One of the teams reported to be in the race for Bennedict Mathurin has been the Chicago Bulls. That’s good news for fans of the Windy City, right? A young and talented wing like Mathurin would fit right into the Bulls’ scheme centered around franchise pieces in Caleb Wilson, Josh Giddey, and Matas Buzelis.
Well, apparently, according to Joel Lorenzi of ‘The Athletic,’ the Bulls don’t want to offer future draft capital for Mathurin, even those in the second round. This ultimately eliminates them as a potential destination for the 23-year-old, as the Clippers may deem it mandatory that picks be included in the sign-and-trade, which is a mistake given his capabilities.
The only way the Bulls could get away with not parting with draft assets is if they give the Clippers a player who meets their needs and is on a team-friendly contract. Yet, based on Chicago’s payroll and who is realistically available, there is not really anyone that comes off as appealing.
The Chicago Bulls are making a grave mistake
This past season, on both the Indiana Pacers and LA Clippers, Bennedict Mathurin averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, shooting 43.0% from the field. These are the numbers he produced in just his fourth season in the NBA. That’s absurd.
Now, imagine Mathurin in a role where he will be needed to score the ball and make an impact on all three levels offensively, while still showing his teeth on the defensive end. He would soon develop into an All-Star.
Quite frankly, these are the types of responsibilities Mathurin might have on the Chicago Bulls if traded.
In the starting lineup, next to Josh Giddey, Mathurin would make the Bulls’ backcourt a nightmare to contain, and in the event newly-hired head coach Tiago Splitter decides to make him a sixth man, he could very well end the regular season as the best in the league.
Acquiring Mathurin is literally a win-win for the Bulls. Additionally, his age makes him someone they could prioritize for the long run.
However, all because Chicago’s front office reportedly doesn’t want to give up any sort of picks for Mathurin, a successful trade with the Clippers seems to be unlikely.
This will end up being viewed as a way the Bulls held themselves back, as the addition of Mathurin is one that has a high chance of panning out to perfection.
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