The Chicago Bulls made the first major splash of the 2024 NBA offseason with a trade involving sending Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey. Caruso has long been coveted by other teams but there never seemed to be an inclination that the Bulls were looking to trade him. But the Bulls reportedly had been dangling Alex Caruso in trade talks with other teams with a very hefty asking price as per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

According to Fischer, the Bulls had been engaging other teams regarding a Caruso trade for the past 18 months. Not only that, but they were supposedly asking for as many as four first round draft picks.

“The Bulls engaged several teams over the past 18 months that were willing to sacrifice first-round draft capital for Caruso, sources said, while Chicago characteristically pushed for unprotected picks and as many as four firsts in some of those conversations,” Fischer reports. “Chicago also refused to include Caruso in deals that would have offloaded Zach LaVine, sources said.”

The Bulls actually did not end up receiving any draft picks in their trade with the Thunder even with the Thunder being in possession of a treasure trove of draft capital. Instead, the Bulls took back Josh Giddey, a young player who might still have untapped potential. The Bulls have a big offseason coming up and it appears as if they might be on track for a rebuild.

Bulls appear headed for a rebuild this offseason

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) sits on the bench in street clothes during the first quarter at United Center.
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

With the Alex Caruso trade, the Bulls offseason direction may have gotten clearer. Zach LaVine's name has come up in trade rumors before. Fischer also reports that the Bulls have been looking to move LaVine for quite some time now.

Fischer reports that, “the Bulls have attempted to find a new home for LaVine since last offseason, according to league sources, but have yet to develop significant traction on deals outside of talks with Detroit that once included Bojan Bogdanovic – who's since been traded to New York – and the Pistons are now under new leadership with president Trajan Langdon.”

Fischer also reports that the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers as teams that have varying levels of interest in a possible LaVine trade. Aside from potentially moving LaVine, the Bulls also have DeMar DeRozan's pending free agency. The six-time All-Star could depart from the franchise and further signal a rebuilding effort from the team.