The Chicago Bulls have put themselves in a tough spot. They went all in two years ago, trading for Nikola Vucevic and signing DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso the following summer. And while they made the playoffs in Year 1 with that core, they were eliminated in the first round, and this past year, they were bounced in the Play-In Tournament.
Now, they face the harsh reality that their current core is not good enough to win a title. Injuries have gotten in the way, but that can’t be used as an excuse anymore. Chicago needs to make some tough choices, and that may involve trading one (or both) of their star players.
Luckily for the Bulls, some interested teams could be looking to make trades this summer. One of which, the Portland Trail Blazers, has a player at the helm who is very close to Zach LaVine.
Chicago Bulls trade rumors: Damian Lillard’s connection to Zach LaVine
As relayed by KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has a strong relationship with LaVine, as they both played for Team USA.
“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,” Johnson wrote. “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.”
As noted, Lillard is also close with DeRozan, so that could come into play as well.
Chicago Bulls trade rumors: Trail Blazers looking to trade third pick
According to Zach Lowe of Bleacher Report, the Trail Blazers are looking to trade the third pick in the 2023 NBA Draft with the goal of putting a championship-caliber team around 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 trade rumors: Bulls ‘done’ with Big Three
And on top of that, Sam Smith of NBA.com reported that the Bulls are “done” with their current Big Three of LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic.
“But I do believe there will be significant Bulls changes this summer,” Smith wrote. “Or at least they will be seriously trying. I was at the Draft Combine this week and heard from an insider that he believes the Bulls are done with this Big Three. But I did hear it from him outside, so there could be a credibility issue given that. Sources who may or may not know agreed.”
If the Bulls were to rebuild this summer, trading for the third pick would be a great place to start.
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Story originally appeared on Lonzo Wire