Bulls Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Chicago Entering 2021 Deadline

The Chicago Bulls currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference standings and still have playoff aspirations, intensifying trade talks as the deadline draws near.

The team, with needs at point guard and center, figure to be players in this year's trade talks. Will they land their desired players and if so, at what cost?

Who might the once-dominant organization have its sights on as it looks to re-establish itself as a force in the league?

Find out now with these trade rumors ahead of the 2021 deadline.

The Bulls recently offered the New Orleans Pelicans guard Tomas Satoransky and second-round picks for Lonzo Ball, according to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer. However, the Pelicans would want a good young player or first-round pick.

Ball is average 14.2 points, 45.2 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc. His shooting has improved recently, including a March 14 70 percent FG performance against the Clippers. His minutes have steadily increased, too, maxing out at 38 in a March 18 loss to Portland.

While he certainly has talent and is the object of more-than-one team's affection as the trade deadline nears, there are still valid questions about how well he would fit in with the Chicago.

Bulls wing Zach LaVine is playing the best ball of his career, doubling Lonzo's points per game and though he's not quite the defender, he does love the ball in his hands. That would seemingly limit the number of opportunities for Ball.

Assuming he does not stay in New Orleans, Ball would be presented with a scenario where he might have to be willing to take a backseat to other, better players and make the most of his opportunities. No matter how limited.

The Bulls are one of several teams interested in acquiring Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

Drummond was in the middle of a hot streak mid-February, peaking with a 70.6-percent field goal average against the Bucks on February 6, before trade talks led to the big man sitting out. He has not played since February 12, but that has not hurt his value.

The Bulls join the Nets, Celtics, Knicks, Raptors and Heat as potential suitors, according to Fedor.

Though surrounded by genuine playoff contenders, this is not the first time the Bulls have been linked to Drummond. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the team had inquired about acquiring Drummond earlier this season, when head coach Billy Donovan and management were looking to make a splash in the Eastern Conference.

An Eastern Conference in which the team can still make the playoffs.

To get there, the Bulls will have to right some wrongs in the glass, where they have played subpar ball and could use a force like Drummond, who might be having somewhat of a down year overall but is still very capable of being the X-factor in the paint the team has not had in quite some time.

Factor in the considerable rest Drummond has enjoyed having sat out for well over a month at this point, and there is plenty of reason to be intrigued by what the center could bring to a team just on the outside-looking-in on the postseason.

There is interest in Bulls forward Thaddeus Young across the league, but do not expect him to go anywhere, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

"They might be willing to make a deal involving another power forward, free agent-to-be Lauri Markkanen, but Young will likely be staying in Chicago."

The Bulls are not entirely out of the playoff hunt and the idea of giving away a versatile player like Young, who is a solid shooter and can grab a rebound on offense or defense is not necessarily appealing.

Especially if the team is unsure that what they get in return will fit as well or result in similar numbers.

Is Young a dynamic player? No, but he is the sort of presence who can assist any team he plays on in their quest for a championship.

It is no surprise that teams would be interested in him, nor is it any wonder why a fairly young Bulls team would want the 11-year veteran to stay put and contribute to its efforts to reach the postseason for the first time since 2017.