beat switches. He is not a post-up threat on switches and can only take advantage of the mismatch when he has deep seals. The film of this is not pretty from their most recent playoff series loss against Dallas. Concurrently, it is also a problem that has stretched back for years as well, with the Clippers electing to soft switch and making him a non-threat on offense in their series against the Jazz in 2021.

Unless he makes a remarkable improvement, this problem would likely remain a way to target Gobert and the Bull’s offense to slow them down in the playoffs.

Another issue in Gobert’s offensive game is his short roll playmaking and it’s been a problem for some time. He made marginal improvements in this category this season and this issue will invite teams to play aggressive defensive coverages knowing that we don’t have the personnel to beat it.

The ability to make the correct decision on short rolls is a major factor in the playoffs. Despite playing different roles for their respective teams, players such as Bam Adebayo, Draymond Green and Vucevic can all affect the game with their short roll playmaking. If you play aggressive defensive coverage against any three of these aforementioned players, then you’re giving up a 4v3 situation to a player that can always make the correct play. It completely takes off blitzing, soft hedging, hard hedging and being at the level in pick and roll defense. It may seem small but in the modern NBA’s ball screen-centric game, it’s a massive problem.

Finally is how Gobert’s offense looks with worse spacing.

It’s quite clear that Gobert does not space the floor. He only attempted four shots from behind the arc and missed all four. The bigger worry is that Gobert has always played in a spaced-out environment in Utah, constantly seeing the floor with average to great shooters.

Should he be traded to Chicago, he would not have that luxury. In my opinion, the Bulls have two great shooters. Outside of Ball and Lavine, none of the other Bulls are elite floor spacers and are inconsistent at best. How would Gobert adapt to finding more pressure around the rim with the opposing team helping off bad shooters such as DeRozan or Javonte Green? It’s a hypothetical question but with Gobert’s lack of individual shot creation and poor passing stats, it could be a major thorn in his already limited offensive production.

In all, Gobert would certainly help this team in some aspects, that much is clear. While the positives may outweigh the negatives, the negatives are major red areas that could slow down the Bulls. This also doesn’t mention the cap situation. Is it worth losing cap flexibility and a young piece like Williams for a 30-year-old Gobert and the remaining four years of his supermax contract? There’s no right answer, only our thoughts at this time but what the Bulls do in the 2022 offseason will certainly be something to watch.

Special thanks to: bball-index.com for stats and every other linked tweet or article.*

*NOTE: Not all clips are reflective of every given possession but provide a summary of his strengths and weaknesses on the court.

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Is Zach LaVine Worth a Max Contract?

Many fans and experts have argued that Zach LaVine should not receive max-contract money. This concern stems primarily stems from his recent knee injury. LaVine has been bothered by his surgically-repaired left knee since mid-January this season. This discomfort led LaVine to miss 13 games while looking like a shell of his usual self in others. Some have used this decline in play to justify not giving LaVine a new contract. Others argue that the nagging knee injury is too much of a risk for a max player.

First of all, using injured play to bash LaVine — or any player, for that matter — is a bad idea. Plenty of players have struggled while dealing with injuries just to return to their prior form when healthy. LaVine, like many other players, has already come back (and even improved) since a big knee injury. In addition, despite some fans having durability concerns, LaVine has only missed an average of 13.5 regular season games/year since his injury-shortened 2017-18 season. Numerous stars who aren’t generally considered “injury-prone” — including LeBron James, Jrue Holiday, Jimmy Butler, and Kyle Lowry — have missed more time than LaVine over the past four years.

Finally, some believe that LaVine isn’t good enough for a max contract, but that simply isn’t true. Plenty of teams give max contracts to players at or below Zach’s level of play. Tobias Harris, Michael Porter Jr., Andrew Wiggins, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Jamal Murray, and De’Aaron Fox have all recently signed maximum contracts. Can you confidently say any of those players are better than Zach? In my opinion, they are, at best, at the same level as LaVine, and thus, he should be compensated similarly.

