It’s been discussed plenty of times since the draft ended. While the Chicago Bulls did a great job adding two premier athletes in Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain, one thing they didn’t do was add more shooting. This has been a persistent issue for years with this team. Arturas Karnisovas never did a good enough job stacking shooters on the roster. So when his replacement, Bryson Graham, didn’t make any moves in the draft, it raised frustration among fans. Thankfully, it sounds like the team already has plans to address the problem as free agency looms.
It was already revealed that Chicago is planning a run at veteran guard Norman Powell, who is departing Miami after an All-Star season. He would certainly give them more offensive punch. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times confirmed that rumor, but then added another. He has it on good authority that the Bulls have engaged with their rival, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on a trade for sharpshooter Max Strus. He is a Hickory Hills, Illinois native and has long dreamed of wearing red, white, and black.
The Chicago Bulls have the right idea with Strus.
While he won’t provide much in the way of creative scoring or passing, he does give them some rebounding, high effort on defense, and is a quality three-point shooter, averaging over 38% in the past two seasons. Having him off the bench would give the team much more flexibility with their rotations and a chance to space the floor better. He fits what Graham wants in players for this roster. He’ll obviously be motivated, given the chance to play for his favorite childhood team.
This is exactly the type of trade Graham alluded to after the draft. His goal is to stack future assets for his team. One way to do that is by taking on big contracts from cap-strapped teams. Cleveland is definitely in that situation. Unloading Strus is a necessity for them. Considering how well he fits Chicago’s needs, it isn’t hard to imagine a deal getting done. Perhaps two 2nd rounders and Strus to take that contract. It would certainly be a win for the Bulls, even if the player doesn’t produce as hoped.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
It’s nice to see the Bulls are sticking to their plan.
There isn’t much flash to it, but it’s sensible. It makes sense. That wasn’t always the case with Karnisovas. We can clearly see what Graham and this regime hope to accomplish. They want to feature their young core, which requires building a support system that masks their deficiencies. In this instance, they need more rim protection down low and better shooting from range. They accomplished the first objective with the Nic Claxton trade. Adding Strus from Cleveland would check the other box.
It won’t make the Chicago Bulls a contender, but it would make them presentable. Remember, the goal moving forward is not to be horrible. New tanking rules make the sweet spot finishing somewhere in the #4 to #10 spots in the lottery. Adding Strus to this lineup would make such an objective possible. Much, of course, would depend on how the rookies develop. If nothing else, it would make the season a fun one to follow. More will become clear in the next few days.
