Chicago Bulls: Expectations for 2019 NBA Trade Deadline

The Chicago Bulls are trudging through another miserable season. With the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline quickly approaching, here are some deadline expectations.

(Editor’s note: On Monday, the Chicago Bulls agreed to acquire Carmelo Anthony and cash considerations from the Houston Rockets. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Anthony won’t suit up for the Bulls, but will be traded again before the trade deadline or be waived.)

It’s been well documented how disastrous the season has been for the Chicago Bulls. With an 11-36 record, they’ve suffered heavily from injuries, with four starters missing time perhaps being the biggest contributor to the poor record.

The firing of head coach Fred Hoiberg resulted in Jim Boylen being named the new head coach, and the drama that followed. Besides the near mutiny, there was the benching of prized free agent signing Jabari Parker. Needless to say, despite their horrendous record, there hasn’t been a dull moment with the Bulls this season.

With the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline coming Feb. 7, the front office should be gearing up for some roster moves. There will be plenty of options for the team, but moving Parker seems to be the most obvious. The Bulls should still consider dealing center Robin Lopez, despite the injury to rookie Wendell Carter Jr.  There remains a slim possibility of a Bobby Portis-centered deal, though it’d be a surprise if the impending restricted free agent is moved.

It’s fun to speculate this time of year, and Bulls fans can speculate on whether a Kris Dunn–Dennis Smith Jr. trade would give the franchise the boost it needs. The Bulls should be as active as any team before the deadline expires.

A Jabari Parker trade should be expected soon

When the front office, led by John Paxson and Gar Forman, touted the signing of Jabari Parker, the hope was that the Chicago native could slide seamlessly into the small forward position. The concept was ill-conceived; Parker simply doesn’t defend the 3 well enough to be a wing defender, especially in a lineup with Zach LaVine. He’s only played the position 18 percent of the time he’s been on the court for his career.

It simply hasn’t worked. He kicked off his Bulls career by infamously proclaiming his objection to playing defense at all. That wasn’t a good sign, especially in a blue-collar city that values a strong defense. Then, despite his $20 million deal, he couldn’t crack the opening night starting lineup, as Hoiberg realized quickly what everyone knew: this new addition couldn’t play small forward consistently. Of course, Hoiberg didn’t last long and his replacement, Boylen, immediately benched Parker, opting to play undrafted and unheralded free agents like Antonio Blakeney and Shaquille Harrison instead.

Now, as the trade deadline nears, Parker has regained his rotation spot but still figures to be moved. He can still score the basketball effectively in the right system, and he’s only 23 years old. He’s openly discussed a move to the Utah Jazz, as he has a house in Salt Lake City. Philadelphia would be a nice landing spot for Parker, as the 76ers have a void at the power forward position, but matching salary in a trade would be a challenge.

In reality, any trade for Parker could be difficult for the Bulls to maneuver without adding salary to next season’s payroll.

Robin Lopez is still a trade candidate despite the injury to Wendell Carter Jr.

Entering the season, Robin Lopez was an obvious trade candidate due to his expiring contract and the drafting of the young big man from Duke. Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports has reported the Bulls will not buy Lopez out, hoping instead to receive an asset in return for the veteran center.

Further complicating matters is the thumb injury to Carter, which may sideline the rookie for the remainder of the season. Carter will miss 8-12 weeks after undergoing surgery Monday morning.

Moving Lopez could weaken an already depth-challenged frontcourt for the Bulls. Besides Lauri Markkanen, Chicago would only have Bobby Portis (who has suffered through multiple injuries this season himself) and Cristiano Felicio if Lopez is traded or bought out.

Lopez may still be on the roster after the deadline, especially if the Bulls are adamant about not adding salary beyond this season. It’s unlikely that he’d remain with the club following the deadline and according to Haynes, Lopez will land with the Golden State Warriors if the Bulls don’t find a suitable trade partner:

"“I think it’s an appealing situation for just about anybody in the league,” Lopez said of Golden State. “You go there, they share the ball, they play defense, they play the right way. But right now, that’s something we’re aspiring to do here. And there’s a certain joy in trying build a culture like that, and I appreciate being a veteran in that position of helping shepherd a team towards that point.”"

Fun trade speculations that’ll probably go nowhere

A team with an 11-36 record, like the Chicago Bulls, probably doesn’t have many untouchable players on its roster, if any. For the right price, any player is available, and the Bulls are no exception. With that mind, it’s fun to think about trade possibilities that could net the franchise a star player.

Why not play around with ESPN‘s Trade Machine and see how Chicago could nab Anthony Davis? Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Antonio Blakeney (plus draft picks) would match salaries. The deal gives the New Orleans Pelicans a strong nucleus to rebuild around and of course, the Bulls would end up with a top-level talent.

Obviously, New Orleans will only trade Davis if the Chicago native decides he wants out. The Pelicans will have plenty of offers to sift through and Chicago should be prepared if and when that happens. With the Bulls’ young core, there are numerous trade combinations they could offer New Orleans to make a trade work.

Bobby Portis is another interesting trade candidate. He’s an impending restricted free agent and might command some decent offers this summer. The Bulls will have to decide if paying upwards of $12-16 million a season for a sixth man is a good investment. If not, he should be under trade consideration.

Finally, the team has a Kris Dunn decision upcoming. He’ll be eligible for an extension soon and it’s questionable as to whether he’s the point guard of the future. If not, the team could roll the dice and move Dunn now for a package including Dennis Smith Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks.

Ultimately, there should be some moves coming in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned, because this team never fails to be entertaining.