The Chicago Bulls made two significant roster moves Tuesday, headlined by the formal completion of a three-team trade that brings guard Jaden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons to Chicago.
As part of the same transaction, the Bulls received veteran point guard Mike Conley from the Minnesota Timberwolves. League insider Chris Haynes reported on X that Conley is not expected to play for Chicago; both sides are discussing either a subsequent trade before Thursday’s deadline or a contract buyout that would allow the 36-year-old to sign with a contender after clearing waivers.
The Bulls also shipped center Nikola Vučević to the Boston Celtics in a separate deal, acquiring guard Anfernee Simons and multiple draft picks. According to the Chicago Tribune, the front office remains active and is now attempting to move Coby White, viewing the guard as a prime asset for extracting picks or young talent from Western Conference contenders.
“There’s a narrative that it’s part of the business, but we’re still human,” White said when asked about the trade rumors. “Vooch was a locker-room leader. Seeing him go was tough for a lot of guys, but we still have a job to do.”
On the court, Chicago dropped its second straight game Tuesday, falling 131-115 to the Milwaukee Bucks after a lopsided loss to the Miami Heat. Forward Jalen Smith dismissed roster turmoil as a factor. “We’ve lost high-value players, but it’s the NBA,” he said. “It’s a next-man-up mentality.”
Head coach Billy Donovan told reporters that forward Zach Collins, sidelined since injuring his toe on Dec. 27, could miss the rest of the season. “As they put him two more weeks in the boot, how he comes out of that is going to tell a lot,” Donovan said, noting the organization is still trying to avoid surgery. Collins earlier missed the season’s first six weeks with a wrist injury.
Second-year wing Dalen Terry, who has struggled to secure a steady role since being drafted in 2022, logged six points and two blocks against Milwaukee while filling minutes created by the recent roster overhaul. “Every time I get a chance to be on an NBA court, I’m going to show why,” Terry said. “If you would have asked me this when I was a rookie, it would have been hard. But me being four years in, I know what it is.”
Source: HoopsRumors
