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The Chicago Bulls stayed quiet at the NBA trade deadline once again this season, but they reportedly explored the possibility of trading one of their most coveted players.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, league sources said the Bulls “wound up giving real consideration” to trading swingman Alex Caruso on the day of the trade deadline “after insisting for weeks that they wouldn’t.” However, Chicago’s talks with the Golden State Warriors “ultimately collapsed.”
The Bulls have not made a trade at the deadline since 2021. Stein noted that in addition to discussions with the Warriors about Caruso falling apart, Chicago also informed the Philadelphia 76ers that they would be holding on to center Andre Drummond while the Sixers were “pressing” to acquire him.
Caruso is averaging 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. He’s shooting a career-high 48.2 percent from the field while also shooting 40.1 percent from three-point range.
Despite Golden State’s interest in the veteran guard, the team reportedly wasn’t willing to give up its best young player to acquire him. K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports reported that the Warriors “rebuffed” the Bulls when they inquired about including forward Jonathan Kuminga in a trade for Caruso. Johnson added that Chicago would have needed to be “floored by an offer” in order to move the 29-year-old.
At 26-29, the Bulls rank ninth in the Eastern Conference. While star shooting guard Zach LaVine was lost to season-ending foot surgery, Chicago is hoping that its decision to stand pat at the trade deadline will help the team make a late-season surge up the standings.
The Bulls will play their first game after the All-Star break on Thursday against the Boston Celtics.
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