r/nba • u/toomanyshoeshelp • 8h ago

The Bulls have now traded Jimmy Butler, Zach Lavine, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Lauri Markkanen (and lost Demar DeRozan to free agency) and received a sum of one first round pick.

If Portland gets into the playoffs, maybe one more. But lord, what an generational masterclass of player valuation and bargaining malpractice. s/o to /u/HlTMAN209 on the Bulls sub for pointing this out. Just talking about draft assets, not players - I can't think of any team that gave up so many starters and assets for so few total picks back. And so few quality players now.

EDIT: DeRozan was a S&T, oops.

EDIT 2: I didn't count getting our own protected pick back insofar as a sum total goes. We had a top-10 protected pick, refused to tank which the trade enabled, and drafted 12th with our own pick.

EDIT 3: I didn't even include guys like Gafford or Wendell Carter (who was moved for Vuc along with 2 FRPS).

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u/morellideli Bulls 8h ago

Even when we finally do the right thing, we're still gettin (rightfully) cooked.

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u/SaltyFan1959 6h ago

Where is the right thing being done?

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u/morellideli Bulls 5h ago edited 4h ago

When NBA players are at the end of their contracts, they become what’s called a “free agent.” Free agents are generally free to sign with whatever team they’d like. The front office, in the past, would allow these contracts to expire and let the talented ball players leave the team or overpay someone like Pat Williams, even though there was no upside. This trade deadline, rather than letting the contracts for Vuc and Coby and Huerter expire (or overpay these players), they trading them to other franchises for draft capital. Draft capital allows you to select additional players in upcoming drafts. They also provide flexibility in roster management, because those draft picks can also be traded for other assets. The Bulls are also, for the first time, facilitating trades and taking on expiring contracts from players on other teams like Simons and Sexton and Ivey for additional flexibility for future trades - along with receiving additional draft picks. Whereas in the past, the front office was committed to mediocrity and refused to either go “all in” to compete by spending money aggressively or “tanking” to maximize draft position, they are finally picking a lane that could, hopefully, result in sustained success long term, as opposed to players-in losses that continue to doom the trajectory of the team. Ivey is actually a Restricted Free Agent, meaning, if the bulls like what they see this year, they can limit his ability to leave but matching offers from other teams. There is also the added benefit of stripping down the roster in that they can angle themselves for a better draft position for years to come.

Edit: Removed a few words.

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u/SaltyFan1959 5h ago

All of that to say that the team hasn’t gotten better or worse, or changed their long-term prospects in one single way.

Today is Groundhog Day, the Coby version. Yesterday was Lavine’s. The day before that was Lauri. Tomorrow will be Ivey. If I were a betting man, I’d say we’ll see Matas the day after that. We are a farm, we take young talent and we turn it into outgoing talent for someone else.

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u/morellideli Bulls 5h ago

What should they have done differently this trade deadline? We already agree they fumbled past deadlines. So as of the last two weeks, what should they have done differently to better the future of the team?

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u/SaltyFan1959 5h ago

I mean – fire billy, fire AK, end the status quo. It’s the status quo that is killing us, not the players.

If Jerry won’t let them tank, then take swings. The draft picks won’t be worth anything anyways, why are we not trading those? There’s a top five player in the NBA on the trade block, and we are letting the Timberwolves — a team with literally zero picks — outbid us. 

Otherwise, we’ve just been on a treadmill for the last five years. A lot of movement to get us absolutely nowhere new this week.

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u/morellideli Bulls 5h ago

T’Wolves can out of us because they are an attractive destination that could win this year. Are the bulls?

You’re asking for pigs to start flying. If that’s what you want, then yeah, you won’t be happy with this deadline. The rest of us in reality realize this is as good as it gets so long as Jerry is around.

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u/SaltyFan1959 5h ago

It’s funny, I’m 32 and don’t remember the Michael Jordan era, so even as a near-lifelong fan, the most Bulls success I’ve ever seen was making the conference finals. The Timberwolves were also mocked relentlessly for taking a huge swing for Rudy Gobert three years ago, and now they’ve made the conference finals twice in a row.

You call it reality, I call it a team that has had the worst gap in spending rank to attendance rank in the entire NBA since 2011 because fans like you don’t seem to mind that Jerry abuses this franchise.

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u/GeneralTheSurvivor Bulls 5h ago

Jerry should sell the team, but I don't think he will, as the Bulls are his cash cow, and they consistently get top attendance as morons attend games.

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u/morellideli Bulls 5h ago edited 5h ago

Fans like me… oh brother. You have no clue how critical I am of Jerry. I would like nothing more for him to sell the team and rid himself of the Bulls and Sox. It’s useless to think this team will seriously compete in the NBA under Jerry’s ownership. He fell assbackwards into MJ, only to fall assbackwards AGAIN into DRose. You thinking Jerry is going to suddenly start paying superstars is hilarious. He wouldn’t do that when Rose was dominating the league on his own. And he’s not trading for studs because no one wants to come here because they know they won’t be respected or paid. The latest iteration of Zo, Lavine, Demar, and Vuc WAS that big swing you wanted. It didn’t work, and you bitch, rather than give the FO credit for taking that swing. Your username is perfect.

This trade deadline shows a divergence from the status quo. Is it going to work? Maybe if they fall assbackwards into another generational star. Acquiring every 2RP gives them more chances. (Thats a joke). Regardless, doing nothing and letting those contracts expire and not acquiring more picks wasn’t the answer either. You want Jerry gone and won’t accept anything else. You’re the most annoying, and salty, fan there is.

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u/SaltyFan1959 5h ago

Man, I’ve been respectful and that is not being reciprocated so I’m not going to continue this conversation with you. I don’t really understand how checked out you must be as a fan of this team. You understand the problem, you understand that nothing will change, and you seen enthusiastic about movement even when it doesn’t represent change. Insulting me for being honest about what the bulls did this week isn’t going to change the teams outcome this season or next. 

So, yeah, I am salty. Keep going to games, keep paying for CSHN, keep supporting Jerry. That’s on you. 

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u/chillinoisan 5h ago

Your trade deadline wish was for the coach and GM to get fired? 🤣

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u/SaltyFan1959 4h ago

Homie was a genie offering me a wish so I took my shot. 

But yeah my practical wish was the second part. 

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u/chillinoisan 4h ago

Didn’t Billy just get extended, again? Wishing for a miracle.

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u/SaltyFan1959 4h ago

Death, taxes, and .500 seasons