🚨 CHICAGO BULLS MAKE A NEW MOVE: AK’s Overhaul Continues as Bulls Trade Dalen Terry for Guerschon Yabusele! What’s Next? 👇
The Chicago Bulls are deep into their roster overhaul, and last night they made their fifth trade, sending Dalen Terry to the New York Knicks in exchange for Guerschon Yabusele. This move raises questions about the Bulls’ direction as they continue to reshape the team. Despite trading a former first-round pick, the move appears to be part of a larger strategy. Is this the last trade for the Bulls, or is Arturas Karnisovas (AK) still cooking up more changes?
The Bulls’ Latest Move: Dalen Terry for Guerschon Yabusele
Dalen Terry, the Bulls’ 2022 first-round pick, was highly touted for his all-around game, but he never really found consistent playing time. With competition from other guards like Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, and Tre Jones, Terry struggled to break into the rotation, leading to limited opportunities to showcase his potential. Now, the Bulls have sent him to the New York Knicks in exchange for Guerschon Yabusele, a 30-year-old French forward.
Yabusele’s career has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He spent his early NBA years bouncing between the G-League and the main roster, but after a five-year gap, he returned and played a more prominent role in the NBA. In his recent stint, he averaged 27 minutes, 11 points, and nearly 6 rebounds per game. Known for his physicality, aggressive rebounding, and tough defense, Yabusele’s skill set is exactly what the Bulls have been missing all season—a strong, versatile forward who can contribute in the paint.
While this trade might seem like a lateral move in terms of position, it addresses an ongoing need for the Bulls: size and strength. Yabusele’s defensive prowess and rebounding ability provide a fresh dynamic for the team, especially as the Bulls continue their rebuilding phase.
What Does This Trade Mean for the Bulls?
At first glance, this trade seems like a minor addition, but it does add cap flexibility and a decent rotational piece. Yabusele is a cheap option who could prove useful as the Bulls look to develop their younger players, and there’s always the potential that he could be flipped for something better in the future. However, the move doesn’t address the biggest needs AK has on his checklist for today—adding a rim-protecting center and dealing with the logjam at guard.
The Bulls’ roster is still crowded with guards, and as things stand, the team has Ayo Dosunmu, Tre Jones, Josh Giddey, Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, and Collin Sexton on the books. This creates a situation where there are six guards vying for playing time after the trade deadline. Unless a few of these guards are moved, it’s going to be difficult for the team to allocate consistent minutes to all of them.
Bulls’ Guard Situation: Who’s Moving and Who’s Staying?
After this trade, the Bulls are still looking to address their crowded backcourt, and AK seems to be targeting some key players. Ayo Dosunmu, Anfernee Simons, and Collin Sexton are reportedly still on the trading block, with the Bulls hoping to either offload a guard or clear up roster space to make room for more impactful pieces.
Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, and Jaden Ivey are seen as the players that the Bulls are less likely to move at this point. With four guards now potentially on the move and only two open roster spots, AK is faced with a tough decision regarding which player(s) to trade. Joe Cowley from the Chicago Sun-Times shared that Dosunmu, Simons, and Sexton are still trade candidates in the near future, meaning the Bulls’ backcourt may look quite different post-deadline.
What’s Next for the Bulls? Who is AK Targeting?
As the deadline approaches, it’s clear that the Bulls need to make more significant moves to finish their roster overhaul. AK’s top priority remains adding a center, preferably one who is young, athletic, and capable of rim protection. The Bulls have been lacking in size and defensive presence in the paint, so finding a center who can protect the rim and contribute offensively is key for their future success.
While Yabusele addresses one need (strength and rebounding), the center position remains the biggest void. AK will likely continue to search for a deal that can bolster the Bulls’ frontcourt, while also looking to offload one or two of their guards.
Additionally, AK has five second-round picks to use as sweeteners in potential trades, which could help the Bulls acquire a quality center or even add some more depth at other positions. With Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and other teams still active in trade talks, the Bulls could potentially make one more splash move before the deadline ends.
What’s Next for AK and the Bulls’ Future?
In summary, while Guerschon Yabusele might not be the biggest name in the NBA, he represents a small but strategic step for the Bulls in their roster overhaul. His addition adds size, strength, and some defensive toughness to a team that has lacked those elements for much of the season. However, AK still has significant work to do to address the Bulls’ most pressing needs, particularly at center and guard.
As the deadline approaches, AK will likely be busy working the phones, looking to move more guards and possibly secure a young, athletic center who can anchor the defense and provide an added dimension to the team. The Bulls are far from done making changes, and their actions over the next few hours will be crucial in determining how they finish the season and build for the future.
Stay tuned as the Bulls’ trade deadline drama unfolds, with AK’s next moves potentially setting the stage for the team’s next phase of their rebuilding journey. Will they land a key piece? Only time will tell, but with Yabusele now in the fold, Arturas Karnisovas is making progress, even if there’s still more work to do.