Chicago Bulls: 3 trades to help make a playoff push
By Ryan Heckman
Trade No. 1
The Cleveland Cavaliers will undoubtedly be sellers at the deadline. The big name to watch is veteran forward Kevin Love, but the Bulls don’t want any part of that contract. Instead, they should look at a player like fellow big man Tristan Thompson.
In Thompson, the Bulls get a ton of experience and an automatic double-double every night — Thompson is averaging 12.4 points and 10.4 boards this year. Here’s an intriguing aspect of his game, too: Thompson has become a decent shooter from beyond the arc, as he’s hitting them at a 37.5 percent clip thus far.
If the Bulls want Thompson, maybe they send the Cavs Thaddeus Young, Denzel Valentine and a second round pick.
The beauty of this deal is that the Bulls move on from Thompson this summer, while opening up $18 million in cap space. Thompson is in the last year of his deal, while Young has two more years left after this season.
Would Thompson be enough to truly push for a playoff spot? The answer is tricky, if you ask me. For now, he would be enough to keep the Bulls afloat where they’re currently at. They won’t be a playoff contender right now, but when Porter, Carter and Markkanen return, Thompson gives the Bulls a huge lift in terms of depth, and could propel them towards that eighth seed.