Training camp hasn’t even started, but the NBA is already buzzing because of the Damian Lillard trade. Lillard went to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team deal with the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. The intricate deal saw the Blazers receive guard Jrue Holiday from the Bucks.
According to reports, Portland intends to trade Holiday before the 2023-24 season begins. The Chicago Bulls are reportedly one of the teams on his preferred destination list.
As the situation develops, the Blazers’ asking price for Holiday has come to light. Jared Weiss of The Athletic reports that Portland is seeking for two first-rounders in exchange for Holiday.
The Bulls’ draft pick outlook is still depleted from the DeMar DeRozan trade, and they already have a pending pick swap with the Blazers.
On top of meeting the criteria of two first-rounders, the Bulls would have to match Holiday’s salary of roughly $37 million. This means that Chicago would have to send Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams and/or Alex Caruso, and other assets to Portland in a potential trade for Holiday. That’s a steep price to pay for a player with only one year and a player option remaining on his deal.
The Bulls already picked up Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig this offseason to address their guard issues. Adding Holiday to the mix, costing the Bulls their future in the process, wouldn’t be a prudent move on the part of Arturas Karnisovas.
