The Chicago Bulls are currently stuck in NBA purgatory with a 9-12 record a quarter into the season. Three options are moving forward: trade for a superstar, tank completely, or keep this mediocre team together and lose the 2023 first-round pick to the Orlando Magic.

Bill Simmons, the founder of The Ringer, believes the Bulls should commit to the tank by trading away their stars for Victor Wembanyama, the best prospect since LeBron James. There are a few benefits if the Bulls decide to tank altogether: keep their pick if it’s a top 4 pick, Arturas Karnisovas can build a team from the ground up for the first time, and the Bulls would be in the running for the greatest prospect in decades.

“i have three trades right now to save chicago. trade number one: [DEMAR] DEROZAN AND [NIKOLA] VUCEVIC TO THE LAKERS FOR [RUSSELL WESTBROOK] AND THOSE TWO 1ST [ROUND PICKS]. MAKE THE 2027 PICK UNPROTECTED. make the 2029 pick top 5 protected. then trade zach lavine to the knicks for obi toppins and expiring contracts with a top 4 protected 1st round pick. then alex caruso to golden state warriors for Donte DIVINCENZO AND MOSES MOODY AND A FUTURE PICK SWAP.”

Bill Simmons

Breaking Down The Bill Simmons Trade Ideas

These moves would help the Bull sell high on their best players while keeping their 2023 first-round pick and entering the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.

Trade #1:

Bulls Trade: DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic

Lakers Trade: Russell Westbrook, 2027 unprotected first-round pick, 2029 Top 5 protected first-round pick

Trade #2

Bulls Trade: Zach LaVine

Knicks Trade: Obi Toppin, Derrick Rose, RJ Barrett, 2023 Top 4 Protected first-round pick

Trade #3

Bulls Trade: Alex Caruso

Warriros Trade: Moses Moody, Donte Divincenzo, future pick swap

Should The Bulls Consider These Trades

Tanking is never easy, but the Bulls are now stuck in the mud. They have some lovely young pieces, such as Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry, Lonzo Ball, and Patrick Williams. Add RJ Barrett, Moses Moody, and Obi Toppin, two former lottery picks to the team, and the Bulls would then have a nice young core for Arturas Karnisovas to work with. The Bulls would also be left with three good draft picks that could land you the next Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, using the exact blueprint the Boston Celtics used when they traded away their stars at the time.

Most importantly, the Bulls will have a direction. Whether they end up with Victor Wembanyama or not, they’ll at least still have a plan. Their goal is for Lonzo Ball to get healthy and lead them to the Finals. That’s not happening, but that is their plan. It’s time for a new project. Let’ the tank begin.