December 15 is an important date on the NBA calendar as 85 more players become eligible to be traded.

That means there are more options available for contending teams to add another star or that final piece in preparation for a championship run.

For those not-so-contending teams – the Chicago Bulls, for instance – that means free agents signed during the summer can now be added to the trade block. And for the Bulls specifically, that means backup center Jalen Smith.

If the organizational goal is to restock the asset cupboard, then outside of Matas Buzelis and perhaps Coby White, no one on Chicago’s roster should be untouchable as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches.

That includes Smith, who’s proven valuable to the Bulls so far this season and could bring something of value back to Chicago if he’s sent elsewhere.

Bulls should try to trade Jalen Smith for draft picks

The 6-foot-10 Smith was the 10th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. His potential as a stretch five was too much for the Phoenix Suns to ignore … until they declined his rookie option and traded him to the Indiana Pacers the next season.

Smith developed into a serviceable role player in Indiana. During the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, the Maryland product averaged 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game across 129 contests, 45 of which were starts.

That was enough for the Bulls to offer him a three-year, $27 million contract as a backup to Nikola Vucevic, and at just 24 years old, potentially more.

In 22 games off the bench this season, Smith has averages of 8.0 points and 5.1 rebounds. He’s shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from three on 3.4 attempts per contest.

Per 36 minutes, Smith is averaging 19.5 points, 3.0 3-pointers and 12.4 rebounds.

The Baltimore native should hold value across the league as a backup center who can stretch the floor, run in transition and grab a handful of rebounds on a cheap contract. If he’s forced into playing more minutes, he’s proven capable of doing that, too.

The Bulls have no reason to keep Smith if they can get anything worthwhile in return, even if that’s just a few second-round picks. Draft capital is the most valuable currency to a rebuilding franchise.

Chicago will struggle to trade Zach LaVine. Vucevic, even during a career year, may not fetch more than a few second rounders. Lonzo Ball and his $24.1 million expiring contract could bring something back to Chicago, but nothing franchise-altering (and keeping Ball might not be a bad idea, anyway).

Letting Smith go would also open up more minutes for Buzelis, which may be even more valuable than any draft picks he would net in return.

The Bulls will be able to field offers for Smith starting Dec. 15, and if they find anything worthwhile, it makes sense to pull the trigger.