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Should the Chicago Bulls be active at the trade deadline?

By James Gilmore

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 21: Denzel Valentine #45 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 21, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 21: Denzel Valentine #45 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 21, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Bulls
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 02: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 02, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Is there a blockbuster move for the Chicago Bulls to make?

It’s already been established that the season has been a disappointment. Therein lies a deeper question – what does this season mean for the present and really, the future of this franchise? With all the injuries to key players, is this season simply an outlier? Or, is there reason to believe that the ceiling simply isn’t very high for this roster? Should the Bulls move Zach LaVine or Lauri Markkanen?

A blockbuster trade is highly unlikely to happen and there really hasn’t been much to indicate otherwise. Marc Stein of the New York Times recently tweeted that the Bulls have basically taken LaVine off the table, despite reportedly receiving calls about his availability.

While no player is truly untouchable, moving their best player now would be a difficult pill for most Bulls fans to swallow. For starters, if LaVine, who is averaging nearly 25 points per game, is on the trade block, what could Chicago reasonably expect to receive in return? It’s likely that the teams calling the Bulls’ front office are contenders and wouldn’t have the assets required to pry him out of Chicago. Lottery-bound teams would be hesitant to give up draft capital for LaVine, and even if they weren’t, the 2020 draft is considered to be a weak class and lessens the appeal for the Bulls.

Who else from the Bulls core might they make available? Lauri Markkanen? He’s obviously had an off-year and is now on the shelf with a pelvic injury. Otto Porter? He was expected to be the key piece for the Bulls finally making the playoffs, but he has missed 43 games with a foot injury and counting.

In terms of big moves at the deadline, it’s unlikely there will be much excitement in Chicago this week.

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