Bulls have second-best odds to land James Harden |
As we inch closer and closer to the start of NBA training camp, we are reminded that there are still some moves for the Chicago Bulls to make if they want to field the most competitive roster possible. Granted, the Terry Taylor signing gives them a full 15-man roster, but with Carlik Jones still unsigned, and there is a possibility that another roster spot could open.
With the NBA granting the Bulls an injury exemption for Lonzo Ball, it gave them an extra 10 million to play with as they are nearing the luxury tax. What they do with that money is up to them, but it could help them land a guy like Christian Wood or Kelly Oubre Jr, which would help this offense improve. While the Bulls roster seems all but set at this point, several other teams will have some decisions to make in the coming days, and of the significant decisions falls on the Philadelphia Sixers and what to do with disgruntled superstar James Harden. After requesting a trade earlier this offseason, GM Daryl Morey has taken him off the trade block for now, although Harden still wants out. Harden also went on record to call Morey a liar and stated that he couldn't play for someone who is a liar, so that is a situation to watch unfold. If it gets to the point where Harden is indeed traded, several suitors will be lining up, and against all odds, the Bulls are one of the teams in the mix as they are rumored to have the second-best odds to land Harden. Regardless of what you think about Harden, the bottom line is he is a scorer and, in the right situation, can still be a good player. I don't think that situation should be in Chicago, but this would be your typical Chicago move should this happen. The Bulls are one of those teams stuck in neutral, as they need a clear direction on what to do beyond this season. On paper, this is a very talented roster, which is why the front office chose to retain most of the pieces in hopes of running it back one more time. However, talent or not, the results haven't been great, and that is a big reason why the Bull's future is murky. Should they fail again this season, you are looking at a franchise that may not only be forced to rebuild next year, but with little to no draft assets, they could be in line to suffer the longest rebuild they have ever gone through. From a talent level, this team should be a top-four team in the Eastern Conference, yet they continue to underachieve for whatever reason. That brings into question whether or not Billy Donovan is the answer for this team or if they need to move on from their current group of core players. It seems like the Bulls are starting to question the future of this roster, and according to reports, the Bulls are the second most likely team to land Harden with plus 600 odds. Harden has made it clear that his preferred destination would be the Los Angeles Clippers, but with Morey running the show, look for him to maximize the trade return over sending Harden to his desired destination. This is a former MVP who was one of the elite scorers in the league not even five years ago. Had it not been for his share of injuries in recent seasons, we may not have had this conversation, but here we are. Some of you may wonder how the Bulls got tied into this mix. Well, that all starts with Demar DeRozan, who is entering the final year of his deal but has connections and ties to Harden. Their relationship goes well beyond the court, and it could be the biggest X-Factor should the Bulls consider making this move. Plus, Chicago has meaningful assets available for any big-ticket trade. This could be a chance for the Bulls to pounce, depending on who they feel is the right player to build around. You would have to think that Zach Lavine and DeRozan would be the main pieces discussed in a trade, but you also have Patrick Williams, Alex Caruso, Coby White, and several other young pieces that they could be willing to part ways with. Losing Lavine is the most likely option, but is that the best way for the Bulls to go? On paper, Harden will help you offensively, but he is a liability on defense, and the Bulls are one of the better defensive teams in the game. He doesn't fit the Bull's defensive scheme, but he is familiar with Donovan, as he spent one season under him while in Oklahoma City. Harden knows what to expect from Donovan and should be able to adapt to a different scheme. Should the Bulls consider this trade, Chicago has its future to consider, which means deciding what to do with All-Star guard LaVine. LaVine is set to begin Year 2 of a five-year, $215 million contract. Financially, a LaVine for Harden deal is pretty straightforward. Chicago could afford to take back Harden’s $35.6 million contract while absorbing the additional $860k salary necessary to complete the transaction. Harden, DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic would become an interesting trio for the Bulls. Last season, Harden led the NBA in assists, and his playmaking would likely help Chicago find more solid footing in the Eastern Conference standings. LaVine, meanwhile, could help take some pressure off of Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid while also giving the Sixers a bit of athletic pop. In either case, this move may not go over well with most fans, but when you look more into it, the move makes sense for both parties. Cheers to what could be an interesting next couple of weeks.
