NBA Trades: Pros and cons of a potential Rudy Gobert-Chicago Bulls trade

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in action during the second half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 21, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in action during the second half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 21, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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NBA Trades, Rudy Gobert, Chicago Bulls
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 22: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz blocks a shot by Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on March 22, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois, NBA Trades: Pros and cons of a potential Rudy Gobert-Chicago Bulls trade. 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Following a 46-36 season and a swift exit in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Chicago Bulls now shift their focus to the offseason. They will hope to improve on a roster that showed promise for most of 2021-22 but faltered due to injures.

The Bulls seem particularly focused on redressing the frontcourt. Per a report from The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, Chicago has expressed interest in acquiring, among other options, Utah Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert.

This would indicate that the Bulls are looking for alternatives to incumbent center Nikola Vučević, especially if they plan to trade for Gobert since they would probably have to include Vučević for salary-matching purposes.

The Chicago Bulls wanting to get a player of Rudy Gobert’s caliber makes a lot of sense, but the idea is not without its drawbacks.

The scuttlebutt surrounding Gobert and the Bulls could ultimately result in nothing, as most of these pre-free agency rumors often do. However, it’s still intriguing to ponder the possibility of the good and bad it could bring to the team.

Obviously, adding a three-time All-NBA defender and Defensive Player of the Year sounds like an easy decision, assuming the Bulls could cobble together an acceptable trade package for him. But, as Jazz fans can attest, those positives come with their share of frustrations as well.