TORONTO _ Bulls coach Jim Boylen says he stays in constant contact with John Paxson, the team's vice president of basketball operations, about the state of the team. Now that the Bulls do not play before Thursday's trade deadline at 2 p.m. CT, Boylen expects the organization to meet Monday to discuss where the franchise stands.
At 19-33, the Bulls are a season-worst 14 games under .500. The fact that they began the day within 3 { games of a playoff spot is an indictment on the bottom of the Eastern Conference. At the moment, 21 teams in the NBA have a better record than the Bulls, yet they are still technically within striking distance of the last playoff spot in the conference and one good stretch could make up that ground.
Conversations around the trade deadline are always difficult, but Boylen believes the Bulls are in an especially challenging spot because of how injuries have wrecked their lineup in the past month.
"I think in general _ not talking about the trade deadline _ when you're in a season where you'd like to win and compete for the playoffs, and you'd like to develop, your evaluations are difficult when guys don't play together and guys are injured," Boylen said. "To me that's more of the issue than maybe the trade deadline."
The Bulls are currently without four of their top rotation players, after the news Sunday that Kris Dunn has a MCL sprain in his right knee. Their core of Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. has played just nine games together since Porter was acquired at the trade deadline last
Boylen has a point that it's hard to know exactly what the Bulls have with so many players in and out of the lineup, which could mean the Bulls will keep this roster largely intact.
The entire trade market is reportedly moving slowly around the league, the product of so few teams being out of the playoff hunt and the number of big contracts and player movement during the previous offseason. That said, trade talk usually accelerates as the deadlines draws nearer and Boylen said he expected those conversations to pick up in the next few days.
Players, who are not usually privy to such conversations, will try to stay sharp as the deadline approaches as well.
"I'll be watching, you never know in the NBA, it's a business," LaVine said. "But since I've been here there hasn't been a whole lot of movement, just the one from last year (Porter), but you could almost see it coming. We'll see. I'll always have my ear on what's going on. But we'll see."
Maybe the Bulls could take advantage of the slow market and capitalize. While it seems unlikely they would deal one of their core players, Denzel Valentine and Thaddeus Young have become popular names for trade speculation.
Even as their rotation has been hammered by injuries, Valentine has still had trouble getting on the floor consistently under Boylen. It makes sense that the Bulls would explore the market for his value, and most team are likely to find playing time in their rotation for a career 37% shooter from beyond the arc in his third year in the league.
"I feel like everything is going to take care of itself," Valentine said. "I can't really control what happens."
Young signed a three-year, $41 million deal with the Bulls during the offseason, but more than a few teams could likely benefit from the veteran forward if they decided to make him available. Injuries in the front court have made this situation a bit murkier considering the Bulls don't have many other bodies if they lose Young. But if the organization decided to sell, Young would likely generate the most interest around the league.
"I try not to worry about those things," Young said. "I try to continue to come and hoop whether I'm playing for the Bulls or playing for any other organization. Whatever organization I'm playing for, that's who I'm family with. That's who I'm going to play for and that's who I'm ready to play for.
"If they have to make a business decision, I understand what it is. For me, I don't worry about those things. I understand. I've been in the game for a long time."
