The last time we talked about the Bulls, I thought their defense might’ve turned a corner. After four straight losses, I may have jumped the gun on that assessment. The Bulls gave up at least 117 points in each of these losses. It might be time to start shopping out players. It is still early in the season, and despite the Bulls sitting at 4-8, they are not out of the playoff race. But this defense doesn’t look like it will be getting better anytime soon. This means some tough decisions will need to be made by the Bulls’ new management, i.e., trading the Bulls best player, G Zach Lavine.
The Bulls blew an 18-point lead on Friday night’s overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lavine, however, did all he could (35PTS 7REB 6AST 1STL 6TO 11-19FG 8-14 3PT 5-9FT) to help the Bulls win the game and has been having the best season of his career this season. I would love to see the Bulls keep Lavine and get some other players to help the starting lineup mask his defensive inefficiency. Lavine is averaging 35.8MIN 49.8FG% 39.6 3P% 84.5FT% 5.3REB 4.8AST .6BLK 1.3STL 4.3TO 28.3PTS, which would career highs in FG%, FT%, 3P%, REB, AST, BLK, TO, and PTS.
The Bulls could get a hefty haul for Lavine if they find the right suitor willing to take on Lavine’s big contract. In 2018-19 the Bulls locked up Lavine with a four-year 78 million dollar contract, which expires after the 2021-22 season. It would be an opportunity to look to the future and get some draft picks, although they may need to pay the remaining 39 million left on the deal or at least the majority of it if they want any takers on a Lavine trade. It is very early, and Lavine isn’t forcing a la G James Harden, but it’s never too early to start talking with teams on what Lavine could haul in for the Bulls organization.
The Bulls would be smart to get a PG to go alongside G Coby White, instead of trying to make Lavine the distributor that he isn’t. I love Lavine, and he is the Bulls’MVP so far this season. But even with Lavine, they are four games under .500. With Lavine playing his best basketball right now, the Bulls need to strike while the iron is hot. Trading a star player is never easy, but it is a necessary move. And right now, this a big moment for the Bulls’ new management that could decide the future of this franchise. No pressure Mr. Karnisovas.