However, the big question isn’t if the Bulls should re-sign Zach, it’s if they will. Let’s look at this from both the player/agent and front office sides.

The Zach LaVine Side

The primary reason Zach LaVine — and agent Rich Paul — should want to stay in Chicago is simple: Money. The Bulls hold Zach’s Bird Rights, which means that they can offer him more money than any other team. It also means that they can go over the salary cap to re-sign him, a luxury not afforded to any other team competing for his services. Basically, if LaVine’s contract decision is all about money, the Bulls are his best landing spot.

Moreover, the Bulls’ recent success should incentivize Zach LaVine to stay in Chicago. Thanks to the team’s recent roster additions, the Bulls made the playoffs this season for the first time during his Bulls tenure. Though the team crumbled after the All-Star break, the team’s play in the early months of the season offers a glimpse into its upside. Out of the teams that both have the ability to bring in LaVine and would want to add him, not many offer the same success as the Bulls. The Bulls’ recent additions show a commitment to winning, and if Zach values that, he’ll seriously consider staying in Chicago.

The Front Office Side

The Bulls’ recent roster moves don’t just show a commitment to winning — they show a commitment to Zach LaVine. The roster is, in theory, built around Zach LaVine. This Bulls team, when healthy, is able to maximize his strengths while hiding his weaknesses. Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball, the team’s two most important perimeter defenders, missed significant time this season. When they’re on the court with LaVine, they hide his defensive weaknesses. We saw this earlier this season before Ball went down with an eventually season-ending knee injury. Meanwhile, veteran scorers DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic help take the scoring load off of LaVine. (Well, Vucevic wasn’t very effect this season, but hopefully that changes next year.) If the Bulls didn’t believe in Zach LaVine long-term, they wouldn’t have invested money and draft capital into these players.

The Bulls’ front office continues to emphasize that they are committed to Zach LaVine long-term. Asked about LaVine on Friday, president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas expressed confidence in the 27-year-old guard, saying, “I hope he’s here for a long time.” Though interviews don’t always mean much, the front office has never indicated anything other than wanting LaVine in a Bulls uniform for the foreseeable future.

Final Thoughts

Though Zach LaVine is likely to test the free-agent waters, a return to Chicago is beneficial to both sides. He’s part of the Bulls’ long-term plans, and at only 27 years old, he still has a long playing career ahead of him. So, in all likelihood, Zach LaVine has not played his last game in a Chicago Bulls uniform.

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Starter-Like Minutes

Four players — Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic — should consistently play 30-34 minutes per game on a healthy Bulls team. Currently, all four are averaging at least 33.9 min/game. This number should decrease once the team is fully healthy.

Once the Chicago Bulls’ rotation is back to what it was meant to be, I wouldn’t be surprised if LaVine and DeRozan see slight minutes decreases. LaVine is dealing with a lingering knee injury, so he may need more rest down the stretch. DeRozan, who averaged 38.5 minutes/game in February, could also use a break

Furthermore, Ball and Vucevic may get more time on the bench than originally planned for this season. The surprise emergence of rookie Ayo Dosunmu as a strong defender and capable facilitator will force Billy Donovan to give him minutes (more on that later). This should, in turn, take out a small chunk of Ball’s workload. In addition, the Bulls recently brought in veteran big man Tristan Thompson. This could lead to a slight minutes reduction for Vucevic, who averaged over 35 minutes/game in February. The team may want to give Vucevic, 31, some much-needed rest before (hopefully) embarking on a deep playoff run.

Consistent Playing Time

This is where things start to get interesting. The Bulls have three bench guards — Alex Caruso, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu — who should all get a good share of minutes during any given game. This will likely force Billy Donovan to use three guard lineups at some point. This strategy worked very well for Donovan in his last year in Oklahoma City. There, he utilized lineups featuring a three-headed-monster of Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder.

Patrick Williams will, when healthy, start for the Bulls. But how many minutes does he get, especially if he struggles early on? He’s a talented player, but he’s also a second-year player coming off an injury. Last year’s iteration of the team could afford to give Williams crucial minutes for development’s sake. However, as a team with championship aspirations, the Bulls may give Williams a short leash with other options waiting.

