Going into the 2021-22 season, most fans assumed that the Bulls would struggle to stop teams from scoring, especially in the paint. While that ultimately proved to be right, it looked like Chicago figured things out on that end for the first couple of months.
Thanks to first-year Bulls guards Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball agitating opponents and clogging the passing lanes (and rookie Ayo Dosunmu sliding around screens), the team ranked in the top seven in defensive rating between the start of the season and the end of November. By the end of December, they were still in the top 10.
Once Caruso and Ball started missing games, however, the Bulls’ lack of size and perimeter stoppers caused their defense to freefall to the bottom third of the league. Specifically, the Bulls struggled with blocks (25th in swats per 100 possessions), and that inability to repel or even alter shots in the paint caused opponents to constantly attack that weakness (only the San Antonio Spurs surrendered more shots inside the restricted area per game).
Gobert, who has averaged at least two blocks per game in all but one of his nine seasons, would fix nearly all of the Bulls’ rim protection problems. In addition to the blocks, which is a small aspect of defensive success, the Frenchman ranked in the 90th percentile or better in rim deterrence, rim shots contested rate, and block rate on contests, per BBall Index (subscription required).
In Utah, Gobert papered over the Jazz’s lack of perimeter defenders and carried them to a top 10 defense in 2021-22. With Ball and Caruso on the Bulls roster, his load would lessen while also easing those guards’ responsibilities on the perimeter.
Chicago Bulls</a> now shift their focus to the offseason. They will hope to improve on a roster that showed promise for most of 2021-22 but faltered due to injures.</p>
<p>The Bulls seem particularly focused on redressing the frontcourt. Per <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/25/nba-trades-rudy-gobert-chicago-bulls/2/"https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/6/6/23156358/donovan-mitchell-rumors-jazz-nba-finals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a report from The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor</a>, Chicago has expressed interest in acquiring, among other options, Utah Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert.</p>
<p>This would indicate that the Bulls are looking for alternatives to incumbent center Nikola Vučević, especially if they plan to trade for Gobert since they would probably have to include Vučević for salary-matching purposes.</p>
<h2>The Chicago Bulls wanting to get a player of Rudy Gobert’s caliber makes a lot of sense, but the idea is not without its drawbacks.</h2>
<p>The scuttlebutt surrounding Gobert and the Bulls could ultimately result in nothing, as most of these pre-free agency rumors often do. However, it’s still intriguing to ponder the possibility of the good and bad it could bring to the team.</p>
<p>Obviously, adding a three-time All-NBA defender and Defensive Player of the Year sounds like an easy decision, assuming the Bulls could cobble together an acceptable trade package for him. But, as Jazz fans can attest, those positives come with their share of frustrations as well.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/25/nba-trades-rudy-gobert-chicago-bulls/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Pros </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-446349" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/25/nba-trades-rudy-gobert-chicago-bulls/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1386273618-1.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades, Chicago Bulls, Rudy Gobert" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1386273618-1.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1386273618-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 16: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz looks on before a game against the Chicago Bulls at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah, NBA Trades: Pros and cons of a potential Rudy Gobert-Chicago Bulls trade. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Trades: Pros of a potential Rudy Gobert-Chicago Bulls trade</h2>
<p>Going into the 2021-22 season, most fans assumed that the Bulls would struggle to stop teams from scoring, especially in the paint. While that ultimately proved to be right, it looked like Chicago figured things out on that end for the first couple of months.</p>
<p>Thanks to first-year Bulls guards Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball agitating opponents and clogging the passing lanes (and rookie Ayo Dosunmu sliding around screens), the team ranked in the top seven in defensive rating between the start of the season and the end of November. By the end of December, they were still in the top 10.</p>
<p>Once Caruso and Ball started missing games, however, the Bulls’ lack of size and perimeter stoppers caused their defense to freefall to the bottom third of the league. Specifically, the Bulls struggled with blocks (25th in swats per 100 possessions), and that inability to repel or even alter shots in the paint caused opponents to constantly attack that weakness (only the San Antonio Spurs surrendered more shots inside the restricted area per game).</p>
<p>Gobert, who has averaged at least two blocks per game in all but one of his nine seasons, would fix nearly all of the Bulls’ rim protection problems. In addition to the blocks, which is a small aspect of defensive success, the Frenchman ranked in the 90th percentile or better in rim deterrence, rim shots contested rate, and block rate on contests, per BBall Index (subscription required).</p>
<p>In Utah, Gobert papered over the Jazz’s lack of perimeter defenders and carried them to a top 10 defense in 2021-22. With Ball and Caruso on the Bulls roster, his load would lessen while also easing those guards’ responsibilities on the perimeter.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/25/nba-trades-rudy-gobert-chicago-bulls/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> More pros </a>
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<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Draft: Evaluating the 1st-Round for all 30 teams </a> </div>
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