The Chicago Bulls have once again completed a trade that has left many in the basketball community bewildered. The team reportedly traded Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro. Upon hearing the news, the immediate and common reaction was surprise at the seemingly minimal return for Ball.
While Ball`s significant injury history and health risks are undeniable factors, it`s difficult to believe this was the most favorable offer available for him. Reports at the trade deadline indicated interest from multiple teams, such as the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Detroit Pistons, suggesting the Bulls might have been able to acquire at least one first-round draft pick.
Instead, Chicago kept Ball for the remainder of the season, and now the only asset they received in the trade is Okoro. This is not meant as a criticism of Okoro himself, who is recognized as a determined defender but has limitations as a low-volume three-point shooter and struggled offensively during Cleveland`s recent playoff appearance. The focus, however, is on the Bulls` decision-making.
They appear to be repeating a familiar and unsuccessful strategy: retaining players beyond their peak trade value, resulting in meager returns when they are eventually moved. This pattern was evident with Zach LaVine, traded to the Sacramento Kings in February for Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, Zach Collins, and a first-round pick the Bulls had previously owned. A similar outcome occurred with DeMar DeRozan, also traded to the Kings, yielding Chris Duarte, cash, and a future second-round pick.
Had these players been traded a year or two sooner, Chicago likely would have received significantly better trade packages. For instance, there was a period when the Lakers showed interest in LaVine, potentially allowing the Bulls to acquire one or both of Los Angeles`s tradable first-round selections. Instead, the return for LaVine included only the removal of protections on a draft pick the Bulls had previously sent to the Spurs in the trade that originally brought DeRozan to Chicago.
However, arguably the most questionable move occurred last summer when Alex Caruso was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder solely for Josh Giddey. At that time, Caruso was widely considered Chicago`s most valuable trade chip, with many teams reportedly willing to offer multiple first-round picks for his defensive prowess. Yet, the Bulls negotiated this deal from a position that seemed unaware of Caruso`s higher value, resulting in a perceived fleecing by the draft-capital-rich Thunder. This echoes the recent Ball trade, where they acquired a player coming off a statistically poor season while seemingly giving up the more valuable piece.
In summary, the cumulative return from trading LaVine, DeRozan, Caruso, and Ball amounts to just a single first-round pick – one they already possessed. This highlights a pattern of poor asset management from a franchise that has appeared satisfied with mediocrity for the past five years. Apart from a single playoff appearance in 2022, the Bulls have consistently maintained a stance against a full rebuild (“tanking”), a strategy with potential advantages and disadvantages. However, their failure to acquire significant draft capital in these trades hinders their ability to acquire high-quality young talent through the draft.
This leaves observers questioning, once more: What exactly is the Bulls` strategy? While Okoro aligns with executive Arturas Karnisovas` stated aim of adding experienced young players like Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Matas Buzelis, this group notably lacks consistent shooting threats. Furthermore, considering the multiple trades made, it`s unclear how this collection represents the optimal roster configuration the team could have built.
The Bulls still have other potential trade candidates, such as Coby White or Nikola Vucevic, who has reportedly been available for two years. However, given the team`s execution in their last four major trades, there is little confidence that they will successfully obtain fair market value for either player.
Jasper Hawthorne