The Golden State Warriors are looking to get their season on track after going 19-22 through the first half of the season. They recently returned to action after two suspended games to mourn the passing of assistant coach Dejan Milojevic. Though their first game back was a win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Warriors will need more ammunition on their roster for a successful season.
The Chicago Bulls have been linked to various trades selling their star players this winter, with the team struggling to get over .500 and be competitive in the East. With the expiring contract of DeMar DeRozan and win-now pieces like Alex Caruso, the Bulls could make a major move to pivot to the future while opening up salary flexibility in the short term.
Trade Details
Chicago Bulls Receive: Chris Paul, Moses Moody, 2027 First-Round Pick (GSW), 2028 First-Round Pick Swap (GSW)
Golden State Warriors Receive: DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso
This deal lands the Bulls a future piece like Moses Moody while bringing some valuable Warriors picks that could convey after the end of the Stephen Curry era. The Warriors acquire two pieces to continue their push for the 2024 Playoffs.
The Chicago Bulls Pivot To A New Direction
The Chicago Bulls have floated through the middle of the NBA for the last few years and need to decide to get out of no man’s land. There aren’t any clear ways for them to massively upgrade their roster, so taking a step sideways to re-tool the assets they have might be a better move. The acquisition of Chris Paul will allow the Bulls to get $30 million off their books next season while bringing one of Coby White’s mentors to the team for a half-season stint.
Moses Moody is averaging 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds as he grows into a high-caliber NBA player. Unfortunately, the Warriors don’t have enough opportunity to give Moody so moving him as an asset to upgrade their win-now pieces works perfectly. The Bulls don’t have long-term scoring options on their roster right now and Moody would be a great asset they can develop into a high-quality starter alongside Coby White.
The Bulls would struggle to get a pick for the unrestricted DeRozan and have shied away from trading him. But adding Alex Caruso to the deal helps them acquire two valuable picks for the future that could one day be used for drafting or more trades to increase the short-term winning capabilities of the franchise.
The Golden State Warriors Add Two Winning Pieces For A Playoff Push
The Warriors need a move that brings them quality rotational pieces to surround Stephen Curry with. The team is unremarkable on both ends of the ball and needs to find ways to address their defensive and offensive needs. DeMar DeRozan brings them a new dynamic of scoring while Caruso becomes a bonafide perimeter defense option. He also becomes a more reliable backup guard option for the Warriors, especially with Gary Payton II’s inconsistencies and injuries.
DeRozan is averaging 21.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists this season while Caruso is averaging 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. The Warriors have never needed an elite big man to win games, so adding pieces like Caruso and DeRozan fits their agenda perfectly. While DeMar isn’t the best outside shooter, he’s a fantastic connecting passer and would even fill the playmaking void on the Warriors right now. His mid-range scoring gives them a new dynamic scoring option which will be hard to adjust to.
The picks are a tall price, but Caruso is bound to cause a bidding war between contending teams for his low-maintenance style of play, excellent three-point shooting, and manageable contract. Giving up those picks to also land DeMar would be a big get for the Warriors as they look to replicate the Lakers late-season resurgence from last season.
The Warriors Need To Make Some Win-Now Moves
The Golden State Warriors need to find some move to solidify their roster to be competitive. They have shown encouraging signs with their current roster but those signs don’t indicate the team’s ability to be a legitimate contender. A first-round appearance shouldn’t be the goal for a franchise with four titles in nine years. This move will be a major move to solidify the team’s intention to keep winning as Curry enters the twilight of his career.
The Bulls need to start a rebuild. Their current roster could have been competitive if Lonzo Ball never got hurt, but they’ve been average for three running seasons with this core. What is the end game here? Are they happy with another play-in appearance and possible exit? Zach LaVine’s trade market has reportedly dried up, so the Bulls need to use their other assets to gain some future value for their franchise.
Even if LaVine or Nikola Vucevic cannot be moved this year, DeRozan might walk in the summer and this is a way to recoup assets for him. Caruso is their best trade asset right now and the Bulls shouldn’t continue holding their winning players back to find a way to somehow scrape .500 on the season.
