Category: Bulls Rumors

Proposed trade lands Jarred Vanderbilt with the Bulls

The proposed trade would see the Chicago Bulls swap Alex Caruso for Jarred Vanderbilt and a future first-round draft pick.

The Chicago Bulls are expected to be active in the trade market this summer. After missing out on the playoffs, it’s clear that some changes must be made to the current playing staff. Unfortunately for the Bulls, that could mean saying goodbye to some fan favorites and high-level contributors.

According to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, moving on from Alex Caruso could help shore up Chicago’s frontcourt while allowing the team to get younger and more diverse on the defensive end. Buckley’s trade proposal would see Caruso head back to the Los Angeles Lakers, with Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2029 first-round draft pick heading in the opposite direction.

“The Bulls previously put a high trade price on Caruso, but they might think this suffices if they’re fans of Vanderbilt, who is an impactful and versatile defensive stopper in his own right. A lightly protected future first from a team built around a 39-year-old James and a 31-year-old, oft-injured Anthony Davis is about as valuable as a draft asset can be.”

Chicago has very few tradeable assets. As such, bringing back a future draft pick would give the front office some flexibility as they look to restructure the team. Vanderbilt would provide high-level wing defense while also adding size to the rotation.

Nevertheless, the Bulls have been reluctant to part with Caruso in the past. He’s seen as a winning player and the type of talent that helps set a culture within the locker room. Still, if the Bulls are going to re-tool or rebuild their roster, Caruso may be the first domino that has to fall.

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Bulls could lose Andre Drummond in the offseason

The Chicago Bulls are expected to lose Andre Drummond once the free agency period begins in the summer.

Andre Drummond could leave the Chicago Bulls during the offseason. The veteran big man is heading into unrestricted free agency and could garner interest from multiple teams around the NBA. Drummond was almost traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Feb. 8 trade deadline before the Bulls pulled out of the deal.

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has reported that Drummond is expected to move on from Chicago this summer despite his legitimate impact when checking into games off the bench. Drummond averaged 8.4 points and 9 rebounds per game while shooting 55.6% from the field.

“What remains to be seen, however, is what direction do the Bulls go? Do they prepare for DeMar DeRozan possibly leaving in free agency or if he does return — the more likely scenario — draft his heir apparent at the small forward position?” Cowley wrote. “Do they grab a big to replace the expected vacancy with Andre Drummond looking for a new team, as well as some youth to push starter Nikola Vucevic?”

Drummond will likely field offers from multiple contending teams throughout the summer. His size and rebounding ability will be a major draw for teams that are looking to shore up their defense and like to control the tempo of games.

Nevertheless, the Bulls may need to start shopping around for a new backup center, as Adama Sanogo is also set to hit the (restricted) free-agent market. The upcoming free agent period projects will be interesting for the Bulls.

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Reacting to DeMar DeRozan-Clippers and Zach LaVine-76ers rumors

Could the Chicago Bulls lose Zach LaVine to the Philadelphia 76ers and DeMar DeRozan to the LA Clippers?

By the time the 2024-25 season starts, the Chicago Bulls roster could look a lot different than it does now. They have the potential to make a ton of different moves this summer, and it would make a ton of sense for them to start planning for the future, rebuilding around Coby White, who looks like a star in the making.

Over the last few weeks, multiple rumors have surfaced regarding the Bulls’ current stars leaving Chicago for other teams. Zach LaVine has been connected to the Philadelphia 76ers in trade rumors, and DeMar DeRozan has been linked to the LA Clippers in free agency rumors.

The CHGO Sports YouTube channel recently discussed these two ideas and what they would mean for the Bulls moving forward.

If the Bulls want to commit to a new rebuild with White at the helm, getting rid of LaVine and letting DeRozan walk make sense as two of the first steps in the process.

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Bulls need to create a clear focus for the franchise this offseason

The Chicago Bulls need to figure out the direction of their franchise this summer.

The Chicago Bulls have a lot of things they need to do this summer as they attempt to push forward. However, they also have a lot of different directions they could go in. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report listed one of their “top needs” as finding a clear direction for the organization.

“You could argue Chicago’s direction is already established,” Buckley wrote. “You could also look at its recent results and hope like heck that isn’t the case. The Bulls have said mediocrity won’t be tolerated. And they’ve largely played mediocre basketball ever since. They had some early juice with this group before Lonzo Ball hurt his knee, but that injury was basically two-and-a-half years ago. That can’t be the main motivation to believe things will turn around.

“But this team hasn’t had a winning record or a playoff spot in either of the past two seasons, so what exactly is the plan here? That simply cannot be a question people are still pondering coming out of this offseason. The free-agency adventures of DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams could be hugely revealing on that front.”

Before the Bulls commit to anything, they need to figure out where they want to go.

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Lonzo Ball talks about potential return to Bulls for 2024-25 season

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball recently spoke about his potential return on the latest edition of his new podast.

The Chicago Bulls have been a middle-of-the-pack team for the past few seasons. They ended their rebuild in 2021, choosing to push forward and compete for the postseason. Since then, they’ve only made the playoffs in one of three seasons, and that year, they only won a single playoff game.

A big part of their struggles has been the absence of Lonzo Ball. He injured his knee in 2022 and has yet to appear on the court for the Bulls since. Ball recently revealed that he had to get his meniscus replaced, as well as some cartilage. Despite that, he plans on being back next season.

Ball recently started his own podcast, “What An Experience,” and he spoke about potentially returning for the Bulls next year.

Ball still has a ton of work to do before stepping back onto the court for the Bulls, but he seems confident in his ability to get back out there.

