With the No.22 pick in the NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls opted to select the best player available at that time which happened to be SEC Player of the Year Bobby Portis. The forward has been regarded as a sleeper pick in this year's draft class considering his size and shooting ability. Kevin O'Connor of SBNation referred to Portis as not being great at one thing, but being really good at many things as he is seen as someone who could start immediately instead of being a project player. Will that help the Bulls escalate other moves?
According to the Chicago Sun Times, the Bulls are exploring the trade market for several players on the roster as they aim to try and keep Jimmy Butler around for the long-term. It is being reported that after the success of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic, deals for both Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson are being explored. The Bulls reportedly are looking to see which player can get them the best return value before making a clear decision. Adding Portis would make that transition easier.
KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports that right now with no deals in place, Portis is insurance. Last season Noah was hobbled with a knee injury following surgery. Gibson just underwent ankle surgery and while a full recovery is expected, he could end up like Noah and feel lingering effects during the year. There is also the age factor for Gasol who will be 35 this summer. That is where having someone like Portis will come in handy. Portis will help bolster the front court off the bench while being someone they could insert as a starter if need be,
"He's a guy we think really fits the makeup of our team," general manager Gar Forman said, via the Tribune. "We've had people just rave about his work ethic, how hard he plays, his makeup and character. And we really like his game. He's a big who can play inside and outside. We're always going to draft who we think is the best player available. And we had him ranked as a late lottery player."
While the Sun-Times is reporting that trade deals for both Noah and Gibson will be explored, no interest has been reported just yet. Several teams eyed a deal for Gibson during the midseason deadline, but the Bulls opted not to make a move. Right now the team is more concerned about Butler. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the shooting guard is more interested in a short-term deal and will not accept a max contract from Chicago with the idea that he can capitalize when the salary caps expand.
