NEWSLETTER
The rumors keep coming for the Chicago Bulls.
Unlike in previous years, Arturas Karnisovas and Co. have found themselves right in the middle of the offseason drama. The organization traded its top asset in Alex Caruso just last week. Meanwhile, Zach LaVine trades remain a hot topic, as does DeMar DeRozan’s future and Patrick Williams’ restricted free agency. The rumors have even found their way into the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Bulls have been linked to a potential promise and multiple trade-up scenarios.
Now, with less than 24 hours to go before the big night tips off, the Bulls have been name-dropped yet again as a team that could make some noise. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Chicago remains among the teams interested in a possible move up the draft board for one of college basketball’s biggest stars (literally and figuratively).
“There are a number of teams who would love to move up in the draft and try to land the seven-foot-two center … I think he comes in play at No. 3 with Houston,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN. “But I think teams like Memphis at No. 9, Chicago further down in the lottery, Portland at No. 7. Probably his floor in this draft is Portland at no. 7. But teams in this draft feel like, if they get up to No. 5, if they could trade up to No. 6, I think that’s where those teams are targeting to try to get Donovan Clingan. But there is no shortage of interest for him from teams in the backend of that lottery.”
Bulls Linked to Donovan Clingan AGAIN …
Of course, this isn’t the first time the Chicago Bulls have been connected to Clingan. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony also named Portland, Memphis, and Chicago as teams interested in a trade-up for the big man in May. However, that was still nearly a month ago, so it remained unclear whether this path was still on the front office’s mind. Until now, that is.
Wojnarowski dropping this news on draft night eve sure feels notable. The Bulls keeping this door open tells us that truly anything could be possible on Wednesday night – let alone for the rest of the offseason. Nonetheless, I’m left completely confused about how they would expect to get a trade done. Alex Caruso felt like the key piece to entice a top-10 squad, but he’s now in Oklahoma City.
Are the Bulls considering giving up future draft capital? If so, they’d likely be better off staying at No. 11 and taking the best player on their board. Why the heck would you mortgage more future picks in the same offseason that you’re seemingly starting a youth movement? That sure does sound risky.
Perhaps they’re hoping that the Detroit Pistons or Houston Rockets suddenly show an interest in Zach LaVine. But I’m sure not holding my breath. While the Pistons had at least been attached to the max player before, that came well before they completely revamped their front office. The only other players who could be drawing interest are Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White, but trading either after last season (and, again, during a youth movement) would feel very counterintuitive.
I do like Clingan, to be clear. I think he might be one of the only players worth trading up for in this class (depending on price), especially if Chicago could pair him with a savvy pick-and-roll set-up man like Giddey. But seeing a path for a deal that makes sense for the organization long-term is difficult, and I have to imagine other teams could top whatever they have to offer.
The last thing worth mentioning is that interest in Clingan further puts into question the future of Nikola Vucevic. Whether it be a recent report about wanting to re-sign Andre Drummond or a rumor about the Bulls’ interest in trading for Clint Capela, we’ve been given plenty of reasons to believe recently that the Bulls are open to moving on from Vucevic. Tomorrow night will be telling.
In the meantime, here’s our Big Board for best picks at No. 11!
