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NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago Bulls Could Alter Their Draft Strategy Due To Trades

By Ernest Shepard
Published on: 23:37 PST, Jun 12, 2016

Is it safe to disregard the NBA mock drafts when it comes to the Chicago Bulls?

There are so many signs (NBA trade rumors) that have the Bulls involved. It is clear that a normally tight-lipped organization wants to make some changes to their roster, and something could happen within the next 10 days. Actually, expect the Chicago Bulls to do something bold and drastic in the near future. What happens will alter the Bulls’ draft strategy.

Bulls’ guards Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler are two of the biggest names swirling around in NBA trade rumors. One or both of them could be traded for the right deal.

A Jimmy Butler trade would bring the Chicago Bulls a multitude of picks and players back in return. One NBA trade rumor (courtesy of Yibada) has the Boston Celtics offering a draft pick, which would be the No. 3 pick and two players in exchange for Butler, all of which would allow the Bulls to hit the reset button if they chose to. Any thoughts on who they would draft would go out of the window if a trade of that magnitude took place.

From everything that has been speculated about the Bulls entertaining offers for Derrick Rose, it seems as if they would not get close to what his value is. The constant NBA trade rumor that has the former MVP going to the Philadelphia 76ers for Nerlens Noel keeps getting mentioned. There are other trade rumors that involve Rose, but it remains to be seen if anything of significance takes place.

CBS Sports believes that Rose would be an ideal pickup for a team that needs a star player as a one-year rental.

A Bulls player to keep a watchful eye on is Taj Gibson. He could be packaged with the Bulls first-round pick in an effort to move up in the NBA Draft. Gibson was also mentioned in the CBS Sports report.

It would be a move such as this one that the Bulls could make. Everything could depend on which players they are looking at in the NBA Draft. If power forward is a position that the Chicago Bulls will address, it would be wise for them to remain where they are picking at No. 14. Power forward is one of the strengths of this year’s draft. Of the top three picks, all of them could be power forwards.

With Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol getting ready to leave, the Bulls may have a need for a power forward. Last year’s drafting of Bobby Portis and another year under Nikola Mirotic’s belt may negate that need. The late season emergence of Cristiano Felicio cannot be overlooked either. Also, Taj Gibson has not been traded yet. That is four power forwards on the roster.

If there is a need on the Bulls’ frontline, it is at center, where they currently have no player of note. Unfortunately for the Bulls, there are only two centers who are projected as lottery picks. Most expect Gonzaga’s Domantas Sabonis and Marquette’s Henry Ellison to be off the board when they pick at No. 14. That could force them to take a look at their second biggest need at point guard, and one player to watch is Thon Maker.

The Australian big man has shot up the draft boards quickly. It is said to be the apple of the Detroit Pistons’ eye. It would be interesting to watch the Bulls stand pat and take Thon Maker.

Syracuse guard Malachi Richardson is someone who could be on the Bulls’ radar. Notre Dame guard Demetrius Jackson is an excellent fit but may be considered a stretch at No. 14. Would the Bulls think about trading down in the NBA Draft while picking up a player and later pick? The possibilities are endless. Which is why it is difficult to look at a mock draft and believe that the Chicago Bulls are staying where they are.

It is a known fact that the Bulls are enamored with Providence point guard Kris Dunn. Revisiting the NBA trade rumor with the Boston Celtics and agreeing to a trade guarantees getting him. Such a bold trade would push the Chicago Bulls into a perhaps brief rebuilding stage. With the Eastern Conference belonging to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls will be far away from title contention anyhow.

This will be an interesting 10-day period leading up to the NBA Draft.

[Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images]

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