The Chicago Bulls are in determined want of a change in course.
The Bulls marketed a rebuild to their followers, however that rebuild hasn’t actually occurred, with the franchise nonetheless caught with a whole bunch of tens of millions of {dollars} owed to Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević.
Ishaan Bhattacharya of Fadeaway World provided a fascinating concept this week for Chicago. What if the Bulls took an opportunity on a former No. 1 total decide?
“The Chicago Bulls entrance workplace has made it clear that they don’t wish to be a tank franchise, so as an alternative of accepting issues as they’re, it could be time to take a giant danger to facilitate the victory,” Bhattacharya stated.
Bhattacharya steered the Bulls ship the New Orleans Pelicans a package deal of Vučević, Patrick Williams and two first-rounders (2025 by way of Portland and 2027) for Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
“Buying an influence ahead like Zion may remodel the staff and particularly unlock Josh Giddey’s sport much more whereas giving shooters like Zach LaVine and Coby White more room on the perimeter whereas Zion tends to draw defenders in the direction of him. Williamson was averaging 22.7 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists earlier than struggling a hamstring damage this season.
“His return date is unclear, however the Bulls may try to amass Zion after which justify a tanking season by claiming the staff could be aggressive subsequent season with the youthful gamers taking a step up and Zion being obtainable .”
“It has been a tough six years for the Pelicans and Zion, as he was recruited to the franchise with excessive hopes of returning them to rivalry whereas Anthony Davis left the identical summer season Zion joined. Regardless of this, after three playoff appearances that the staff has made with Zion on the staff, the facility ahead has but to play in a postseason sport as a result of he won’t ever be capable to keep wholesome.
“New Orleans can draft a real heart like Vucevic alongside multi-positional wing defender Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. The Pelicans may nonetheless be aggressive with this staff, however it’s higher to attend till subsequent season after they have their total staff wholesome.
“The Bulls aren’t beneath stress to make the playoffs this season, so letting Zion heal from one other spherical of accidents could possibly be a precedence this season earlier than setting him up for failure early in 25-26. Williamson will earn $133 million over the remaining 4 years of his contract, so the Bulls will anticipate a star participant to emerge because the years go by.
Is that this a viable concept for Chicago, or is Zion somebody they need to keep away from because of his scary damage historical past?
Extra NBA: Warriors anticipated to amass celebrity from Lakers in huge package deal
