The Chicago Bulls had one of the best off-seasons as they signed DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso to complement the current core of their squad. Moreover, an integral piece of their first unit is Patrick Williams because of his defensive prowess and decent jump shot. The No. 4 pick in last year's draft suffered a perilunate dislocation on his left wrist which will cause him to miss the rest of the season.
The perimeter defense of the Bulls is already a question mark because the duo of DeRozan and Zach LaVine are not known for their defensive prowess. Williams was tasked to guard the best wing player on the opposing team every night, but now his absence opens up a gaping hole on their wing position. With that, here are three trades the Bulls could execute to mitigate Patrick Williams' absence.
Three Bulls trades after Patrick Williams' injury
Contact Pelicans for Josh Hart
With Caruso and Ball already with the Bulls, acquiring Josh Hart from the New Orleans Pelicans will vastly improve their defensive lineup under head coach Billy Donovan. He just recently signed an extension in the Pelicans, but he only plays at a reserve role in New Orleans. There were some spurts when Hart contributed on both ends of the floor with his accurate three-point shooting and lateral quickness.
The Bulls are already over the salary cap, thus they cannot add a piece that will even increase their cap at a higher level. Giving Derrick Jones Jr. or Troy Brown Jr. to New Orleans along with 1-2 other pieces they'd demand would be a fair deal for the Pelicans and Bulls. Hart's salary for this 2021-22 season is at $12 million which will still fit the lineup of Chicago. With Hart receiving limited playing time on a rebuilding organization, his services will be more utilized in the Bulls wherein they need some wing depth.
Acquire Robert Covington or Larry Nance from Blazers
The lack of cap space for the Bulls limits their options in acquiring wing defenders that could complement their first unit. With the Portland Trail Blazers struggling to begin their own campaign, Chicago may try working out a deal for them to acquire either Robert Covington or Larry Nance. Their salary will not cause the Bulls to pay a ton of tax money by giving either Brown Jr. or Jones Jr. to Portland as well.
Covington and Nance are two prominent defenders that could guard anyone from small forward to center. Additionally, they have not lived up to expectations with Portland, thus making it a buy low opportunity for Arturas Karnisovas. Covington will be able to attempt a plethora of open wing or corner threes from the offense of Chicago, while Nance has a consistent in-between game and exceptional high flying abilities. The Blazers are not expected to make a deep playoff run, which may increase their chances of executing this trade with Chicago.
Trading for any of the Pacers' wings
The Indiana Pacers is usually a franchise that constantly reaches the playoffs, but they are not able to make some noise at that stage. With their slew of wings on their roster, the Bulls may contact Indiana and try acquiring a piece, such as Justin Holiday or Jeremy Lamb. The Pacers are still awaiting the return of both Caris LeVert and T.J. Warren, while rookie revelation Chris Duarte has been receiving over 30 minutes from newly-hired head coach Rick Carlisle.
Lamb is on an expiring contract, and he has not rekindled his best days in the NBA after suffering a gruesome ACL injury. Donovan may find a niche for him in Chicago's second unit, while giving him the responsibility to enhance his defensive abilities as well.
On the other hand, Holiday has a team-friendly contract as he will be paid only around $6 million dollars over the next two years. He could play any of the wing positions with his all-around skill set offensively and defensively. He does not turn the ball over a ton, and he has a phenomenal outside shot which is essential in an offense surrounded by LaVine and DeRozan.
With a fantastic 4-1 start from the Bulls, their next games are versus playoff-contending franchises which will test their mettle with the best of the best. The absence of Williams will be tough to fill for Chicago, but acquiring a couple of wing pieces by the trade deadline may bolster their defense and second unit.
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