NEWSLETTER
As the Feb. 6 trade deadline inches closer, all indications are that the Chicago Bulls are open for business.
A report last week stated that the organization would be “sellers” at this year’s deadline. Since then, we have seen Nikola Vucevic continuously connected to the Golden State Warriors and Patrick Williams name-dropped as a change of scenery candidate. To be sure, it will be impossible to believe front office leader Artuars Karnisovas actually shakes things up until we see it. But this is at least the kind of consistent smoke you hope to see less than three weeks from the big day.
This is always one of the more fun stretches in the NBA calendar (especially when the team you dedicate your livelihood to is on a fast track to nowhere)! So I thought we might as well play around with the trade machine and pitch AK a few ideas.
Below you’ll find three deadline ideas for the Chicago Bulls that all got the green light in Fanspo’s trade machine. I’m going to try to put a few of these together in the lead-up to the deadline, so feel free to leave any fun trade ideas you have in the comments and perhaps I’ll include them in my next post!
Three Bulls Trade Ideas
Trade 1
Bulls get … Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, Lindy Waters III, 2026 protected first-round pick
Warriors get … Nikola Vucevic
This is easily the most plausible of the three trades listed. The Golden State Warriors have been directly linked to Nikola Vucevic multiple times. They sit at just 21-21 on the season and 11th in the Western Conference despite the continued strong play of Stephen Curry.
Vucevic’s fit in the Golden State system is obvious. The Warriors are a team that loves to space the floor and move assertively off the ball. Not only is Vucevic hitting his nearly 5.0 three-point attempts per game at a 41.1 percent clip, but he has long been considered an above-average passer. The Warriors’ offense also lacks some versatility this season, and Vucevic would offer them the kind of scoring chops they lack in the post.
The real question here is whether or not the Warriors would fork over a first-round pick. For what it’s worth, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported last week that many executives believe this is what it would take to get a deal done. If that is the case, I have to imagine we’re talking about something close to a Top-10 protected pick. And I’d be more than thrilled if the Bulls could pull that off.
At the same time, if the Warriors don’t want to meet that price, I would still very much consider a hefty stockpile of second-rounders if I were the Bulls. The only problem is that Golden State only has two left in their arsenal.
Trade 2
Bulls get … Ja’Sean Tate, Jeff Green, 2026 second-round pick, 2027 second-round pick via MEM
Rockets get … Lonzo Ball
I think this one may catch some people off guard, but I LOVE the fit. Ime Udeoka is a no-nonsense head coach who loves smart defense and scoring in transition. Lonzo Ball can help immensely in both those departments.
The Rockets are currently second in the Western Conference and surely hoping to make their presence felt in a competitive Western Conference playoff field. Ball would add some additional veteran experience to their backcourt and can play next to either Fred VanVleet or Dillon Brooks. He can also help bolster their 30th-ranked assist percentage while simultaneously acting as one of their best long-range shooters. The Rockets make only 12.2 threes per game, which is the sixth-fewest in the NBA.
Now, would Houston offer two second-rounders for Ball knowing all the injury concerns? It’s a fair question. If all they’re offering is one – and that’s the best offer at this deadline – the Bulls might as well take it. They should simply prioritize getting something for him before he hits unrestricted free agency. Also, as long as Ball is healthy and on the court, he should be playing meaningful basketball. Do right by him and get him to a contender!
Trade 3
Bulls get … De’Anthony Melton, Caleb Houston, 2025 first-round pick via Magic, 2028 first-round pick (Top 3 protected) via Magic, 2025 second-round pick via Nets, 2028 second-round pick via Nets
Magic get … Coby White, Torrey Craig
Nets get … Cole Anthony
This one is by far the least likely to happen, but I could see a reason why all parties would be interested!
Look, I’m in the camp of keeping Coby White. He is only 24 years old and has put things together in a real way over these last two seasons. If the Bulls head toward a rebuild as we all expect, White would still fit into that timeline and continue to offer some high-upside shotmaking. With that said, we can’t ignore the fact that White is significantly outplaying his current three-year, $36.0 million contract.
In fact, White is playing so well that he is bound to turn down any possible extension the Chicago Bulls try to offer him. The CBA states that a team can only offer 140 percent of what a player makes in the final year of their deal. White is set to make $12.9 million next season, which means his next contract would have to start at only $18.4 million a year. This would be significantly under what White would make in the open market, which is likely why he would pursue unrestricted free agency in 2026-27 and could choose to leave the Bulls high and dry.
Should the Bulls get ahead of any potential contract drama and capitalize on White’s current value? It at least has to be considered, which is why I put this trade together! Yes, the idea of getting finessed again by the Magic terrifies me, but they have a clear need for a sharpshooting lead ball-handler. White would also fit into the team’s current timeline extremely well and already knows how to play next to stars like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
As for Chicago, they add two future first-round picks to their arsenal along with multiple seconds. Draft capital is the best thing to have as you begin a rebuild!
Now, do the Nets want anything to do with Cole Anthony? It’s hard to say, but I like the fit. The Magic have started to outgrow Anthony, and they especially wouldn’t need his sparkplug scoring with White in the building. Brooklyn – who is already in a rebuild – can take a very cheap flyer on the 24-year-old and give him some room to come into his own. This could also give them some insurance in the frontcourt in the event that they decide to move on from Cam Thomas this offseason when he hits restricted free agency.
