The Chicago Bulls had been sellers through the NBA commerce deadline, however they didn’t promote every little thing they might have. Zach LaVine is off the workforce, however gamers like Nikola Vučević and Lonzo Ball stay.
In truth, Ball will probably be a Bull for the following few years. Whether or not that’s the most effective concept stays to be seen, however it’s much more questionable realizing that they’d a strong deal on the desk for a kind of two.
Chicago Bulls Handed on Lonzo Ball Commerce
The Athletic’s John Hollinger reported that the Bulls had the prospect to get a first-round decide for Ball, who has struggled along with his availability all season, however they handed and opted to maintain him round as a substitute.
“In keeping with a league supply, the Bulls had a agency supply to get a first-round decide and tackle future cash for Lonzo Ball and prolonged him as a substitute.”
Hollinger didn’t elaborate on which workforce provided this to the Bulls. Nonetheless, Locked on Grizzlies Joe Mullinax confirmed that it was the Grizzlies who provided it to the Bulls.
I ponder who that workforce may’ve been…
(Memphis. It was Memphis.) https://t.co/Qzh56Oyth8
— Joe Mullinax (@JoeMullinax) February 12, 2025
Mullinax additionally didn’t elaborate on who precisely the Grizzlies provided for Ball, however contemplating who they traded on the commerce deadline, it wouldn’t be arduous to infer that it was Marcus Good.
The Grizzlies traded Good to the Washington Wizards for cap reduction greater than the rest. Buying and selling him for Ball would have given them an analogous participant whereas additionally giving them cap flexibility.
Memphis desires to economize of their hopes of extending Jaren Jackson Jr., who’s in the course of an All-NBA marketing campaign. Why the Bulls mentioned no to that is anybody’s guess.
Perhaps they’ve an attachment to Ball, however it’s not like they’re going wherever this season. In truth, it’s not like they’ve a discernible long-term route. They may have at the least taken some draft compensation for a participant who has had points staying on the ground this season. They may have then traded Good down the road if he ever turned wholesome.
The Bulls haven’t actually had a transparent route since 2021, again once they first introduced Ball into the fold. Now that they’ve gotten rid of just about everybody on that workforce sans Ball and Vučević, it’s arduous to determine what their subsequent transfer is.
Perhaps they assume they will get extra within the offseason, however first Ball has to show he can keep on the ground — and he hasn’t confirmed that in years.
