Category: Bulls

Bulls are team to ‘keep in mind’ for potential James Harden trade

The Chicago Bulls could be a potential team to watch for a James Harden trade.

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The Chicago Bulls seem content running it back next season. They have re-signed Nikola Vucevic and Coby White and are also in the process of adding additional help. On the first day of free agency, they signed veteran point guard Jevon Carter to a three-year deal worth $20 million.

However, there’s always a chance the Bulls decide to make big-time changes, as there have been rumblings of Chicago gauging interest in potential Zach LaVine trades. And while it seems extremely unlikely that the Bulls will make massive changes, a recent report could raise some eyebrows in the world of NBA trade rumors.

According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Bulls are a team to “keep in mind” as the Philadelphia 76ers work to find a James Harden trade.

“Chicago would be one potential trade partner to keep in mind, as the Bulls have made Zach LaVine available in conversations this offseason, sources said, and could also send an All-Star such as DeMar DeRozan back to Philadelphia. But there will be many avenues the Sixers explore before finalizing a Harden trade,” Fischer wrote.

Harden just opted into his player option with the 76ers but is seeking a trade. The LA Clippers and New York Knicks were mentioned as the two most likely trade destinations. And of those two teams, the Clippers seem to be the favorites.

However, if Chicago chooses to make significant moves, a potential Harden deal could help their point guard needs while also freeing up some long-term money, should they throw LaVine in the deal.

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Report: Bulls sign Jevon Carter to three-year, $20 million contract

The Chicago Bulls have signed Jevon Carter to a three-year, $20 million contract, according to reports.

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According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Chicago Bulls have signed point guard Jevon Carter to a three-year, $20 million contract. The 27-year-old guard is coming off a career season with the Milwaukee Bucks, in which he played 81 games and started 39 of them.

Carter played 22.3 minutes per contest for the Bucks. He averaged 8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 42.3% from the field and 42.1% from behind the arc. The veteran attempted a career-high 4.2 3-point attempts per game. Carter has been known as a hard-nosed defender since his days at West Virginia, and his 3-point stroke has seemingly come around as well.

The Bulls entered free agency with a massive need at the point guard position, but they addressed that within the first hour of free agency, bringing in Carter and re-signing Coby White to a three-year, $40 million deal.

Carter had been discussed as an option at Bulls Wire. With the way he played this past season, he could be in line to be Chicago’s starting point guard heading into the season.

White showed solid potential toward the end of this past season, but Carter’s defensive presence and consistent 3-point shot should give him the edge. He has the chance to form an elite defensive backcourt with Alex Caruso, and Chicago was one of the worst shooting teams in the league last year, so they could use that in the starting lineup.

The Bulls still have work to do this summer, though, as they plan to push for the postseason next year. Rather than hitting the reset button, the Bulls have decided to continue pushing their chips on the table.

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Report: Bulls re-sign Coby White to 3-year, $40 million contract

The Chicago Bulls have re-signed Coby White to a three-year, $40 million contract, according to reports.

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According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Chicago Bulls are re-signing point guard Coby White to a new three-year, $40 million contract. The 23-year-old point guard showed a great deal of potential toward the end of last season, stepping into a starting role and flashing the talent that lured the Bulls to pick him seventh overall in 2019.

Chicago previously extended qualifying offers to White and Ayo Dosunmu, both of whom could be crucial pieces moving forward given Lonzo Ball is not expected to return to the court next season. This leaves the Bulls very thin at the point guard position.

Shams Charania of The Athletic originally reported the deal was three years, $33 million, but Keith Smith of Spotrac pointed out that the deal likely has roughly $7 million in possible incentives, explaining the differentiating reports.

Despite the lack of success this past season, the Bulls are pushing forward with their core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic.

Bringing White back will give the Bulls a quality point guard capable of starting. With the new CBA, a deal at roughly $13 million is a steal for the youngster. If White can improve his playmaking and develop a consistent 3-point shot, the Bulls will have a great option.

Chicago needs to stay active in free agency if it wants to improve its playoff hopes for next year. Right now, the roster isn’t quite good enough to guarantee a postseason spot.

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Report: Nikola Vucevic’s contract with Bulls is fully guaranteed

Barring a trade, Nikola Vucevic will be on the Chicago Bulls for the next three seasons, as his new extension is fully guaranteed.

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The Chicago Bulls are hoping to run back the same team next year, according to Arturas Karnisovas. After the season ended in play-in defeat this past year, he revealed Chicago had no plans of rebuilding. Despite recent rumblings the team has been exploring Zach LaVine trades, it looks like the Bulls are pushing forward with the same group.

The biggest indication of this is the recent contract extension they handed big man Nikola Vucevic. Chicago re-signed Vucevic to a three-year, $60 million contract. With that money and length, it seems unlikely the team pivots to a rebuild.

Plus, according to long-time NBA insider Marc Stein and his newsletter, “The Stein Line,” the deal is fully guaranteed with no options attached.

