NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls Trade For Michael Carter-Williams Could Open Door For DeMarcus Cousins’ Deal

Michael Carter-Williams is now officially a member of the Chicago Bulls. Are the Chicago Bulls done adding pieces? In all likelihood, the Bulls’ roster will have at least one more player added to it before the season is over. The Bulls acquiring Michael Carter-Williams could open the door to a trade for Sacramento Kings‘ All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.

The Bulls finally consummated a trade (courtesy of the Chicago Tribune) with the Milwaukee Bucks, sending out Tony Snell in favor of Michael Carter-Williams on Monday. The Bulls are now in a better position today to go after DeMarcus Cousins than they were just a couple of days ago.

Cousins has been on the Bulls radar for quite some time. The Bulls were involved in multiple trade rumors with Cousins’ name attached. Expect some of those NBA rumors to heat back up over the course of the next few months. They will intensify as Carter-Williams is being introduced to Bulls fans.

There is one thing to consider while the new Bulls’ point guard is getting acclimated with his new teammates. His addition gives the Bulls another asset to make a push for a DeMarcus Cousins trade.

Michael Carter-Williams, who will reportedly wear No. 1 (courtesy of CBS Chicago) once he suits up for the Bulls, he will have a chance to rebuild his value around the NBA. If he can put up similar numbers with the Bulls to what he posted with the Bucks, it will look much better around the league. That could entice the Bulls to move Carter-Williams to his fourth team in four seasons. It may even allow the Bulls to ponder trading someone else.

Second-year player Jerian Grant just became expendable with the trade for Michael Carter-Williams. The preseason performance of Spencer Dinwiddie and Isaiah Canaan has only pushed Grant further down the Bulls’ bench.

Could it be possible for the Chicago Bulls to package up Grant, Nikola Mirotic, and two first round draft picks as an offer to the Kings for DeMarcus Cousins? It would be a trade that would give the Bulls a young nucleus for the next few years.

A potential future lineup of Carter-Williams, Cousins, Jimmy Butler, Denzel Valentine, and Bobby Portis would be an interesting mix of players. As each of the younger players begin to reach their prime, the older members of the Bulls’ core would be peaking.

Not that the Bulls getting Cousins is a definite thing. Several teams are interested in him, according to the NBA rumor mills, and the Kings have not put him on the trading block. The Kings have made an official word about the future of Cousins. Until then, the Bulls and the rest of the NBA are waiting.

Getting DeMarcus Cousins would be a great haul by the Bulls, who despite adding Michael Carter-Williams, still has an incomplete team.

Carter-Williams will add athleticism, along with some perimeter defense for the Bulls. He can also rebound and pass. What Carter-Williams cannot do is shoot from the outside or play down in the low block. The Bulls did not address that with this trade. A precursor to something else is what this trade seems like. Adding him does open the door for the Bulls to trade for a shooter or a low post player.

Nuggets Shopping Kenneth Faried In Trade Market: https://t.co/mpJb8TbCMD pic.twitter.com/jB03muQvwg

— RealGM (@RealGM) October 6, 2016

If not DeMarcus Cousins it could be someone else.

According to ESPN, the Denver Nuggets are dangling power forward Kenneth Faried to teams for the right price. Do not be surprised if the Chicago Bulls wind up as an interest team. Faried would fill the Bulls need of a tenacious rebounder. And he can score at a reasonable clip to make to keep things honest.

If not Kenneth Faried, then Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic or Serge Ibaka. Either of them could wind up available if the Orlando Magic struggle with their abundance of frontcourt players. Keep an eye on Ibaka winding up on the Chicago Bulls radar at some point.

Adding Michael Carter-Williams seems like just another step for the Chicago Bulls. Because he is officially on the roster, the Bulls now have more assets that can be used in a major trade.

[Featured Image by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]