One trade every NBA team needs to make
By Tom West
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls were originally expected to be key sellers in the lead up to the NBA trade deadline. With a log-jammed frontcourt and Pau Gasol saying that he’ll likely opt out of his contract after the season, it made sense for them to try to capitalize on their talent. However, since Joakim Noah has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, their frontcourt situation is far less clear.
No longer can they easily trade a big man, as the likes of Gasol, Taj Gibson and even Bobby Portis are now even more important. With that in mind, another player they could look to deal is Nikola Mirotic (since writing this, he’s been ruled out after having appendix removed before more surgery for hematoma removal).
He’s their worst defensive option at power forward and hasn’t worked out at small forward either against athletic wings. This brings about the issue the Bulls have at the three, which is the position they need to target before the deadline. One such player they should pursue is Otto Porter of the Wizards.
In exchange for the improving Porter, who’s shooting better from three (31.3 percent, up from 0.5 makes per game last season to 1.1) and can help defensively, the Bulls can send Mirotic to Washington.
The Wizards have plenty of wing talent in the form of Bradley Beal and small forwards Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jared Dudley, but are lacking at power forward. To add some improved floor spacing and youth into their rotation of Kris Humphries and Nene Hilario, they can hope to see Mirotic continue to show the great potential he revealed in his rookie season.
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