Bulls Offseason Moves + Vucevic Trade
Happy Friday everyone. I’ve been trying to get something out since Wednesday, how about that friggin’ awesome debut of the new-look Bulls? Definitely the most hyped I have been from a pre-season player introduction, and then when Lonzo came out and cashed that first 3-ball, sheeeesh. We look good, I am doing my best to keep my cool because it is only pre-season but let’s be honest, I am over here chugging the kool-aid like David Bhaktiari at a Bucks game.
A lot has been said about the Bulls off-season moves that got us to this exciting point, and I like to include the Vucevic trade in the off-season talk, because well, it didn’t amount to what we needed it to last season, partially because Lavine was sidelined for a crucial stretch due to COVID protocols, but never the less, it was the first major move we made in building this new team.
Here is a breakdown of the trades from March 25th (The Vucevic trade) and on.
March 25th, 2021:
Chicago Acquires:
Nikola Vucevic & Al-Farouq Aminu (Aminu later involved in acquiring Derozan)
Chicago Sends:
Wendell Carter Jr & Otto Porter Jr & 2021 1st round (Franz Wagner) & 2023 1st round (top 4 protected)
Thoughts: In hindsight, it’s tough because not only did we miss the play in, we also didn’t get a top 4 pick that would have allowed us to keep the 2021 first round. Sort of a worst-case scenario. The positives are that we got out of Otto Porter Jrs awful contract ($28,489,238) and poor play. He was the highest paid on the team and was riding the pine most of the time. Wendell Carter Jr was a decent young big, but you have to give some potential to bring in a talent like Vucci Mane.
Also on March 25th, 2021:
Chicago Acquires:
Troy Brown Jr & Daniel Theis & Javonte Green & Cash
Chicago Sends:
Luke Kornet & Chandler Hutchinson & Daniel Gafford
Thoughts: We gave up some young talent in both of these trades, but got some right back in this one. Troy Brown Jr is young, has a couple of years experience under his belt already, shows great hustle on the defensive end and promise on the offensive end. He can be a long term piece of this team. Javonte Green started in the pre-season opener in place of Patrick Williams, so that shows how the organization is already valuing him. Daniel Gafford has been showing out for the Wizards, but that is to be expected when you go from a rotational role to getting starting minutes. He is a good player, but didn’t fit well with what we were building, he is better off in his new situation and we got a solid return. The cash we received ($1.55MM total) was enough to cover all of Javonte Green’s contract for a year.
August 7th, 2021: Actual Offseason Moves
Chicago Acquires:
Cash (unknown amount)
Chicago Sends:
Daniel Theis
Thoughts: This was a sign and trade, Theis was becoming a free-agent and while I liked Theis a lot, he was set for a raise and with the moves we were making it just didn’t work out. The fact we got anything for him is a plus.
August 8th, 2021:
Chicago Acquires:
Lonzo Ball
Chicago Sends:
Tomas Satoransky & Garret Temple & 2024 2nd Round Pick (CHI) & Cash
Thoughts: Lonzo is the perfect fit for our team. We have been missing a facilitator on offense since the days of D-Rose, and we finally got it in Lonzo. He is going to be the glue piece that makes the rest of this all work. His contract (4 years $85M) is fair for the value he brings. If he can continue shooting the 3 ball with success he will be very dangerous. I think he is going to love Chicago, and I think Chicago already loves him.
August 11th, 2021:
Chicago Acquires:
DeMar DeRozan
Chicago Sends:
Thaddeus Young & Al-Farouq Aminu & 2025 1st & 2025 2nd (CHI) & 2022 2nd (LAL)
Thoughts: OK this paired with his contract (3 years $85MM) feels like a lot for DeMar. I get it. I think I am going to have to do a full article about this trade in particular to avoid this becoming too long. To keep it brief, I am on the side of appreciating what DeMar can bring to the Bulls, his contract may seem excessive but for what he brings and the future moves we can make, I think it is the right move. My only gripe will be if this somehow prevents us from giving Zach the contract he wants and deserves, but that’s also a story for another time.
