The current four-day break without a game will be the second-longest break of the season, just after February's All-Star festivities. The Chicago Bulls last played on December 8 and will resume play on December 13 in a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
Through mid-December, the Bulls are 10-15, sitting at 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Despite Chicago's subpar record, they're currently a play-in team and only three games behind the sixth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
For what feels like an eternity, the Bulls are not necessarily a bottom-feeder, nor are they good enough to compete with the likes of the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, or even the Orlando Magic. Chicago continues to be stuck in limbo, only drafting better than fifth once in the last 15 years.
Although mediocracy remains, there's an impending feeling that the Bulls will finally begin the long-awaited rebuild. Veterans Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are continuously mentioned in trade talks, albeit [not with much success](https://pippenainteasy.com/trade-talks-chicago-bulls-star-reportedly-non-existent). Furthermore, Patrick Williams, Lonzo Ball, Dalen Terry, and Julian Phillips have all been listed as trade candidates. Nevertheless, [the entire roster](https://pippenainteasy.com/bulls-trade-rumors-chicago-open-dealing-majority-roster-trade-deadline) is reportedly available for trade. Coincidentally for the Bulls Front Office, all but one player's trade restrictions will be lifted come December 15.
Every Bulls player who's eligible to be traded on December 15
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The lone Chicago Bull who won't be available via trade on the 15th is Williams. After re-signing with the Bulls on a five-year, $90 million pact at the end of June, Williams' trade restriction will be lifted on January 15 instead of the typical December 15 date league-wide.
Talen Horton-Tucker
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Talen Horton-Tucker is one of only two Bulls whose trade restrictions are lifted on the 15th. The Chicago native signed a partially guaranteed deal with the Bulls in September. He's slated to earn $2.45 million this season before entering unrestricted free agency for a second consecutive year in the 2025 offseason.
Thus far, the 6-foot-4 wing is averaging 7.2 points in 10.9 minutes per game. Horton-Tucker is having the most efficient season of his young career. The 24-year-old is converting 55.2 percent of his field goals and knocking down 51.4 percent of his three-pointers.
Jalen Smith
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Other than Horton-Tucker, Jalen Smith, who Chicago signed to a three-year, $27 million deal in July, will be made eligible for trade in five days. In 22 games off the bench, Smith averages 8.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. The sweet-shooting big man is also drilling 36.0 percent of his 3.4 three-pointers per contest.
At $9 million per season, Smith will ostensibly be more difficult to trade than the minimum-level Horton-Tucker. Including the 6-foot-10 big in a trade with LaVine is all but impossible due to the swingman's large sum. It's more likely Smith would be traded for an individual player, or tacked on to Terry or Phillips as a salary-matching component.