The Bulls have several starting options if Williams struggles. Though Derrick Jones Jr. and Javonte Green haven’t exactly been superstars in Williams’ absence, they’ve filled in admirably. Defense and athleticism have been Williams’ calling card in the NBA, as his shooting has yet to become consistent. Green and Jones provide similar skillsets, which bodes well for lineup versatility. Ideally, Williams looks like his pre-injury self (or perhaps an even better version of that player). In that case, this logjam at the 4 becomes a much better problem to have. An improved Patrick Williams could be the missing piece for this Bulls team.

Finally, Tristan Thompson should see the floor for a consistent amount of time each night. Though he likely won’t dig too far into Nikola Vucevic’s minutes, his only real competition for backup reps is Tony Bradley. Bradley, in the few games Thompson has played for the Bulls, has seemingly exited the rotation.

Out of the Rotation

There are three players who have played significant minutes at one point or another this season who I expect to become reserves once the team is healthy: Troy Brown Jr., Matt Thomas, and Tony Bradley.

Tony Bradley has caught a lot of negative attention from Bulls fans as an ineffective backup to Nikola Vucevic, but he actually performed well defensively at times. Opposing players shot 17% worse within 6 feet of the rim when Bradley was on the floor. Though Bradley’s sample size is obviously much smaller, that mark is better than some of the league’s best defenders, including Jarrett Allen (-15%), Jaren Jackson Jr. (-13.7%), and Rudy Gobert (-11.1%). However, barring an injury to Vucevic or Tristan Thompson, Bradley lacks a clear path to playing time on the Bulls this season.

Entering this season, Troy Brown Jr. had the potential to be a key bench player for Chicago. Despite flashes of quality play, Brown has been inconsistent this season. Like Tony Bradley, barring injury, he just doesn’t have a place on a team with hopes of making a deep playoff run, especially one with as deep of a roster as the Bulls have.

Lastly, we have Matt Thomas, arguably the most-hated player on the Bulls this season. Despite shooting 38% from beyond the arc, Thomas’s season has been marred by poor, almost Denzel Valentine-esque shot selection and sub-turnstile-level defense. Hopefully, once this Bulls team is healthy, Thomas won’t see the floor outside of 20+ point blowouts. As a 6’4″ guard, he doesn’t even fit a positional need depth-wise, since, as I stated earlier, the Bulls already have a lot of mouths to feed at guard.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the return of the Bulls’ injured players should provide a much-needed spark down the stretch. Not only will they solve some of the team’s defensive woes, but they should also help highlight the Bulls’ strong depth.

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This season during the trade deadline, the Bulls didn’t make any trades so getting Thompson from the buyout market was a huge move. The Bulls released forward Alfonzo Mckinnie to make the Thompson signing. 

What does Tristan Thompson bring to the Bulls? 

Thompson brings rebounding, defense, size, toughness and playoff experience to the Bulls. Thompson isn’t the same player he was in Cleveland but he still plays hard and always plays with toughness and an aggressive big has been one of the Bulls’ biggest needs. According to Cleaning the Glass, Thompson’s defensive rebounding rate ranks in the 73rd percentile with his offensive rebounding rate in the 96th percentile.

While Vucevic isn’t on the floor, Thompson will give the Bulls rebounding, size and defense which is very much needed. Another thing Thompson brings to the Bulls is his playoff experience. The Bulls haven’t made the playoffs since the 2017 season, and many players on the roster have no playoff experience. Meanwhile, Thompson has played in 83 playoff games in his career including multiple games in the NBA Finals. Now that the signing is official, Alex Caruso and Tristan Thompson will be the only players on the Bulls roster who have won championships.

It’s always good to have players on your team that have won a championship and adding Thompson means the Bulls will have 2 of those players. Thompson is a good backup center to have and instantly improves the Bulls bench. This was a great signing by the Bulls, Thompson checks all the boxes you want in a backup center, and he makes your team better. 

