Chicago Bulls: A rather complex trade primer
Unfortunately for the Bulls, several unfortunately timed injuries have not only made it harder for the team to effectively evaluate their core, but they impact the gameplan for the trade deadline.
Let’s start with the most recent one. Kris Dunn went down early last Friday night in the team’s drubbing to the Brooklyn Nets. Turns out it was an MCL sprain and he’s shelved for two weeks. Not great timing, considering he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league this year as his steal rate is flat out ridiculous.
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Dunn is a restricted free agent this summer, so even before the injury, it’s not crazy to think Chicago would deal him to a contender. His qualifying offer is at about $7.1 million, which isn’t that big of an investment. But if a team offers more than that, let’s say around nine or even 10 annually, that might be a bit of an overvalue. Especially given that he still struggles with three-pointers in a three-point shooting league.
If the Bulls wanted to deal Dunn now, the other team would need to be cool with waiting for the former lottery pick to make his debut until his knee healed up. How much that affects his trade market is up in the air, but I wouldn’t be shocked if a team offered something like two second-round picks or something like that and the Bulls jumped on it. I also wouldn’t be shocked if they hung on to him for the rest of the season, hoping they could bring him back on a long-term deal (assuming it was feasible for both parties).
Prediction: No contender really wants to sell off assets for an injured player, whether it’s a serious injury or not. Even when the front office shopped him last offseason, they find themselves unable to move him this go-around.