Thanks to their bad luck at the NBA Draft Lottery and punishment for tampering during the Lonzo Ball signing in 2021, the Chicago Bulls have zero picks in the 2023 NBA Draft. That said, Arturas Karnisovas has been firm about his stance on the team: they’re not rebuilding. The front office wants to compete with the current iteration of the roster.
However, their recent actions could be an indication of changing beliefs. According to Cody Westerlund of 670 The Score, Chicago worked out Alabama forward Brandon Miller, who is projected to be a top-three pick in this year’s draft. This could mean nothing, as the Bulls may just want to get a look at everyone in the class, but it certainly leaves room for interpretation. Especially considering who owns the third pick in the draft.
The Portland Trail Blazers jumped up two spots in the lottery, landing the third pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. And by all indications, they don’t plan on keeping the pick.
Chicago Bulls rumors: Trail Blazers looking to trade third pick
According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, executives around the NBA expect the Trail Blazers to explore trades surrounding the third pick in an attempt to put a contending team around Damian Lillard.
“The Blazers moving up from No. 5 to No. 3 raised eyebrows all over the league right away,” wrote Lowe. “The Blazers could of course keep that pick, but rival executives expect them to explore the kind of veteran help that pick — plus other players — might fetch for Damian Lillard. (Executives also expect the Blazers to re-sign Jerami Grant.) The No. 3 pick by itself won’t net a game-changing veteran. What might the combination of that pick and Anfernee Simons get Portland? If they do try to load up around Lillard — which requires Lillard indicating he’d like to stay in Portland — expect the Blazers to go after wings and big men, sources said.
Chicago Bulls rumors: Damian Lillard doesn’t want to add young pieces
Another tidbit that could bode well for the Bulls is Damian Lillard’s mindset towards adding youth to the roster. After Portland’s season ended, Lillard made it clear that he has no interest in bringing in more young players. He wants to have a chance to win.
“I’m just not interested in that. That’s not a secret,” Lillard said via Jason Quick of The Athletic. “I want a chance to go for it. And if the route is to (draft youth), then that’s not my route.”
Chicago Bulls rumors: Portland predicted to trade pick
Quick believes that if Portland is intent on building a championship-caliber team around Lillard, they will trade the pick.
“But if Cronin and the Blazers are truly serious about building a winner for Lillard, and if they are truly listening to him, then they already know the future of the third pick: it’s being traded,” Quick wrote.
Chicago Bulls rumors: Third pick could be within grasp
Chicago has the assets to make a competitive offer to Portland for the third pick. They could float one of Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan in a package. If the Trail Blazers are serious about competing with Lillard, that’s definitely something they could be interested in.
The Bulls working out Miller could be a sign that they’re intrigued by the idea as well.
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Story originally appeared on Lonzo Wire