The Bulls’ record is 38-21 which is tied for first place in the East during the All-Star Break; with the addition of Thompson and the Bulls getting key players back from injuries the Bulls are in a good position to have a huge second half of the season and make a run to win a championship. 

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Basketball is back! After a hiatus that felt much longer than 19 days, NBA basketball is being played once again. Well, Summer League basketball. For basketball fans, the Summer League is a chance to see some of the league’s exciting young talent play for the first time at the professional level. For coaches and front offices, it’s a chance to evaluate young talent and younger players on the roster bubble. As one of the NBA’s most beloved traditions begins, here’s my guide to the Chicago Bulls’ Summer League experience.

Important Dates

Sunday 8/8 – Summer league begins in Las Vegas

Monday 8/9 – Bulls vs. Pelicans

Tuesday 8/10 – Bulls @ Spurs

Thursday 8/12 – Bulls @ Timberwolves

Sunday 8/15 – Bulls vs. Grizzlies

5th Bulls game TBD

Tuesday 8/17 – Summer League Championship Game (two teams with the best records face off)

Key Players

The Bulls didn’t have a first-round pick this year, so, unlike most teams, there’s not a clear-cut player to be on the lookout for this year. However, Chicago’s Summer League roster has several exciting young players who could (or should) end up making a difference this season.

Patrick Williams, SF/PF – After a promising rookie season, Williams is expected to take a leap in his second NBA season. While he showed promise on both ends of the floor, he sometimes disappeared and lacked aggressiveness. Finding himself as the forgotten member of the new-look Bulls’ starting lineup, he’ll have to assert himself if he wants to keep up with Chicago’s new firepower. If “the Paw” can continue to improve on defense and as a playmaker, he can become a valuable asset to a Bulls lineup that is still somewhat weak defensively. Look for him to become more aggressive on offense and continue to make life hard for the other team’s best player defensively.

Marko Simonovic, PF/C – Simonovic was drafted in the 2nd round last year but played in Europe this past season, so Summer League will be his first NBA action. Overseas, he averaged 15.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 35% from 3. Assuming Lauri Markkanen isn’t on Chicago’s roster by the time the season starts, Simonovic will be tasked with being the team’s backup 4. Summer League will be crucial for Marko’s development and acclimation to NBA-style basketball. The front office, meanwhile, will likely focus on Simonovic’s comfort level and ability in Summer League. If he struggles, look for the team to bring in a veteran 4 and for Simonovic to be relegated to more of a developmental/bench role.

Devon Dotson, PG – After going undrafted in 2020, Dotson signed a 2-way contract with the Bulls. Despite the team being plagued by injuries during the season and the lack of depth at point guard, Dotson saw very limited time with the Bulls. When he did play, he showed flashes, but that was in an extremely small sample size. With the Bulls adding Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, and Lonzo Ball, as well as the return of Coby White, Zach LaVine, and Javonte Green, Dotson suddenly finds himself on a team that’s deep at both guard positions. If he wants to make the 15-man roster, he’ll have to show out this summer.

Ayo Dosunmu, PG/SG – The former Illinois star was drafted by the Bulls in the second round this year, making him the first Chicago native drafted by the team since Derrick Rose. Ayo was a jack-of-all-trades in college, so it’ll be interesting to see which of his skills best translate to the NBA level. Dosunmu and Devon Dotson will likely compete for a roster spot this season (I don’t see the Bulls rostering 7 guards), so Dosunmu will need to outplay Doston to earn said roster spot. Look for the Bulls Summer League team to experiment with Dosunmu as they try to figure out his fit on the roster. Though he was a good playmaker for the Illini, Ayo’s scoring was his calling card, and he has the potential to become a capable NBA scorer. Both Dotson and Dosunmu will need to take advantage of their Summer League minutes to prove to the coaching staff that they deserve playing time during the regular season.

