At least the Chicago Bulls started reading th🌺e SparkNotes.
While I’m still not sure this front office fully comprehends how to do their homework, Arturas Karnisovas reviewed enough to say the right things at the end-of-season press conference. He vowed that change was on the horizon and bluntly admitted that the team’s “Big 3” had failed to pan out. All things considered, that’s something.
If the organization wants to prove that they genuinely understand the assignment, however, actions must follow. Sure, some assistant coaching swaps have been made, but real change comes from the on-court personnel. The Bulls must move on from familiar faces to truly begin a new era. And, no, that doesn’t just mean Zach LaVine.
We all know LaVine’s time in Chicago is coming to an end. Everyone learned near the beginning of last season that the two-time All-Star was ready to find a new home. Of course, this also came after months and months of reporting that the Bulls were surveying his market. His season-ending foot injury eventually put the trade conversation on the back burner, but the full expectation is that things will pick back up as draft night and free agency nears.
Let’s be clear, trading LaVine is a significant move. He’s been a Bull for seven seasons and was initially THE face of the franchise. Not to mention, there is no denying how talented he is. Was the guy miscast as a No. 1 option in Chicago? Absolutely. But he’s a multi-time All-Star for a reason, and few players in the league have his blend of three-level scoring and athleticism. Still, sending LaVine elsewhere isn’t going to solve all that ails this team.
We all just witnessed what a season without LaVine looks like. He appeared in only 25 games, and the Bulls finished 39-43 with their second-straight Play-In Tournament exit. So we’re not necessarily talking about an addition-by-substraction situation here. This is especially true when we consider the return for LaVine isn’t expected to be anything special. The Bulls would be lucky right now to get back a lightly protected first-rounder or a nice young player – let alone both.
This is why Karnisovas has to do the full assignment. Trading one player – even if that is one of your top talents – isn’t going to fix enough. So who else might need to be on the chopping block?
Alex Caruso’s Trade Market
Karnisovas would be doing the franchise a disservice if he didn’t accept phone calls on Alex Caruso. Heck, I already think he made a massive mistake by not moving on from the All-Defensive Team player at the deadline.
I want to make clear that I absolutely adore Alex Caruso. When I have a kid, I hope he comes out sporting a headband and diving on the floor for loose rattles. But the truth of the matter is that he is a massive luxury. I like to always compare Caruso to an elite closer in baseball. He is priceless when you’re pitching deep in the postseason. Otherwise, he should be the exact piece you consider trading to a desperate team for a package that will help you down the road.
By all accounts, Caruso had an appealing market at this past deadline. The most smoke billowed around the Golden State Warriors, who had multiple young players and several picks to offer up. It sure felt like a deal should’ve gotten done, but the Bulls seemingly refused to hold earnest negotiations. They can’t make that mistake again.
The Bulls have likely tarnished their chances to sell Caruso at his peak value. A playoff team would have a least acquired him for a year and a half last season, but they would now be adding him for only one year before he’s due a handsome bump in pay. That’s undoubtedly going to bring his value down slightly.
Nevertheless, we’re still talking about arguably the NBA’s top perimeter defender … who is also fresh off shooting 40.8 percent from downtown on a career-high volume ()! As far as top trade assets go, Caruso remains right near the top for the Bulls.
Arturas Karnisovas could very likely add one (or two) young players in a Caruso deal, as well as potentially some protected draft capital. After breakout seasons for both Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, that sure doesn’t like a terrible idea! You pave the way for those two to take on an even bigger role while adding some more developmental pieces. Even if you were to keep DeMar DeRozan (which I don’t agree with either), this would be one way to reshape what the roster around him looks like.
Now, would the Bulls miss Caruso’s elite defense? Of course! But they have many roster holes to fil𓆉l. This is the kind of stuff you have to consider if you want to start to addreꦍss those holes. After all, free agency has proven to be the solution for teams less and less over the years. Both trades and the draft have become the primary ways to tweak your roster.
I’d also be remiss not to stress that Caruso is headed toward the final year of his remarkably cheap deal. The Bulls have now put themselves in uncomfortable contract situations in back-to-back years with Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan. And for what? Play-In Tournament consideration? Again, Caruso is a special player, but the Bulls don’t want to be stuck watching him leave for a more competitive environment. They also don’t want to risk overpaying another player.
LaVine and DeRozan are going to be at the forefront of most offseason conversations for the Chicago Bulls. And I get that. However, if the goal for Karnisovas is to actually set this organization on a new path, calling teams about Alex Caruso is key. He is the one who can open the door to meaningfu▨l change.