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DeMar DeRozan’s eyebrow-raising quotes on Lakers: ‘Never say no’

Could Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan be playing for the Los Angeles Lakers next season?

Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it will be up to the Chicago Bulls to figure out a way to keep him on board, which it sounds like they want to do. But whether or not they should actually bring him back is another question. Should Chicago rebuild? Or should they re-sign their guys?

DeRozan will be free to sign wherever he wants, and while he has expressed a level of desire to remain with the Bulls, nothing is guaranteed. And based on DeRozan’s response to potentially playing with the Los Angeles Lakers, a return home may not be out of the question.

A native of Compton, California, DeRozan said that he will never rule out a return home during a recent appearance on FanDuel TV.

“You can’t never say no about playing home…Time will tell. We’ll see where the cards fall,” DeRozan said.

Could we see DeRozan playing for the Lakers or LA Clippers next year?

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Deciding DeMar DeRozan’s future labeled Bulls’ number-one priority

Deciding what to do with DeMar DeRozan should be the toppriority for the Chicago Bulls this offseason.

The Chicago Bulls have some huge choices to make this summer. Choices that will help decide the course of the organization for years to come. According to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, deciding DeMar DeRozan’s future with the team should be their number-one priority this offseason.

“Want to get a clear and concise read on Chicago’s plans for next season? Just watch how DeMar DeRozan’s unrestricted free agency plays out,” Buckley wrote. “If the Bulls are aiming to maximize their competitiveness, they won’t let DeRozan get away. He has been objectively awesome over his three seasons with the team (25.5 points and 5.1 assists per game) and even better in big moments. He’s had the second-most clutch points in each of the past three seasons, and the worst he ever shot on those late-game looks was 47.1 percent, per NBA.com.

“Of course, if Chicago is finally ready to shift its focus forward, then the idea of giving DeRozan, who turns 35 in August, a new deal is a non-starter. To be clear, the Bulls have given no indication of being open to a rebuild, but with the last three seasons having yielded just a single playoff trip and no series wins, that has to be an option they’re at least considering. The likeliest scenario seemingly involves giving DeRozan a new deal and working to beef up the roster around him and breakout star Coby White, but that obviously isn’t the only way things can play out. Once it’s clear whether DeRozan is sticking around or not, the rest of their offseason decisions should become a lot easier to make.”

DeRozan will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so the Bulls could either re-sign him, let him walk, or complete a sign-and-trade.

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3 NBA teams floated as ‘best landing spots’ for DeMar DeRozan trade

Could these three teams be good destinations for Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan?

If the Chicago Bulls are truly committed to preparing for the future, they should let DeMar DeRozan go this summer. At the very least, they should look to sign and trade him, ushering in a new era in Chicago. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report recently listed a few teams as potential “best landing spots” for DeRozan in his article titled “5 NBA Stars on the Wrong Team.” He listed the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat.

Philadelphia will be looking to reshape their roster around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Lakers are doing the same with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and the Heat seem to be entering a weird transition period.

Regardless of where he ends up, letting DeRozan go would be the best way for the Bulls to start a new era of the organization.

Paying him a bunch of money just to help the team continue their path of mediocrity would be counterintuitive.

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Is Chicago Bulls veteran center Nikola Vucevic a trade candidate?

We are hearing rumbles that the Bulls big man is going to be shopped this coming 2024 NBA offseason.

Is Chicago Bulls veteran center Nikola Vucevic a trade candidate? We are hearing rumbles that the Bulls big man is going to be shopped this coming 2024 NBA offseason from the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley, who reports that the Bulls will look to overhaul the roster significantly this summer.

“While … moving LaVine this offseason remains priority one, a source also said that Vucevic would be shopped as well,” reports Cowley. “The reality of the situation, however, is that both players could be tough to move.” Bulls fans need no reminder of the considerable cost and length of the oft-injured Chicago guard’s contract, but Vooch’s isn’t exactly a bargain given his situation either.

Currently owed $20 million for the 2024-25 season and another $21 million for the season beyond it, the 33-year-old big man is losing a step while shooting about as bad from beyond the arc (29.4%) as he ever has.

Still, there may be contenders in need of Vucevic’s services, even if they are overpriced and declining. And we expect a fair amount of ball clubs across the league to start working on their buyer’s remorse that could also come into play.

So while we do not think it likely both LaVine and Vooch are with new teams come October, it is also more probable than some fans will let themselves admit based on recent history. If, that is, the front office is serious about retooling the roster (and that’s a big if).

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Projecting the future of the Chicago Bulls: DeMar DeRozan

What will the Chicago Bulls do with DeMar DeRozan this offseason?

When the Chicago Bulls signed DeMar DeRozan in 2021, many people said it was a terrible deal. However, since DeRozan has been in Chicago, he’s done nothing but prove those people wrong. The veteran forward has returned to All-Star form, yet the Bulls haven’t experienced the same level of success as a team.

Now, after a second straight losing season, the Bulls face some difficult decisions in the summer. DeRozan’s contract is up, and they didn’t move him at the deadline. Recent rumblings have indicated the Bulls could potentially choose to re-sign DeRozan to a massive contract, but if they want to plan for the future, that shouldn’t be a part of it.

In reality, the Bulls have stuck by their current core feverishly for the past three years, and it seems fairly likely that they will end up keeping DeRozan around.

What should happen: The Bulls cut their losses and let DeRozan walk, ushering in a new era of Chicago basketball led by Coby White and a new-look young core.

What will happen: Chicago will probably find a middle ground and bring back DeRozan on a short-term contract that ranges from $25 to $30 million per season.

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