The Chicago Bulls are starting to get a clearer picture of what it might take to land promising young big man Yves Missi from the New Orleans Pelicans - and it looks like the price tag could be steep.
According to recent reports, the Pelicans have shown interest in Indiana Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin in potential trade talks. That’s significant, because it gives the Bulls a rough idea of the kind of return New Orleans is expecting for Missi. Mathurin, a 23-year-old former lottery pick, hasn’t fully broken out yet, but his upside as a two-way wing with 3-and-D potential still holds considerable value around the league.
So if the Pelicans are aiming that high, the Bulls know they’ll have to come with a serious offer to get in the mix.
Why Missi Makes Sense for Chicago
Let’s be real - Yves Missi checks a lot of boxes for what the Bulls are missing right now. The 21-year-old center has the physical tools to make an immediate impact in the NBA. At 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a 38.5-inch vertical (yes, you read that right), Missi brings the kind of size, length, and bounce that Chicago’s frontcourt has sorely lacked.
He’s not a finished product, but the blueprint is there: a high-motor rim runner who can protect the paint and finish above the rim. That’s the kind of athletic, defensive-minded center who can help modernize the Bulls’ rotation - and potentially grow into something more.
For a team that’s been stuck in the middle for a few seasons now, adding a young, high-upside big like Missi would be a meaningful step forward. And the fact that Chicago is even in the conversation for a player of his caliber should be encouraging for Bulls fans who’ve been craving a more aggressive approach at the trade deadline.
The Trade Landscape
League insider Jake Fischer recently reported that the Pelicans and Pacers have discussed a deal that would send Mathurin to New Orleans and Missi to Indiana. But it’s not just a straight swap - Indiana reportedly wants more than just Missi in return for giving up Mathurin.
That’s where things get complicated for the Bulls.
Chicago doesn’t have a player who matches Mathurin’s profile and value one-for-one. The closest might be rookie Matas Buzelis, but he’s not going anywhere - the Bulls view him as a long-term piece. Noa Essengue, the No. 12 pick in last year’s draft, has barely seen the floor and likely isn’t a trade chip just yet.
So what does that leave? Draft capital.
The Bulls do have some flexibility there. They control all of their own first-round picks and also own an extra first-rounder from the Portland Trail Blazers.
That gives them some ammo to work with. Packaging one or more of those picks, along with expiring contracts or by taking on a less desirable deal from New Orleans, could be enough to make things interesting.
Will the Bulls Pull the Trigger?
That’s the million-dollar question.
On paper, this is the kind of move that makes sense for where the Bulls are right now - trying to pivot toward a younger, more athletic core without bottoming out completely. Missi fits that mold.
He’s young, raw, and full of potential. He wouldn’t solve all of Chicago’s problems overnight, but he’d be a step in the right direction.
The challenge is whether executive VP Artūras Karnišovas is ready to make that kind of play. In the past, the Bulls’ front office has been cautious - sometimes to a fault - when it comes to parting with assets or making bold moves. But with the trade deadline approaching and the team still searching for a clear direction, this could be the right time to bet on upside.
If Chicago wants to get serious about reshaping its future, Yves Missi is exactly the kind of swing worth taking. The opportunity is there. Now it’s just a matter of whether the Bulls are ready to take the shot.