Wild trade proposal sends Chris Paul to the Chicago Bulls

Crazier trades have happened in the NBA.

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With a 10-16 record, there’s still time to turn things around for the Chicago Bulls. However, it’s crucial for the front office to make a move that could help spark the team’s turnaround. A trade idea concocted by Bleacher Report may be what cures some of the Bulls’ ills this season.

Chris Paul to the Windy City

In this trade proposed by Andy Bailey, the Bulls would send out big man Nikola Vucevic and fan-favorite but oft-injured guard Alex Caruso to the Warriors in exchange for Chris Paul, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick. While Bailey admitted this trade is a longshot, he also makes some solid points, with one being the Bulls would finally get their hands on a legitimate court general.

“This feels like the biggest swing of the slideshow so far. Poor shooting aside, Chris Paul has actually been solid for the Golden State Warriors. As intended, he's stabilizing minutes without Stephen Curry on the floor, and he's elevating the superstar when they're playing together, too,” Bailey wrote.

Now playing in his 18th season in the league, CP3 is no longer the superstar he once was. What he remains, though, is a heady floor general who almost always makes the right play.

The Bulls could use a veteran leader like Chris Paul, and he's also exactly the kind of player that Billy Donovan loves to coach. He'd be a great mentor for Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, too.

Chris Paul ends the 3Q with the DEEP triple! 💰 pic.twitter.com/wtzoV6MDT2

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 15, 2023

Clear some cap space

This move would also shed some precious cap space, giving the Bulls the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and rebuild this once-proud franchise the right way.

“The opportunity to unload Nikola Vucevic's contract (he's on the books for $41.5 million over the two seasons after this one) would have to be enticing, too,” Bailey said.

Losing Caruso and his all-around brilliance would hurt, but the possibility of gaining two first-round picks may prove too enticing to turn down.

“For Chicago, this is obviously mostly about the picks. It needs a reboot about as badly as any team in the league, and picks are critical at the opening stages of a reboot. CP3's contract would also add some flexibility. His $30 million salary for 2024-25 is completely non-guaranteed, making him essentially an expiring contract.”

The Chicago Bulls are ‘hesitant’ to trade arguably their ‘greatest success story’ in Alex Caruso, per @KCJHoop

“Caruso is arguably this regime’s greatest success story and he is the perfect embodiment of the culture the franchise wants to project. Trading him would be painful… pic.twitter.com/OHpLvKbo0i

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 7, 2023

Charles Barkley strongly criticizes the current state of the Chicago Bulls