BULLS MIGHT BE BUYERS
With playoff chance possible, they could add some players
There’s no date just yet.
No exact agenda.
But the meeting is coming. And what an intriguing meeting it will be.
Is there a legitimate trade market for forward Thad Young, and do the Bulls want to even dabble in it? Extend Zach LaVine, wait or is there a blockbuster deal that will change the direction of the organization? Forget selling; do the Bulls chase down the March 25 trade deadline as buyers?
All fair discussions that have to be on the table sooner or later for executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley. They might have to make their biggest decisions since hiring Billy Donovan as coach.
Those decisions get more complicated with each victory by the Bulls (13-16), such as the 122-114 win Saturday against the Kings at the United Center.
LaVine had another stellar performance, scoring 38 points and shooting 15-for-20 from the field.
Young had 18 points off the bench, including the dagger — a layup with 45 seconds left. Rookie forward Patrick Williams had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
How the front office views the roster will be interesting. With a standings logjam in the Eastern Conference, there really are only three teams that seem sound enough to hold top billing, led by Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Milwaukee. Boston, Indiana and Toronto are likely to round out the top six, but after that, it’s a mishmash of mediocrity, with the Bulls
right in that mix for a play-in postseason chance.
So while most of the speculation has been about being sellers, could they actually flip the narrative, decide this young group needs to experience meaningful games and look to add? Donovan wasn’t ruling anything out.
“Just based on my conversations
with Arturas and Mark, we’re a little bit a ways away from the trade deadline, but there is going to be a time period where I think we’re all going to sit down and talk,’’ Donovan said Saturday. “Nothing has been presented to me in terms of any ideas or suggestions of buying, selling or anything like that. I don’t have anything on that. My focus has been on
trying to continue to help the group get better and improve and to try to help the team get better.
“But I know in speaking to Arturas that he wants to sit down and have a conversation at some point, probably a couple of weeks before we’re out from the trade deadline.’’
Until then, however, the goal is simple, Donovan said. And with the Bulls playing solid basketball in four consecutive games, the schedule this week allows these players to continue changing minds in the front office.
‘‘I think I’ve mentioned this,’’ Donovan said, ‘‘Arturas has been very, very patient. He’s evaluating the team and watching the team and looking at it very, very closely.’’
One player who has been easy to evaluate is LaVine, who had another 30-plus scoring performance but also has become a willing defender.
Then there’s Williams, 19, who rarely takes backward steps in his development.
“I have the right support staff around me,’’ Williams said. “Just trying to make my presence felt as much as possible. Defense is one of those things, but also rebounding.
“I’m realizing that every possession matters in this league. Being confident, moving the ball. There’s been a lot I’ve learned. I’ve come a long way, for sure. And I still have a long way to go.’’