The Bulls are only 14 days into the regular season, but the trade buzz around them is already picking up speed.
Chicago’s 1-6 start has only made the noise louder, and the front office knew coming into the year that more roster work would be needed. Norman Powell was the first name to surface this weekend as a possible trade chip, with Jake Fischer saying on a Bleacher Report Livestream that the Bulls hope a market develops for the veteran scorer. Powell, though, cannot be dealt until mid-December because most players who signed free-agent contracts this offseason are not yet trade-eligible.
Now Jalen Smith has entered the conversation too.
In a recent write-up for The Stein Line, Fischer reported that the Golden State Warriors recently called the Bulls about Smith. Unlike Powell, Smith can be traded right away, and his strong start has only made him more interesting to other teams despite Chicago’s rough record.
Golden State’s interest appears tied to its frontcourt situation, specifically the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis has not played this season because of health issues and remains away from the team indefinitely. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday morning that the Warriors are not delivering payments to Porzingis, who is owed $20.0 million this year, and are still exploring trade options to move his salary and solve their frontcourt problem.
Smith fits the kind of role Golden State would be looking for. He is not Porzingis, but he brings a similar blend of skills: he can stretch the floor, run in transition and defend both the four and the five. That kind of versatility makes sense in a Warriors system, though he would also appeal to plenty of other teams looking for help up front.
That is why Chicago may want to be patient. Bryson Graham does not need to rush into anything just because a team has already called. Smith’s value could climb as the season goes on, and the fact that another team is already checking in says plenty about how he is being viewed around the league.
He has also been one of the Bulls’ steadiest performers so far. Smith is averaging 12.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 47.8 percent from the field. Dunks & Threes lists his Estimated Plus-Minus at +2.6, which leads the Bulls and ranks in the top 23 among all forwards and centers.
There is even a case to be made for keeping him around longer. Smith is making $9.4 million this season, is only 26 years old, and in theory gives Chicago the kind of spacing that works next to wings like Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis.
Still, every player has a price. What happens next may come down to how aggressive Golden State wants to be. If the Warriors were willing to send an unprotected first-round pick, that would be hard for Chicago to ignore.
There is also the possibility of a larger deal, one in which the Bulls help the Warriors move off Porzingis’ contract while sending Smith the other way. That kind of move could bring back additional future assets, but it would also require more pieces and more salary movement from Chicago.
For now, though, nothing is close. The Warriors are still evaluating their options, and the Bulls are doing the same. What this report really underscores is that Chicago is going to be part of the trade conversation all season long, with several interesting pieces on the roster and a front office still in the early stages of shaping the team into its own vision.
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