As things stand, the Chicago Bulls do not have a pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. If their first-round pick had jumped into the top four at the NBA Draft Lottery, they would have retained it, but instead, the pick stayed at 11th. In turn, it will now convey to the Orlando Magic. As for their second-rounder, the Bulls were forced to forfeit the pick after the NBA concluded they broke tampering rules when signing Lonzo Ball.
However, just because they don’t currently own a pick doesn’t mean they won’t get involved in this year’s draft. There’s still time for them to trade into the draft, and there could be an easy way for them to do so.
The Bulls traded for the Portland Trail Blazers’ 2022 first-rounder, but it was lottery-protected, so it conveyed to 2023. And then to 2024. And now, with Portland landing the third-overall pick, it will convey to 2025. Those protections continue until 2028, meaning the Blazers cannot trade any of their firsts until then. Unless they work out a trade with the Bulls, that is.
Chicago Bulls trade rumors: Bulls could land 23rd pick in 2023 NBA Draft
Portland owns the New York Knicks’ first-rounder in this year’s draft, which landed at 23rd, from the Josh Hart trade.
However, according to KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, there is ongoing speculation around the league that Portland could trade that selection to the Bulls in order to change the protections on the other pick.
Johnson reported the following:
“But the fact the Bulls are embarking on their same predraft process—and interviewing projected lottery picks at the combine—despite not currently owning a pick indicates management is open to anything.
“That’s the fact they’ve landed so predominantly in leaguewide speculation this week.
“The Bulls and Trail Blazers had already been linked to negotiate in advance of draft day because of the lottery-protected, first-round pick Portland owes from the three-team trade where Lauri Markkanen moved to Cleveland, Larry Nance came to the Trail Blazers and Derrick Jones Jr. landed in Chicago.
“But that speculation centered on the first-round pick that the Trail Blazers had acquired from the New York Knicks in February’s Josh Hart trade—set now at No. 23.”
Chicago Bulls trade rumors: The Lauri Markkanen trade
Chicago landed Portland’s selection in the three-team deal that sent Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Here are the full parameters of that trade:
Bulls receive: Lottery-protected 2022 first, 2023 second-round pick via DEN (forfeited), Derrick Jones Jr.
Trail Blazers receive: Larry Nance Jr.
Cavaliers receive: Lauri Markkanen
Chicago Bulls trade rumors: Trail Blazers also shopping third pick
In addition, Portland is also reportedly exploring trade options for the third overall pick as they attempt to put a championship-caliber team around Damian Lillard.
Johnson also wrote about the possibility that Chicago could strike a deal for that pick, but noted the potential pros and cons of Portland’s interest.
“After the Trail Blazers jumped from the fifth to the third pick at Tuesday’s draft lottery, multiple outlets reported that Portland will explore the market for that pick in an attempt to land a big splash for Damian Lillard,” Johnson wrote. “Would the Bulls instead engage in talks for that pick, which would unequivocally necessitate the inclusion of LaVine or, alternatively, DeMar DeRozan?
One league source told NBC Sports Chicago that if the Trail Blazers went this route, they would be focused on more defensive-minded, two-way players. Lillard does have strong relationships with both LaVine and DeRozan, the former of whom he played with at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. So stay tuned.”
Chicago Bulls trade rumors: Upside of landing 23rd pick in 2023 NBA Draft
By landing the 23rd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Bulls could add more youth to the roster. And while the front office may want to compete right away, improving the team’s younger core would help Chicago stay relevant for longer.
Some prospects commonly mocked around the 23rd pick are Metropolitans 92’s Bilal Coulibaly, Duke’s Derrick Lively II, G League Ignite’s Leonard Miller, and Duke’s Dariq Whitehead.
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Story originally appeared on Lonzo Wire