The Chicago Bulls entered the offseason in a privileged spot. On top of having a brand new front office and coaching staff and two first-round picks, they also had some of the biggest spending powers in the league.
Even after some moves, the Bulls still have much more money to spend than the average ball club. That alone won't put it at the top of star players' wishlists, but they can certainly outspend some of their competitors.
That's why some argue that the Bulls should enter Peyton Watson's sweepstakes. Since they have money and money is what he wants, this makes sense. From a roster perspective, however, it might be a mistake.
The Bulls should only sign Peyton Watson as trade bait
Watson and the Denver Nuggets don't see eye to eye on his contract situation. He's reportedly even considering taking the $6 million qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent after next season. Betting on himself could pay off, but it could also backfire tremendously, especially with Aaron Gordon healthy and ready to play heavy minutes.
That said, while the Bulls can offer him more money than the $70 million the Nuggets want to give him, they can't — or at least shouldn't — offer him a starting spot. That would only hurt Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson and their development, and that should be a non-starter for any move this team might consider.
Of course, this isn't to say that Peyton Watson isn't a great player. He took a big leap last season when Gordon was hurt, proving that he could be a major factor on both ends of the court and earning a big payday. Still, Wilson and Buzelis are the future of this organization, and they should get as many minutes and touches as they can handle.
The Bulls could take a different approach and sign Watson to start, with Wilson either playing small-ball five or coming off the bench like other rookies. That way, they can drive up his trade value before the trade deadline.
Nevertheless, hurting your star rookie's development just so you can collect another first-round pick down the line sounds like poor asset management. Wilson needs to be on the court, and with all due respect, his ceiling is at least twice as high as Watson's.
The Bulls should be an active player and a team to keep an eye on when it comes to big signings and trades. That's what rebuilding teams should do. Then again, unless it's to facilitate a sign-and-trade to send him elsewhere, the Bulls should probably stay away from Peyton Watson's business.
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