August 28th, 2021:
Chicago Acquires:
Derrick Jones Jr & 2022 1st round pick (POR protected) & 2023 2nd Round Pick (DEN protected)
Chicago Sends:
Lauri Markannen
Thoughts: This might be, on paper, my favorite trade we made. Obviously the other one’s are great because they brought in high level players, but the value we got for Lauri, who wanted out and could have been a FA is just fantastic. Lauri was one of the most frustrating players for me to watch because he doesn’t play to his potential. He could be so much better if he would just unleash it a little bit, be more aggressive. Anyway, I don’t have to worry about that any more. We got a 1st and 2nd rounder back that everyone is so heated we lost so many picks when we could have essentially got nothing.
Summary:
So to summarize the moves, and look at the sum of all the parts, it would look something like this:
Bulls Acquire:
Nikola Vucevic
Al Farouq-Aminu
Daniel Theis
Troy Brown Jr
Javonte Green
Lonzo Ball
DeMar DeRozan
Derrick Jones Jr
2022 1st
2023 2nd
Cash
Bulls Send:
Wendell Carter Jr
Luke Kornet
Daniel Gafford
Tomas Satoransky
Garett Temple
Thaddeus Young
Daniel Theis
Al Farouq-Aminu
Otto Porter Jr (Expiring (Bad) Contract)
Chandler Hutchinson (On a 2 way contract currently)
Lauri Markkanen (Expiring contract, Didn’t want to play w/ Bulls)
2021 1st (Franz Wagner)
2023 1st
2024 2nd
2025 1st
2025 2nd
2022 2nd
The draft picks are the hardest pieces to swallow but if you look at the return is it really all that bad? Otto Porter Jr’s contract was god awful and he was not worth keeping around. Lauri Markkanen wanted out so the fact we got anything in return, especially what we did get, is amazing. Chandler Hutchinson was waived by the Spurs, and is now on a 2 way contract with the Suns. Garret Temple was a sign and trade piece. Satoransky is not good enough to be a 2nd unit player but was for our team last year. Luke Kornet, I don’t even think is on an NBA roster. Theis and Aminu were short term rentals. Really all of those guys (outside of Theis) weren’t making any contribution to our team as it was, so when you take them out of the trade (Yes I know they are still part of the trade, but they are just fluff really) you have:
Bulls Acquire:
Nikola Vucevic - a 2 time all star (2019 & 2021)
Lonzo Ball - A 23, almost 24 year old, facilitating PG that we desperately needed. Has All-Star potential.
DeMar Derozan - a 4 time all star who received MVP votes in ‘16-’17 and ‘17-’18
Javonte Green - 28 years old but only a few years in the league, was put into the starting lineup in place of PWill in first pre-season game.
Troy Brown Jr - 22 year old, been in the league since 19. Definitely has heart and hustle. Could be a key future piece for us down the road and a
Derrick Jones Jr - 24 year old wing, with a lot of length and a lot of bounce. Versatile.
2022 1st and a 2023 2nd.
Bulls Send:
Wendell Carter Jr
Daniel Gafford
Thaddeus Young
2021 1st, 2023 1st, 2024 2nd, 2025 1st, 2025 2nd, 2022 2nd.
Fluff. Theis and Aminu were a wash.
In the end, yes it’s a lot of picks, but I think for the value we got back it was well worth all of the moves we made. I also don’t think that we are done. I would not be surprised if some of the deeper role players are packaged and traded for future picks to try and regain some draft capital. We stayed fairly young despite giving up some youth, we added a load of talent and upgraded our bench. We had Denzel Valentine playing significant minutes last year, a lot of those guys would not have made other rosters but were playing decent minutes for us. Some actually have been waived by teams *Cough Hutchinson cough* All in all I think we got better, maintained enough of our youth to have continued success, and are putting a much much much better product on the floor. I can’t wait to see what other moves AK has in store, hopeful we can make something work with Lavine - although I am growing more skeptical, and I’m eager to get to the games that count.
That’s all for now, have a great weekend, and until next time this is All Net.
References:
Basketball-Reference.com
Spotrac.com