Bulls connected to creative trade with Mavericks to solve glaring problem

The Chicago Bulls are entering a pivotal offseason full of hope, as they possess expansive cap room and hold two first-round draft picks. That includes the No. 4 overall selection thanks to some luck in the lottery.

The problem for the Bulls is that they have so many needs that it will be difficult for new top executive Bryson Graham to fill them all in one summer.

But could Chicago get aggressive and try to expedite its rebuild with some daring trades?

Andrew Hanlon of Pippen Ain’t Easy thinks it’s a possibility, specifically wondering if the Bulls can somehow add a third top-15 pick to their draft stash (the own pick No. 15, as well). Considering the new anti-tanking rules, Chicago might have a chance.

Hanlon mentioned the Dallas Mavericks as a potential trade partner, wondering if the Mavericks would be interested in moving the No. 9 selection in exchange for some future draft capital.

Chicago Bulls linked to interesting trade with Dallas Mavericks

Remember: starting next year, teams with the three worst records in the NBA with no longer have the best odds of the No. 1 pick. Now, teams with the fourth through 10th worst records will have a better chance, and 11 through 16 will have a shot at the top overall selection, as well.

Hanlon thinks the Bulls can take advantage of this and convince the Mavericks to part with their own top draft choice this year.

“The Bulls have access to all of their first-round picks moving forward. Would a team like the Dallas Mavericks, who are light on future draft assets and on a timeline built around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, be willing to give up the No. 9 pick for a couple of future firsts? If fewer teams are willing to deal them, Chicago would have a leg up over a good chunk of the league,” Hanlon wrote.

Hanlon then suggests that the Bulls could select Michigan center Aday Mara at No. 9, which would fill a glaring weakness in the middle for Chicago. He also floats Arizona guard Brayden Burries as a possibility.

“The 2027 draft is projected to be far weaker than this year’s; the ninth pick this summer may end up being equivalent to, say, the fourth pick next year. Is it worth grabbing a defensive anchor like Michigan center Aday Mara or a two-way guard like Arizona’s Brayden Burries in exchange for the possibility of landing a better pick in a weaker 2027 class?” Hanlon added.

Having three top-15 picks would also open the Bulls up to even more trade possibilities this month, so this would certainly be an intriguing idea for Chicago.

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