Simi Shittu, PF/C – Shittu is a familiar name to Bulls fans who watched the preseason last year, as he looked like he could make the final 15-man roster. Shittu didn’t end up on Chicago’s roster and instead played for the G League’s Westchester Knicks, where he averaged 14.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. Shittu’s more of a traditional big man, offering rim protection and inside scoring. The Bulls lack big man depth, as well as quality rim protection, so if Shittu can show improvement from last season, he has an outside shot at making the final roster. At the very least, he can earn a 2-way contract, either with the Bulls or elsewhere.

What to Watch For

One important thing to remember when watching Summer League games is to not overreact. Players like Serge Ibaka, Danny Green, and Nicolas Batum all struggled in Summer League but wound up being quality players. On the other hand, Denzel Valentine looked like a future star en route to a Bulls Summer League championship win in 2016. Anyone who watched the Bulls last season knows how that turned out.

So, what should we look for in Summer League games? The answer’s simple: Flashes. For players who are basically roster locks, like Patrick Williams and Marko Simonovic, we should look for signs of improvement from last season. For the fringe roster players, fans and coaches will be looking for what these players could contribute to the 15-man roster.

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Per several reports on Monday, the Chicago Bulls are interested in acquiring reigning EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micić. Let’s analyze what they’d have to give up to get him and his potential fit on the Bulls.

How The Bulls Could Trade For Vasilije Micić

If they want to get Micić, the Bulls will have to acquire his rights from the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC acquired Micić’s draft rights from the 76ers last offseason as part of the Al Horford trade that also netted them a 2025 first-round pick. It’s unknown what it would take for the Bulls to actually acquire Micić, as it would all depend on how the Thunder value Micić. Several ideas have been tossed around as possible trade packages, but they’ve ranged from a single second-round pick to a Lauri Markkanen sign-and-trade. It’ll all depend on how highly both Chicago and OKC value Micić, as well as what other teams may be interested in acquiring the long-time EuroLeague star.

My idea of a potential package for Micić is a second-round pick and Ryan Arcidiacono (team option). It gives the Thunder some compensation for Micić, and the Bulls take a flier on a potentially great player. The Thunder may not have much of a role available for Micić, as they already have guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and Theo Maledon (who they also acquired in the Horford trade).

Vasilije Micić’s agent previously said that his client will stay in Europe if he doesn’t find a quality, non-bench role in the NBA, so that may factor into OKC’s decision to either trade or keep him. Micić’s agent also represents Bulls 2020 second-round pick Marko Simonović, who is also expected to come to the States this offseason.

Micić’s fit with the Bulls is somewhat unclear. He’s a 6’6″ guard who’s not only been a decent facilitator (4.5 assists per game in his career). Micić’s agent previously stated that his client won’t go to the NBA just to be a bench player, and the Bulls already have Zach LaVine and Coby White playing at SG. One factor in Micić’s fit on the Bulls could be head coach Billy Donovan‘s tendency to use three-guard lineups. While coaching the Thunder in 2019, Donovan frequently utilized lineups featuring Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroeder. However, those players can all play a more traditional point guard role, whereas none of the three prospective Bulls have played that role very well.

One advantage of acquiring Vasilije Micić is that, if the front office sees him as a starting-caliber point guard, they wouldn’t have to overpay one of the free-agent point guards and could instead have the money to retain Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young. Additionally, the Bulls would have $10M in cap space, which they could use to sign a quality bench player or two.

Despite the question of Micić’s fit, it makes sense that the Bulls are looking into a potential trade. Good front offices always look to acquire talented players for a decent price, and if he can develop into a starting point guard, Chicago could fill a need without giving up nearly as much as they would if they either signed a free-agent point guard or acquired a bigger name via trade.

The front office obviously likes European players, as they’ve drafted Simonović and pulled off a blockbuster trade for Nikola Vučević. Though it remains to be seen whether the Bulls actually end up trading for Micić, they could end up getting a steal in the EuroLeague MVP.

Stats via Basketball Reference

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With the shocking news this morning that Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge is stepping down and being replaced with head coach Brad Stevens, NBA fans have begun to expect that there will be significant roster turnover in Boston. While All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are likely untouchable, the rest of the roster could be shuffled this offseason. In light of his recent injuries and poor performance going back to the playoffs last season, Boston will likely trade Kemba Walker to shed his massive contract. The Celtics’ other guard, Marcus Smart, was very productive this season. However, his contract only has one year left, and Boston seems reluctant to pay him. So, should the Bulls give Brad Stevens a call?

