If you would have told me that the Chicago Bulls would hold the best record in the Eastern Conference through close to 50% through the 2021-22 NBA season, I would have said you are crazy! After watching this team play though and seeing how well DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball fit in with one another, it is clear to see that the Bulls are legit championship contenders.
Chicago’s “three-headed monster” of DeRozan, LaVine and Vucevic have been spectacular this season and with really solid complimentary play from Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Coby White and even rookie Ayo Dosunmu, this team is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Bulls rank 4th in the league in offensive rating, but they are just 16th in defensive rating and have shown some signs of worry on the defensive-side of things this season. Other than Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams, the Bulls do not really have any reliable defenders and with both Caruso and Williams out right now, these problems are in the spotlight.
While they have won 10 of their last 12 games, the Bulls still need to figure out ways to add more defensive talent to their roster, primarily on the wing. Patrick Williams has a chance to return this season after having surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left wrist, but Chicago cannot expect the 20-year-old to come back near the end of the season and find success guarding some of the best scorers in the Eastern Conference.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets Involving Coby White for Bulls To Consider
In order for the Bulls to truly be the best team in the East, they are going to have to look at adding another defensive player to their roster and there is no better trade target for them than Robert Covington.
Being in the final year of his contract and making $12.9M this season, Robert Covington is affordable and someone that the Bulls could basically acquire as a “one-year loan” since they would not be tied down to him long-term.
The Portland Trail Blazers are on the verge of collapse this season, as they are currently 16-25, and things are not getting better for them with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum being out. Lillard is in danger of missing the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to fix a lingering abdominal issue and McCollum has been out since early-December with a collapsed lung.
Seeing as they are not close to being a real playoff threat in the Western Conference, interim GM Joe Cronin could be ready to “sell” assets on his roster in order to set this team up for more future success.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets Involving Coby White for Bulls To Consider
Both Jusuf Nurkic and Robert Covington are two prime trade candidates on this roster right now because they are in the final year of their respective contracts. Given his “3-and-D” style of play and the fact that Covington can guard almost any position, he is going to be an essential trade target for many playoff teams and the Chicago Bulls should absolutely want to add him.
So can Chicago make a trade for Covington work ahead of the trade deadline? Let’s take a look at what this trade could shape up to look like.
