It was almost as if Billy Donovan was describing a mob movie.
The coach knows the heads of the Bulls family will all be meeting after the All-Star Break, and even knows a generic date and place. But the direction that meeting is going to go?
Donovan sounded as if he was on a need-to-basis, and right now all he needs to know is worry about the upcoming games first and foremost, and the personnel will be ironed out.
“Yeah, we’re going to meet,’’ Donovan said, when asked about an organizational meeting heading into the Mar. 25 trade deadline. “I don’t think it’s going to be during the break. But after the break, we’re definitely going to meet. I think we’ve got … I don’t know what the back schedule looks like in terms of date, but I know we open up with a back-to-back with Philly and Miami. We’re home for a little while, so we have the All-Star break, but certainly we’ll get together and they certainly want to do that I think a couple weeks out from the trade deadline they want to do that.
“I have not gotten anything from them in terms of direction or anything else, other than to get together. I think I’ve mentioned my focus is on the team, and that’s all we really talk about is the current team, and how to help these guys continue to get better collectively and individually, but obviously with the trade deadline coming up there will be conversations that we have leading up to it.’’
Possibly some painful ones.
The Bulls are in a gray area.
They have several players that could bring back assets in a loaded 2021 draft pool, but sending those players out in a deal would lead to a sinking in the standings. No biggie, considering the Bulls would likely be in for a short run if they made the postseason? Possibly, but for a core roster that has never sniffed meaningful games, getting them on that big stage – even for a short run – could be more valuable in the long run than yet another 19-year-old on the roster next season.
So who are the likely candidates to be moved? On a roster where there should be no such thing as an untouchable, it starts with a veteran.
1. Thad Young – The Sun-Times reported earlier this month that several teams were in very intrigued with the idea of Young to help bolster their bench, as well as give them a versatile frontcourt option to close games. He would be an instant boost for an organization that is going for that late-season push, such as a Miami or New York.
Young is signed through next season, earning $13.5 million this year, and $14.1 in the final year of his deal, but what would he really bring back in a deal. Besides the Bulls taking on an expiring contract of similar value, the hope would be a first-round pick. Considering a payroll decrease could be coming, and a dried up ’21 free-agent class, that might be a big ask with draft picks being the best capital out there.
2. Lauri Markkanen – The Bulls and Markkanen’s camp couldn’t agree on a contract extension in December, setting the stage for the 7-footer to test the restricted free agent market. Donovan said he still covets Markkanen’s skillset, despite the stretch-four being frequently injured.
If there’s a chance to grab a lottery pick for Markkanen’s services, no matter where they deem his ceiling, it has to be explored.
3. Zach LaVine – Is there a deal out there that could give the Bulls a young up-and-coming star and the potential for a top seven pick for LaVine? Doubtful, and that’s really the only kind of deal that would make sense right now.
The first-time All-Star has basically played his way out of being a real trade asset the last month.
