I'm just going to start with the big trade all Bulls fans are talking about right now. The NBA trade deadline was 3:00 p.m. on February 23 and the Bulls made their move about a half hour before then. Chicago traded veteran Taj Gibson ( starting power forward/center), Doug McDermott (back up small forward) and a 2018 second round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The most important question of any trade is who they got in return. The Bulls got Cameron Payne (point guard), Joffrey Lauvergne (center) and Anthony Morrow (shooting guard). The main focus of this trade for the Bulls is Cameron Payne. He was a top first round pick in 2015. He hasn't gotten many minutes on the Thunder playing behind All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, but the Bulls believe they can develop him and he'll be their starting guard of the future. The two other guys were most likely put into the trade to balance out the salaries.
Before the trade, Bulls had four point guards who have had underwhelming performances this season to say the least. They are hoping that he can develop and take over the starting point guard role, since Michael-Carter Williams, Jerian Grant, Rajon Rondo and Isiah Canaan have not been consistent. The front office is attempting to build a roster for the future apparently.
Speaking of the Bulls' front office, many Bulls fan are outraged by the trade and want the front office. to be fired.
Gar Forman and John Paxson (also known as GarPax) have not been able to assemble a successful roster since the 2010-2011 season when the Bulls went to the Eastern Conference finals. They have decided to keep Jimmy Butler, but are unable to build a roster around him. Many fans are upset that they traded Gibson, the last player still on the team that was apart of the 2010-2011 season roster. They think that the players they got in return for Gibson and McDermott are garbage since they all average about five points a game currently.
Personally, I don't really care about Morrow and Lauvergne but I'm actually glad the Bulls got Payne. They clearly needed to adjust their roster since they have been in the middle of the Eastern Conference the entire season. They need a young, talented starting point guard and I think Payne could be that guy. He only averaged a few points per game last season and this season because he barely got any minutes as Westbrook's backup. He could a total bust, but we won't know until he steps out on the court. I think Bulls fans need to wait until Payne and the two players get on the floor before they get angry. Of course, I'm not excited that Taj Gibson who has been a dedicated, strong defensive for years, but he's 32 and will be a free agent this summer. They needed to get something in return for him.
That's the main news for this week. I've decided that I support the trade, but people have different opinions.
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