Chicago Bulls trade rumors: Ayo Dosunmu & former NBA champion listed for trade
As their underwhelming season continues, Chicago Bulls trade rumors have continued to surface. Going into this year, the message from Arturas Karnisovas was "continuity," something this season has been anything but. As Lonzo Ball continues to sit on the sidelines while working toward a return, the Bulls have struggled to win games.
After blowing a 21-point lead to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, the Bulls came up short against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. The 15-point loss to the 14th-ranked Charlotte franchise marked a new low for the Bulls, who sit in 10th place in the stacked Eastern Conference. Ahead of the NBA trade deadline on February 9, something has to change.
It seems glaringly obvious when looking at the Bulls #22 ranked offensive efficiency that a heliocentric offense will only take the team so far. The team can continue to put the ball in DeMar DeRozan's hands nearly every possession, but with a below .500 record, it doesn't seem to be yielding results.
Despite that, it is young guard Ayo Dosunmu and former NBA champion Alex Caruso on the chopping block. According to Marc Stein, Dosunmu has been generating some trade interest from the Detriot Pistons and the Hornets. In addition, the team has allegedly set the asking price for Alex Caruso at two first-round picks.
While the Bulls haven't indicated that they're set on parting ways with Caruso, they are fielding offers for the defensive backcourt general.
Chicago Bulls trade rumors for LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic
Earlier this season, there were reports that other teams were closely monitoring the availability of the Bulls' big three. As the February 9th trade deadline approaches, it sounds as though the Bulls aren't interested in trading Zach LaVine. At the same time, it seems as though, while they are likely to keep DeMar DeRozan, that isn't a given.
The most likely big three member to be included in a Chicago Bulls trade is Nikola Vucevic. While the team isn't actively looking to part ways with Vucevic, it sounds like they're open to considering offers for the veteran big man.
Of course, the Chicago Bulls parted ways with three first-round draft picks while acquiring DeRozan and Vucevic in recent years. While the team had a sensational stretch last season that gave many hope for the future, this season has shown their ceiling is incredibly low.
The general sentiment around Chicago right now seems to be incredibly negative surrounding the Bulls. Going into this season, the team wanted to improve on perimeter shooting, and interior defense, two problems that have not been addressed.
While Patrick Williams has begun to hit his stride, shooting 41% from beyond the arc, players like Dalen Terry have had few developmental opportunities. Considering the Chicago Bulls turned down several trades to draft Terry with the 18th pick, one would think the team would want to give him opportunities.
With a run at the playoffs looking increasingly out of reach, many are wondering what direction the team is headed. If they aren't winning games with their big three, and they aren't developing their young talent, what does the future hold for the Chicago Bulls?
As the trade deadline approaches, that vision may become more clear.