The Chicago Bulls have done a solid job revamping the roster, setting themselves up well for the future. They have more young talent and upside than they had in prior seasons.
However, their job may not be done just yet. There may be moves between now and the start of the season. The Bulls have an open roster spot that they can fill using their room mid-level exception. They also have a few players on the roster whose futures are likely not in Chicago. It may be wise for the Bulls to explore trade scenarios involving these players to see if they can get positive returns.
Who are some potential trade candidates in Chicago?
As much as the Bulls would like to trade Patrick Williams, that's not going to be possible without giving up significant additional assets.
Isaac Okoro and Jalen Smith are on expiring deals, making $11.8 million and $9.4 million, respectively. The Lakers are known to be coveting Smith, and teams are always looking for three-and-D wings like Okoro. He is not an elite option on either end, especially as a shooter, but there would be teams willing to take him on.
However, Okoro is only 25, and Smith is 26. There is no rush for the Bulls to trade either player. They are decent backups, and the Bulls have enough financial flexibility to re-sign them next summer.
Tre Jones should have a positive trade value, making $8 million next season and being one of the best backup point guards in the league. He is efficient, takes care of the ball, and rarely makes mistakes on either end of the floor. He should be able to bring back future assets to the Bulls in a trade, but this might be more of a trade deadline or next offseason move, since Chicago has a team option on him for $8 million next season.
This brings us to the most likely Bulls player to be traded: Noa Essengue.
This could come as a surprise to some. Why would the Bulls give up on a player they drafted in the lottery a year ago when he basically missed his entire rookie season?
It's just that times have changed in Chicago. The front office and the coaching staff who took a chance on Essengue are no longer there. In fact, head coach Tiago Splitter was very comfortable benching Noa Essengue in the Summer League. Not liking the energy and leadership he was bringing, Splitter took Essengue out of the starting lineup and only played him 13.5 minutes off the bench in the Bulls' last two games in Las Vegas.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times recently reported that Essengue is "on the outside looking in" and he might be in the G League to start the season.
If this is the case, why wouldn't the Bulls trade him? If you have your lottery pick playing in the G League to start his second season, that is only going to tank his trade value. Sending the message to the league that you think your 19-year-old prospect is not good enough to even be in the rotation on your projected lottery team is not a good idea.
So, it makes more sense for the Bulls to try to see what they can get for the French forward. It's clear that the organization doesn't think very highly of Essengue right now, so it may be wise to turn him into other assets the Bulls may be more interested in.
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