Could Marcus Smart Be The Answer?

Well, the short answer is yes. Marcus Smart would be a fantastic fit on this Bulls team. He’s everything the Bulls are looking for in a starting guard. He’s an excellent defender who would mask Zach LaVine’s defensive limitations. His basketball IQ is through the roof. With Kemba Walker’s absence early this season, Smart took on more of a point guard role (he had been more of a shooting guard for Boston in the last few years) and averaged 5.7 assists per game. He also averaged a career-high 13.1 points per game this season, which shows that the 27-year-old Smart may still be improving as a player. Finally, being with Boston for his whole career means that Smart has played in plenty of big games, and he’s shined in those games. In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season, he recorded a 23-point triple-double. Though the Celtics lost that game (thanks, Kemba), it highlighted Smart’s ability to show up in big games.

Smart does, however, have a few limitations. He has a 77.7 career FT%, though that number’s improved since he entered the league. Also, though his three-point shooting has improved since he entered the league, Smart may have become a little too confident in his shot. Despite only making 33% of his threes this season, he sometimes chucked up bad shots despite being, at best, the third option on his team. However, these problems are small when compared to the upside Smart would bring to this Bulls team.

Let’s talk a bit more about Smart’s fit on the Bulls. He would instantly be inserted into Chicago’s starting lineup alongside Zach LaVine. Smart gives the Bulls a tough hustle player, something all good teams have but Chicago’s roster currently lacks outside of Ryan Arcidiacono (who could have his $3M team option declined by Chicago this offseason). Though he’s not by any means a stud point guard, Smart would give the Bulls the facilitator they so desperately needed this season. His defense would give the Bulls another stud defender alongside 2020 first-round pick Patrick Williams. A starting lineup that includes Smart, LaVine, Williams, and trade deadline acquisition Nikola Vučević would compete for a top-4 seed in the East.

The problem with acquiring Marcus Smart would be finding the assets necessary to pry him from Boston. The Bulls traded their first-round draft picks in 2021 and 2023 to the Orlando Magic as part of the Vučević trade, and due to the Stepien Rule, they can’t trade another until 2025. Additionally, Chicago lacks trade assets outside of Coby White, Tomáš Satoranský, Thaddeus Young, and a Lauri Markkanen sign-and-trade. The Bulls would probably want to keep Young, as he provides veteran leadership and was a constant triple-double threat either off the bench or in the starting lineup for the Bulls this season. He’s an extremely valuable player for a team trying to compete for a championship. In light of this, the Bulls would likely have to include the other three assets I named as part of a Smart trade.

But why would the Celtics want anything to do with those players? Well, Coby White is a young combo guard who has a consistent outside shot. Satoranský has had an up-and-down Bulls tenure but is a solid guard off the bench. If Boston were to acquire both guards from Chicago, one of them would likely be shipped out in a trade, as they don’t need that many guards. A Lauri Markkanen sign-and-trade would give Boston a player who hit 40% of his threes on almost six attempts per game this season. The Celtics could also believe that, with the right coaching, the 7-foot-tall Markkanen could unlock his potential as a dominant big man with a consistent outside shot. Markkanen lacked aggressiveness at times this season, but since he’s only 24, he still has time to develop. Boston’s series against the Nets showed, among other things, that the Celtics desperately need a star big, and there’s an above-average chance Markkanen develops into that.

The Bulls will have to put together a competitive offer for Smart, as many teams with playoff aspirations will likely vie for his services. But with the assets I named, Chicago could realistically pull off a trade for Smart, which would turn the Bulls into a true playoff threat in the Eastern Conference.

For the best Chicago Bulls offseason content, stay up-to-date with the In Arturas We Trust blog.

Stats via Basketball Reference

Special thanks to All Around Designs for making the Marcus Smart edit as soon as the Celtics news broke out.

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