The Bulls must have really liked Doug McDermott.
Chicago has essentially given up two first-round and three second-round picks for the Creighton forward. On draft night, the Bulls traded the No. 16 and No. 19 picks and a 2015 second rounder for the No. 11 pick and Anthony Randolph.
Now, they’re paying the Magic to take Randolph off their hands.
Sam Amick of USA Today:
As the Bulls keep clearing space, I'm told they'll send Anthony Randolph and two second rounders to Orlando. Randolph expected to be waived.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 14, 2014
Regarding aforementioned Bulls-Magic trade, I'm told Orlando gets the most favorable 2nds in 2015, 2016 & trades rights to Milovan Rakovic.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 14, 2014
The Bulls also have the Trail Blazers’ second rounders in 2015 and 2016.
Milovan Rakovic, going to the Bulls, was drafted with the final pick in the 2007 draft. He fills the requirement that both teams trade something, and it’s unlikely the 29-year-old Serbian ever joins the NBA.
I suppose it’s possible the Bulls liked Randolph, and their plans changed since. Maybe they didn’t anticipate needing to dump and do now to sign the clearly more-valuable Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic.
I doubt that, though. More likely, accepting Randolph – who’s owed $1,825,359 next season – was part of the cost of the trade.
For the Magic, this is the advantage of preserving cap room. A couple extra picks always come in handy for a rebuilding team.
