The Chicago Bulls are in a tough spot. It’s become clear that the current iteration of their roster isn’t good enough to compete for a championship, yet Arturas Karnisovas seems determined to make it work. They found success when Lonzo Ball was healthy, but Chicago cannot depend on that moving forward.
So, if the Bulls’ front office intends to compete with the current core, they need to add to it. More specifically, they need to add a full-time starting point guard to the roster, especially considering Ball is projected to miss the entirety of next season. That needs to be their priority this summer.
Whether they do this via trade or free agency is up in the air, but if they’re unwilling to trade DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine, they’d need to get creative in a potential deal. With that in mind, here are five point guards the Bulls could target in a trade this summer.
Potential Chicago Bulls trade target: Payton Pritchard
The reality of the Bulls’ roster is that LaVine and DeRozan will have the ball in their hands a lot. So while adding a point guard who can run the offense would definitely help, having one who can space the floor would also be great.
Payton Pritchard does just that. There is no pathway for consistent minutes with the Boston Celtics for Pritchard, meaning they’ll likely look to trade him this summer.
Boston may prefer to add draft capital in a Pritchard trade, as their rotation is pretty set. Regardless, this is a nice, cheap option for the Bulls to target.
Potential Chicago Bulls trade target: Delon Wright
If the Bulls want a two-way option at the point guard position, Delon Wright could be their guy. Both Ball and Alex Caruso can play both ends of the court, and Wright would give them a third guy who can do just that.
He spent most of last season injured, but he would fit in super well with the current Bulls core. Obviously, he wouldn’t replace Ball’s production, but he’d still be a decent starting option in Chicago.
The tricky part of a potential trade is that Wright makes $8.1 million, meaning Chicago would have to get creative.
Potential Chicago Bulls trade target: Tyus Jones
Of all the options on this list, Tyus Jones is one of the more far-fetched. With the drama surrounding Ja Morant, he could be thrust into a starting role on the Memphis Grizzlies next season.
However, if the Bulls deliver an enticing offer, they could at least force Memphis to listen.
Unfortunately, this would almost certainly have to include a combination of Ball, Caruso, and Patrick Williams. Jones will be making $14 million, meaning one of those players will be needed to match salaries.
Plus, Memphis would probably want at least one guard in return to shore up their point guard depth. A trade for Jones isn’t likely, but it’s certainly something Chicago should inquire about.
Potential Chicago Bulls trade target: Davion Mitchell
Considering how young Davion Mitchell is, this may seem unlikely. However, if the Sacramento Kings want to capitalize on their success from last season, he could be one of their best trade chips.
Dangling guys like Williams or Caruso over the Kings’ face could entice them to consider a trade. And while Bulls fans may be hesitant to trade either of those two players, adding a young point guard would be a valuable commodity.
Mitchell’s defensive presence would partially make up for the potential loss of Caruso, and in a starting role, his development could be expedited.
Potential Chicago Bulls trade target: Chris Paul
This may be the most unlikely trade of the bunch. A trade for Chris Paul would have to include Ball, Caruso, and another smaller contract. However, it would give the Bulls an elite playmaker to run their offense.
Obviously, at 38 years old, Paul is a shell of his former self. But he’d still be an immediate upgrade to the Bulls’ point guard position.
And considering the Phoenix Suns are looking to make significant changes this summer, they may be open to a deal. If Chicago gives up Ball, Caruso, and someone else, they could even get back some seconds in a potential trade for Paul.
Potential Chicago Bulls trade target: Jordan Poole
Fresh off a playoff run that tanked his trade value, Jordan Poole could be thrown into the trade market by the Golden State Warriors. If Golden State is intent on putting a title team around Stephen Curry, they could look to ditch Poole this summer.
Whether or not Chicago would be interested in Poole is a different story, but his shooting would undoubtedly help their offense. No matter how inconsistent he may be at times.
A deal would probably see some combination of Ball, Caruso, and Williams sent to Golden State. The Bulls may even have to give up some sort of picks in a deal. But again, while his value may be low, Poole is still only 23 years old. There’s plenty of potential there.
Potential Chicago Bulls trade target: Jaden Hardy
Jaden Hardy showed a ton of potential with the Dallas Mavericks last season. He may still be a bit too raw to be a starting point guard in the NBA, but if his development continues at its current rate, he’ll definitely have the talent to be one.
Dallas may be hesitant to trade Hardy, but they should be willing to do anything possible to put a title contender around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
If the Bulls offer Caruso, the Mavericks might bite.
Chicago could simply choose to run it back with Coby White and Caruso, but trading for one of those point guards could give them a massive boost.
