Chicago Bulls Trade Rumors: One or both of Alex Caruso and Coby White could leave
As the rest of the league continues to monitor whether a Chicago Bulls trade is in the stars, talk of Alex Caruso being shipped has repeatedly surfaced. The defensive floor general for the Bulls is without question one of the best assets the team has when it comes to the trade market.
Earlier this season, it was reported that the league was monitoring the availability of the Bulls' Big Three, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. Despite that, the opportunity for a team to trade for Caruso, who is on a four-year, $36.9 million deal, could turn a team from a playoff contender to a finals contender.
At the same time, with the logjam the team has at the guard spot, a Chicago Bulls trade seems increasingly likely. Although front-office duo Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley seem to believe that they have a winning roster when healthy, trade talks have continued to surface.
With the Feb. 9 trade deadline rapidly approaching, it has continued to look as though the Bulls won't shake things up with a big move. Despite that, a rumor emerged this week from Bleacher Report that the Bulls could be looking to trade either Caruso or fourth-year guard Coby White.
As the trade deadline approaches, losses like the Bulls' recent meltdown against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday don't help Karnisovas' case for continuity this season. With the team sitting in 10th place with a 22-25 record, many believe they can no longer wait and hope that Lonzo Ball's return is the solution to their problems.
How their recent loss fuels Chicago Bulls trade rumors
After a catastrophic loss to the Indiana Pacers this week where the Bulls blew a 21-point lead, the team seemed visibly frustrated. According to reports, after the game, the team reportedly had a team meeting immediately after the game to try and figure out what went wrong.
(Suggested Reading: NBA Insider suggests James Wiseman and Moses Moody could be on chopping block ahead of tradedeadline)
According to Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who had a big game despite the loss, there wasn't much to be said in regards to the meltdown late in the game. Despite that, head coach Billy Donovan tried to make sense of the situation to media members after the game, saying:
"It’s not one player or one thing. It’s a multitude of things where we look overwhelmed when the intensity level goes this way. And we have to respond better to that. That’s kind of what it is,"
Throughout the game, Coby White struggled. In 22 minutes off the bench, he scored just 8 points, going 3-of-11 on shooting, and 2-for-7 from beyond the arc for a +/- of -8. On the flip side of things, while Caruso's stats may not jump off the page, his contributions are numerous.
With Goran Dragic hopeful of returning from injury soon, if he can stay healthy, the Bulls could part ways with White. This isn't, of course, the first time White has been linked to Chicago Bulls trade rumors. As the trade deadline approaches and the Bulls try to make a push for the playoffs, it will be interesting to see how things play out.
Do you think the Chicago Bulls will hold onto their big three for the rest of the season? Or will one of them be traded? Give us your predictions below!