Chicago Bulls return to work as trade deadline looms
At the Advocate Center, the management offices are on the second floor and overlook the Chicago Bulls' practice floor.
In turn, anyone standing on the court could look up Wednesday evening and see the Bulls' management team of John Paxson and Gar Forman hard at work doing something. Whether it will result in roster changes before Thursday's 2 p.m. trade deadline, that's anyone's guess.
The Bulls held their first practice post all-star break Wednesday. Jimmy Butler was given an extra day off after he was the Bulls' lone representative in the All-Star Game in New Orleans. He is expected back for Thursday's practice.
Everyone else on the roster participated except Paul Zipser, who is still coming back from an ankle injury. He most likely won't be available this weekend.
Dwyane Wade said his injured right wrist is still sore, but he expects to play Friday when the Bulls host Phoenix. If any Bulls are worried about the possibility of being traded, Wade said it didn't show.
"Everybody showed up to work and that's all you can do in this league," Wade said. "Taj (Gibson) said it best, 'No matter what happens, you're playing in the NBA, getting paid good money to do it.' You just can't worry about it. Everyone came in today and was just here to have fun, here to compete."
The chances of a Butler trade appear to be slim, but if Boston decides to throw its best assets at the Bulls, anything could happen. The Celtics have the right to swap first-round picks with Brooklyn this year and own the Nets' 2018 first-rounder with no restrictions. Brooklyn has the league's worst record.
The Bulls have not been interested a complete rebuild and recent NBA history has shown tanking for high draft picks is not an effective method of building a championship-caliber team.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports tweeted Wednesday that the Bulls are still pushing to trade for Philadelphia's Jahlil Okafor, a second-year center, No. 3 overall draft pick in 2015 and Chicago native.
It's not clear what the Bulls are offering in such a deal. This year's first-round draft pick is a possibility, along with most likely any young player on the Bulls' roster.
Okafor wouldn't fill the Bulls' biggest need, which is outside shooting. He did average 17.5 points as a rookie before losing playing time this year to a healthy Joel Embiid and healthier Nerlens Noel. Okafor is reminiscent of a young Al Jefferson, mostly unstoppable on offense and not too concerned with defense.
The Bulls are thought to be very willing to trade Nikola Mirotic, who has struggled with confidence and consistency for 2½ seasons, but it's not clear if he carries much value around the league. They may be tempted to keep Doug McDermott, since he has the potential to add 3-point shooting.
The Sixers made a minor deal Wednesday, sending well-traveled forward Ersan Ilyasova to Atlanta for center Tiago Splitter and some draft picks.
"I don't think (the trade deadline) affected us at all," coach Fred Hoiberg said after practice. "They're rumors, and our guys have done a good job of ignoring that. They can control what they can control, and that's going out and competing."
Wade's streak of being chosen to play in 12 consecutive All-Star Games came to an end this weekend, but he still attended the game, then made a stop in Miami. Several photos were sent via social media of Wade and former Miami teammate Chris Bosh relaxing on a boat with their wives.
"Think about it this way: Don't nobody want to see you shoot fadeaways and floaters. They want to see 3s and dunks," Wade said. "So sitting around on a Sunday from 4 to 8 in the locker room taking pictures, I'm cool with that."
Asked about the absurd lack of competitiveness in this year's All-Star Game, Wade acknowledged he might have helped start the trend when he broke Kobe Bryant's nose in the 2012 game in Orlando.
"Yeah, I would say if there was anything that could have happened, that could have been something," he said. "That could have changed the landscape of the competitiveness. Guys just want to come out of the all-star weekend healthy. So, yeah."
That 2012 game, a 152-149 West win, was very competitive at the end, light year's from Sunday's defenseless display.
"It was. That might have been the last one," Wade said. "And you understand it. It's tough. These players play all season, it's a long grind, and then when you get to the All-Star Game you want to have fun, you want to enjoy it and you don't want to come out injured. So, yeah."
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