Chicago Bulls: 3 trades to consider with New Orleans Pelicans
By Ryan Heckman
The Chicago Bulls are, hilariously, in the running for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans could begin a rebuild.
Let’s all just stop pretending. Can we do that for a minute? The 2019-2020 Chicago Bulls are no where near a legitimate playoff team. Sure, they might be inches away from that not-so-coveted eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. But, are the Jim Boylen-led Bulls actually deserving to get into the postseason?
Absolutely not.
This is simply more of the same old, same old. Bulls fans are used to it — so used to it, in fact, that the real Bulls fans are laughing at the talk about playoffs. We know nothing is going to happen, even if the Bulls somehow get in at the end of the day.
So, as per usual, the talk around the Bulls will start to lean more towards the NBA trade deadline earlier than normal. Will the Bulls be sellers? Will they buy? Will they try and shed salary for summer of 2020? What will Gar Forman and John Paxson decide to do, if anything?
Well, if they look down South, the Bulls could find a potential trade partner. According to Marc Stein, the New Orleans Pelicans could be closer to a rebuild than many thought heading into this season.
While mired in a 12-game losing streak, New Orleans indeed remains reluctant to trade JJ Redick, according to league sources, on top of the team's two presumed untouchables: Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 17, 2019
The Pelicans are nearly dead-last in the West as we speak, with just seven wins. The only team below them? The lowly Golden State Warriors, who are clearly in the midst of a throw-away season with six victories this year.
So, if the only untouchable players in New Orleans are indeed Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, who could the Bulls be interested in? Which players should the Bulls pursue? Let’s open it up for discussion with a trio of proposed trades.