The Chicago Bulls have more money than they need to spend right now. That's usually a great problem for a finance-driven organization like this one, but the salary cap has to be used at some point.
New decision-maker Bryson Graham made it loud and clear that this team would be in the mix for expiring deals and big-money veterans, especially when those come with draft capital attached to them.
Considering that, Sports Illustrated's Elias Schuster believes the Cleveland Cavaliers could be a logical trade partner in Chicago, as they might be forced to get Max Strus' expiring contract off their books pretty soon.
The Bulls should want Max Strus in Chicago
“[The Bulls] would simply be adding another expiring deal – one that could help him have even more salary cap space next summer, should he choose to go that route and not pick up options on guys like Norman Powell and Zach Collins,” Schuster wrote.
Strus is slated to make $16.7 million next season. The Cavs love him, but that might be too steep for them, especially considering that they're stlil trying to make a run at Peyton Watson or Jonathan Kuminga.
They might have to give up draft capital to move on from the 30-year-old, though they would likely try to swap him like they did with Dennis Schroder, Either way, adding Strus to the locker room would benefit the Bulls in more than one way.
To state the obvious, he'd be one of the team's best sharpshooters. He can space the floor with his three-level scoring, and Tiago Splitter's team might struggle with spacing and has way too many non-shooters right now.
On top of that, he's a proven veteran with extensive postseason experience. He won't necessarily help the Bulls make the playoffs now, but he can help lay the ground and teach winning habits as a mentor for the youngsters.
Then, if he continues to play the way he's played since Erik Spoelstra discovered him for the Miami Heat, they can simply flip him again. Teams will be much more willing to take the remainder of his expiring salary by the time the trade deadline is here.
That way, the Bulls could turn Strus into more than one pick, all while making the most of his leadership and sharpshooting to help the youngsters learn the ropes. There's literally no downside to this potential move.
It will be a while before the Bulls can sit on the big boys't able again, but they have everything it takes to build a strong foundation and make sure this time they can actually contend for years to come. Strus may not fit their timeline, but he can help stack the bricks.
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