Chicago Bulls: GarPax playing for keeps at the deadline
Despite losing a talented two-way player in his prime, the Chicago Bulls collected a variety of meaningful assets in exchange for Nikola Mirotic.
Despite what some may think, with the recent Nikola Mirotic deal, the Chicago Bulls have jumpstarted what was already a speedy rebuild with savvy talent assessment and business acumen to match.
“Gar Pax” — or the collective duo of general manager Gar Forman and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson — truly doesn’t get uglier sounding, but the moves they have made are proving to be as beautiful as poetry.
From the acquisition of Kris Dunn to the selection of Lauri Markkanen, the duo has been on fire in the last few months… and this move could prove to be the roundhouse kick they need to succeed.
Pelicans Nation may feel that they got the better end of this deal. After all, they are filling a positional need with DeMarcus Cousins going down that could keep playoff hopes alive. However, both sides got what they wanted, and the bottom line is that the Bulls cleaned up.
In a package of Jameer Nelson, Omer Asik and Tony Allen, the Bulls essentially bought a veteran rotation for the price of an expiring Mirotic contract. Despite the fact that Tony Allen will likely be waived, the fact that they got the Pelicans’ first round pick (with minimal protections) thrown in makes it a pretty viable deal for Chicago.
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Now Bulls Nation has more incentive to root against New Orleans. Without DeMarcus Cousins, and having missed out on the Greg Monroe sweepstakes, the Pelicans’ pick could end up being a lottery pick. Bravo!
Future assets aside, the players the Bulls got back all have ample motivation to be better versions of themselves in Chicago.
Jameer Nelson will join the ranks of D.J. Augustin, Nate Robinson and Aaron Brooks as once discarded journeymen guards who play their butts off for Chicago. He isn’t going to play big minutes once Dunn is back, but he is a potential volume scorer in a pinch and will do wonders for the development of the young guards Jerian Grant and Kris Dunn.
Finally, Omer Asik’s homecoming will provide him an opportunity to hit the boards like he once did so dominantly for the Houston Rockets once upon a time. Granted, his contract is BAD, but the Bulls have that luxury in cap space and plenty of young guys still on rookie deals, including their (now) TWO first round picks this offseason. Sounds like a deal to me.
Finally, the mantra “Free Bobby” referring to the bounding and astounding Bobby Portis will finally be in full effect. The move puts Bobby Portis in a spot to produce big time, and the Bulls can finally move forward with a strong young core, ridden of any remanence from the Derrick Rose era. This is a clear win for both sides, but as far as Bulls Nation is concerned, it is a strategic masterpiece.
The bottom line is that GarPax have put the Chicago Bulls in a position to have a very good problem: As a rebuilding team, they now have more incentive to lose than to win (for the time being).
Next: NBA Trade Grades - Pelicans acquire Nikola Mirotic
But, they are also strategically in a position to embrace the idea of winning without risking too much of their future. Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine are being brought back to full health at steady paces. Lauri Markkanen and Bobby Portis can play as many minutes as they can handle, and due to their possession of two first round picks this summer, there is no reason to think the Bulls can’t bring even more viable young talent into the mix for next season.