The Chicago Bulls are struggling mightily right now. While they've been managing to hover between the 3-5 spots in the East standings, that seems to have more to do with everyone else, rather than just their success. If they want to regain any type of momentum and get on the right page, aside from a coaching change, the Bulls should consider a trade. Here are five trades Chicago could make to revitalize the roster and get back to being contenders.
Note: most of these trades are worthy of being labeled a "blockbuster" move, because that's exactly what this team needs right.
5. D'Angelo Russell, G, Los Angeles Lakers
Amazingly, Russell is rumored to be on the trading block even though he was the No. 3 overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft. If this turns out to be true, the Bulls should take a swing at him. It's clear that they need help both on the wing and at the backup point guard spot; this type of trade would satisfy both needs.
What would this type of deal take? Well, it won't be cheap.
A combination of several players may be the asking price, including Nikola Mirotic, Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis, Tony Snell, Doug McDermott and E'Twaun Moore, as well as draft picks. Chicago has the Sacramento Kings' first-round pick in 2016, but it is protected if it ends up being a top-10 selection. They also have all of their own for the foreseeable future, as they haven't traded any away.
4. Nick Young, G-F, Los Angeles Lakers
This is the more likely scenario if the Bulls are to make a trade with the Lakers. Swaggy P is likely out the door this season as the Lakers are in full rebuild mode, trying to get as many pieces as possible. The plus here for the Bulls is that he likely fits their roster a little better.
He's a volume shooter who, in the right situation, could become a valuable piece. For the Bulls, they need more athletic wing players who can shoot the deep ball, and Young fits that profile.
3. Carmelo Anthony, F, New York Knicks
Melo is the biggest name on this list, and it's debatable how much he could cost. There are rumors flying around that the Los Angeles Clippers could trade Blake Griffin for him.
1. That's a bit ridiculous of a suggestion, and those deals almost never happen.
2. I don't think the Clippers would find that to be a fair trade.
But Anthony is available -- that much is for sure. The Knicks are ready to move on from him and will see what they can get. If the Bulls want to be a part of those talks, what kind of deals could be made here? Matching Melo's $22.86 million salary would be pretty tricky. The only player close to him is Derrick Rose, but if you do that, then you have no point guard and who knows if the Knicks would even want him.
One thing that could work would be to package Joakim Noah's pointless $13.4 million (even though he's out for the year) with Mirotic, who makes $5.5 million. That would get you most of the way there, and to make the Knicks want to do it, you could throw in players like McDermott, Snell or Moore, as well as a draft pick or two.
2. Rudy Gay, F, Sacramento Kings
A more polarizing option would definitely be Rudy Gay. His name has been popping up for years as a potential trade target, and most people have shied away from his sometimes erratic play.
However, in 2015-16, Gay has taken a positive step in his game. At age 29, it appears that he's matured, and is averaging the least amount of shots per game, and shots from the three-point line, since his rookie season. At the same time, he's shooting a career-best 47.5 percent from the field and turning over the ball at an extremely low rate.
Now might be the perfect time for the Bulls to capitalize, as this Rudy Gay would be a perfect fit.
Gay's salary is up at $12.4 million, and again, the Bulls have a combination of players who could make this type of deal work -- and perhaps they'd like their protected first-round draft pick back.
1. Tyreke Evans, Point-Forward, New Orleans Pelicans
Finally, this may be the best possible move the Bulls could make that is available out there. Recently, SBNation's Pelicans affiliate, thebirdwrites.com, wrote an article that the Pelicans may be listening to offers for Evans.
At $10.7 million, Evans has a reasonable contract that extends through 2016-17, and would be an excellent fit for the Bulls. He'd be another player who can create his shot, defend several positions and play several positions, ranging from small forward to point guard. That means different lineups would be able to see Rose and Evans in at different times running the point, all the while leaving someone out there who can be a playmaker and get to the basket.
This may be a case where Taj Gibson would have to be traded to match salaries, but throwing in a couple of other guys and bringing back Evans and perhaps Alexis Ajinca or Kendrick Perkins would be a move worth exploring.
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