As the NBA trade deadline rapidly approaches, the Bulls’ front office is starting to buzz with activity, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
But as is always the case in Chicago, the line between fact and fiction gets blurry real quick when it comes to potential moves. With the Bulls looking to shake things up sooner than later, here’s where things stand with their biggest trade pieces, per Cowley:
We’ve all heard the LaVine rumors by now, right? And yes, it’s true — the Bulls have been looking to move him for over two seasons.
The original game plan? Get LaVine out of the picture to free up cap space for DeMar DeRozan, now with the Kings. But when LaVine went under the knife for season-ending foot surgery last year, that plan flipped faster than a fast break. DeRozan stayed, and LaVine’s future in Chicago remained uncertain.
Now, LaVine is playing some of his best basketball in years — not just scoring at will but leading with maturity and setting the tone on and off the floor, Cowley noted. This version of LaVine has been a revelation.
But here’s the kicker: Despite his improvement, the Bulls still seem open to moving him.
The Lakers are an obvious suitor, but the reality is the pieces just don’t fit. The buzz about a potential deal has been loud for over a year, but the Lakers have made it clear that Austin Reaves is off the table.
Meanwhile, there’s been some light momentum around the Nuggets — with a Cowley source confirming talks have started, but we’re still in the early feeler phase here.
A deal with Denver isn’t imminent, but if things heat up, expect the narrative to shift quickly.
The Vucevic situation? It’s a bit more quiet right now, but not for lack of trying. The Bulls are looking to move the veteran center, ideally for draft picks and expiring contracts, per Cowley and several others.
With Vucevic making $20 million this season and $21 million next year, there are a few potential fits, but the trade talks have been more about testing the waters than anything substantial.
Some reports have suggested the Bulls are asking for a 2025 first-rounder in exchange for Vucevic, but a source close to the situation said that’s not exactly true.
With so few teams willing to part with a 2025 first-round pick, expect the Bulls to settle for a package that likely includes multiple second-rounders instead, Cowley wrote.
Now we get to the real wildcard: Lonzo Ball. The Bulls would love to see him get healthy and start showing the kind of potential he flashed before knee issues derailed his career.
But until Ball proves he can stay on the court for a sustained stretch, the trade rumors surrounding him are more speculative than anything else, per Cowley.
If Ball strings together a solid stretch of games in the next few weeks, it could spark some interest, especially given that he’s on an expiring contract.
If the Bulls can get a healthy Ball for the next 30+ games, you better believe teams will be calling. But for now? It’s a waiting game.
Bottom Line
As we get closer to the Feb. 6 deadline, expect this landscape to shift quickly. Injuries, performance, and the usual NBA trade chaos will dictate the market.
But if you’re reading the tea leaves now, these are the players to watch, and the rumors to track. It’s anyone’s guess where this all lands, but one thing’s for sure — things are likely to get real interesting in Chicago.
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