The Chicago Bulls are looking at a full-on rebuild this season. After trading Jimmy Butler to the Wolves, Chicago is hoping to bottom out and gear up for a top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The Bulls’ current position, with a chance at being the worst team in the NBA, makes them a perfect destination for salary dumps, allowing the Bulls to take on other teams’ worst contracts while gaining assets in the same transaction.
That’s what the Bulls did on Thursday as Shams Charania of The Vertical reported that the team acquired Pelicans’ forward Quincy Pondexter as well as a second round pick.
According to Brett Martel of the Associated Press, the Bulls will send the draft rights to international player Ater Majok. In truth, the best thing the Chicago is doing for the New Orleans is take on salary, so the international player does not mean too much.
#Pelicans getting draft rights to international player Ater Majok as part of trade sending Pondexter, 2nd-rd pick, cash to the #Bulls.
— Brett Martel (@brettmartel) September 1, 2017
Pondexter has not played in the NBA since 2015 due to recurring injuries.
According to Sean Highkin, the Bulls have not yet decided if they will keep Pondexter on the roster or cut him. Pondexter will make just shy of four million dollars this season and is a free agent next summer.
While not an elite asset, the second round pick is something the Bulls need as they are hoping to add more young talent to their roster. In July, the team was widely criticized for selling a second-round pick (which became Jordan Bell) to the Golden State Warriors for cash considerations.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, open up a roster spot as well as cap space to sign a free agent. They may be looking to sign Dante Cunningham or any of the players who worked out for the team on Thursday (including Josh Smith) in the aftermath of the Solomon Hill injury.
