Surprising player could be Bulls’ best trade asset

The Chicago Bulls could make their star players available before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. An aging roster and lack of trade assets are forcing the front office’s hand, which could lead to a complete teardown. For most, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will be the two most desirable assets on the Bulls roster.

Yet, Alex Caruso could emerge as the Bulls’ best trade chip, as his $9.46 million salary and high-level two-way impact make him a potential target for every contending team in the NBA. According to insider Marc Stein, who was speaking on a recent episode of the “#thisleague UNCUT” podcast, there would be more than 10 teams interested in adding Caruso to their roster.

“If the Bulls decided to make Alex Caruso available, the line of teams chasing him would stretch into double digits,” Stein said.

Caruso, 29, is seen as a “winning” player. He makes hustle plays, can guard multiple positions, isn’t a black hole on offense and is known for being judicious with his shot selection. He can operate as part of a starting unit or impact the game coming off the bench. For such a reasonable salary-cap hit, Caruso will quickly find himself embroiled in a bidding war. He isn’t a star name who will draw fans into seats, but he’s the ideal addition for a team looking to strengthen its overall rotation ahead of a potentially deep playoff run.

Chicago will likely welcome any bidding war it can generate. The key to entering a successful rebuild is acquiring as many assets as possible. Caruso won’t net the Bulls any blue-chip prospects, but he could give the Bulls a chance at a player who hasn’t found his footing with a team, along with some draft capital.

LaVine and DeRozan might receive bigger trade packages, but they won’t have a market like Caruso’s. Suddenly, a teardown could become rather appealing for a Bulls front office that has been trying its best to avoid hitting the reset button.