The Wilson Chandler Trades, Part I: The Eastern Conference
By Tim Hart
Chicago Bulls
ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine Results: Bulls Unaffected, Nuggets -2 Wins
The Trade Machine suggests that the Bulls would come out of this trade with the advantage. If they want a shot at the Conference Title, then a trade like this could be very valuable.
Why the Bulls would do it:
The Bulls would essentially up the firepower of their more prominent players, and sacrifice some talent in their lower-end players. With their current line-up, the Bulls are in line to make a splash in this upcoming season. But, by adding Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler into their regular rotations, they could be on legitimate title-contending grounds. Gibson is solid, but he lacks he youth required to keep up with explosive Eastern Conference teams like the Cavaliers and Raptors. Faried simply has more hustle.
This could help the Bulls get easy second chance opportunities. Both Faried and Chandler have the athleticism to play PF, and the two could share minutes at the position, giving the Bulls an interesting variance in their rotations. Gibson has been great for the Bulls, but Mirotic, McDermott, and Snell have all proven to be too inconsistent to be key parts of a title-winning team. This trade might put the Bulls over the edge. It certainly wouldn’t hurt their chances.
Why the Nuggets would do it:
While Nikola Mirotic does play with inconsistency, he is still capable of catching fire, especially from beyond the arch. The Nuggets could use more threats from beyond. This is especially true for the PF position, as Emannuel Mudiay works to legitimatize his three-point shot. This is what makes Kenneth Faried seem like a better fit in Chicago than Denver.
The Nuggets would have Mirotic, Gibson, Arthur, and Hernangomez at the PF spot. Each s capable of somewhat spreading the floor, some more than others, but each more than Faried. The Nuggets would sacrifice raw talent and athleticism for depth and strategic skill-sets. The trade machine suggests that it wouldn’t work out too well for them, but it could still be worth a shot.
Next: Cleveland Cavaliers