Rudy Gobert trade rumors are swirling around the Utah Jazz, and the Chicago Bulls are one of the teams mentioned as a possible suitor for the All-Star center. Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer and Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report both reported this earlier in the week, with Fischer even going into detail about a possible package that has been bandied about by league executives involving Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams.
It's unclear if this type of package would even entice the Jazz or if the Bulls would even include Williams in a Gobert trade. But, clearly, people around the NBA are talking about this possibility and see it as an intriguing option.
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It definitely is an intriguing option, but it's also a polarizing one given Gobert's status as one of the most polarizing stars in the NBA. While he's a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and the best rim protector in the NBA, his shortcomings in the playoffs and beef with Donovan Mitchell have taken center stage in recent years. Because of this and his five-year contract that pays him more than $40 million annually, plenty of people just don't think all that highly of him at this point, as good as he is.
Not all of this criticism is fair, but it's something to consider for the Bulls as they try to build a championship contender. Is it worth cashing in more chips, especially Williams, on a very expensive player who's about to turn 30 years old and has these flaws when it really matters?
On the latest episode of Blue Wire's Cash Considerations podcast, co-host Ricky O'Donnell noted the dilemma:
“People come to us for takes, Jason, and I feel like our takes need to be hot. They need to be a little hotter. But I'm with you on this one. I'm a little bit torn. I'm not sure if the Bulls should swing this trade or not. The more I think about it, though, the Bulls would improve in the short term, without question, with this deal. … I am a little bit torn on this. I can be talked into it for sure, but I think ultimately it would make the Bulls better next year. I look around the East, though, and the question is like … is it getting them over the top?”
I share semilar sentiments on the Bulls trading for Gobert, and it will be fascinating to see if they truly make a run at him and what they'd be willing to give up. Chicago might not even have the chips to trade for him, but at the very least, it's an idea worth exploring to see if a splash can be made. There are just no easy answers here when it comes to actually making a deal.
Listen to the full Cash Considerations episode here:
Cash Considerations: A Chicago Bulls Podcast is part of the Blue Wire Podcast Network. The pod can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts.
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