The Chicago Bulls may turn about to be the most active team at the deadline as more NBA trade rumors are coming from the Windy City.
In the latest report from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the new set of players that could be on the block are point guard Rajon Rondo and forward Nikola Mirotic.
"According to multiple sources, the Bulls have been shopping guard Rajon Rondo and forward Nikola Mirotic in hopes of bolstering the roster and making a second-half run in the wide-open Eastern Conference."
However, their "shopping" has not been successful so far. Cowley quotes his anonymous source. ''Obviously, you knew that would be the case with Rondo,'' the source said. ''But [the Bulls] don't like what they're hearing back on [Mirotic], either. Then again, that's a [front office] that tends to overvalue its assets.''
Rondo is an obvious choice, but Mirotic was also being involved in trade rumors because he was seen as a desirable asset. Has that also changed?
The report mentioned that Mirotic "doesn't affect games consistently enough." He is somewhat a catalyst for the team as Mirotic shines in their victories including crucial ones against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors. Yet he was not able to provide any resistance in team slumps against the Dallas Mavericks or Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Bulls need a difference-maker, but they are not likely getting one for just Rondo and even Mirotic. What return could they get from this package?
Perhaps the Bulls can look ahead instead of making a push for the season. That may be contrary to the timeline of Dwyane Wade, the team's new senior leader. Wade has a player option he can exercise and he has performed well enough to merit some offers. This is a real consequence if the Bulls organization doesn't show that they're committed to winning.
However, if they can snare a promising young talent in Jahlil Okafor, that could be worth a shot. According to Chad Ford of ESPN Insider, the Philadelphia 76ers are ready to trade the former Duke standout.
"But I don't think Okafor is as bad as he looks many nights in Philly either. He needs a change of scenery badly and all indications are that the Sixers are going to give it to him -- probably in the next month. On a different team in a different situation, I think Okafor can be a quality starter in the NBA someday," Ford stated.
The Bulls may need to add more pieces to pique the interest of the Sixers but GM Bryan Colangelo could realize that he can't afford further delays in clearing the logjam at their center spot.
It could be a match: Rondo and Mirotic for Okafor as the starting point. This trade is still speculative but it does align with what both teams need.