“Nikola Vučević’s three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Bulls is fully guaranteed, league sources say, with a season-by-season breakdown of $18.5 million, $20 million and $21.5 million,” Stein reported.

No non-guaranteed money, no player option, no team option, just four fully-guaranteed years. Vucevic will be in Chicago for the next three seasons, barring a trade.

The veteran big man was solid for the Bulls this past year, playing in all 82 games while averaging 17.6 points and 11 rebounds per contest. He is 32 and will turn 33 at the beginning of next season.

With the new CBA being ushered in, the Bulls actually signed Vucevic at a decent price. However, if they fail to field a competitive team around him, LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, it may all be for naught.

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Report: Bulls bring in Wake Forest’s Tyree Appleby for Summer League

The Chicago Bulls have reportedly brought in Wake Forest guard Tyree Appleby for Summer League.

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The Chicago Bulls have work to do this summer as they attempt to put together a playoff-caliber team. They have already re-signed Nikola Vucevic, and Andre Drummond accepted his player option. The Bulls have given qualifying offers to Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Terry Taylor.

However, before they get the chance to make a run at the postseason, the Bulls will get a chance to get a look at their youngsters during summer league. Rookies Julian Phillips and Adama Sanogo will both be playing, but according to Bryan Kalbrosky of For The Win, the Bulls have made a new addition.

Kalbrosky reported that the Bulls are adding Wake Forest guard Tyree Appleby for summer league.

“NEWS: Tyree Appleby (Wake Forest) will join the Bulls as an UDFA for summer league, per sources.

The ACC Player of the Year averaged 18.8 ppg and 6.4 apg and he had the highest on-off point differential in the NCAA,” Kalbrosky tweeted.

The Bulls were interested in Appleby before the draft. They brought him in for a pre-draft workout. The 6-foot-1 guard finished his collegiate career with the Demon Deacons after spending two years at Cleveland State and three years (including one red-shirt season) at Florida.

Appleby, now 24 years old, averaged 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game at Wake Forest, shooting 42.7% from the field and 36% from behind the 3-point line.

As the Bulls look to improve their point guard position, adding young talent at the one will be very important, and Appleby is just that.

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Celtics, Mavs listed amid 5 best destinations for Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu

Ayo Dosunmu will be a restricted free agent, but could he leave the Chicago Bulls this summer?

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The Chicago Bulls have a number of important roster decisions to make this summer, especially if they hope to contend for a playoff spot next season. They missed the postseason this year and will undoubtedly be looking to make it back next season.

Chicago has already re-signed Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond has picked up his player option, but there’s still work to do. The Bulls have extended qualifying offers to Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, so both will be restricted free agents. Neither is a lock to return to Chicago.

In fact, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report put Dosunmu on his list of “10 intriguing free agents nobody is talking about. Favale listed the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards as the best destinations for Dosunmu.

“Point guard options are running thin on the open market,” Favale wrote. “In particular, there’s a dearth of middle-ticket names after big-money candidates like Kyrie Irving, Fred VanVleet and D’Angelo Russell. I expected Ayo Dosunmu, Tre Jones (restricted) and Gabe Vincent to dominate that space.”

While Favale acknowledged Dosunmu’s 3-point struggles, his dependability outweighs that.

“Dosunmu’s outside accuracy is an issue, but he’s one year removed from hitting 37.6% of his treys,” Favale wrote. “What he lacks in long-range volume, he makes up for with dependable finishing around the basket. And while he’s not a conventional floor general, he keeps the ball moving, especially on drives, and has defended all the way up to select 4s.”

Will Dosunmu be back in Chicago? Or has be played his last game for the Bulls?

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Bulls expected to show ‘free agency interest’ in Georges Niang

The Chicago Bulls are expected to pursue Georges Niang in free agency this summer.

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The Chicago Bulls need to stay active this summer if they hope to get over the hump (again) and get back into the playoffs. They were bounced in the play-in tournament this past year, and, while a rebuild could help their roster moving forward, they have decided to run it back with the same core group.

If that’s their plan, they need to add significant help around Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. Adding depth at the point guard position is crucial, but so is improving their 3-point shooting. They were one of the worst teams in the league in that category this past season.

According to recent rumblings, the Bulls are actively trying to improve their 3-point shooting. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that they are one of the teams looking to target Philadelphia 76ers forward Georges Niang in free agency.

“Niang is expected to receive free agency interest from the Bulls, 76ers, and Spurs, along with the Cavaliers, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.

The 30-year-old forward is entering his eighth NBA season and is a great presence at both ends of the court. He’s an irritant on the defensive end, and he knocks down his 3-point looks.

In Philadelphia this past year, Niang averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game on 44.2% shooting from the field and 40.1% shooting from behind the 3-point line. He attempted 4.9 3-point shots per contest.

If the Bulls could lure Niang, it would be a great get.

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Reports of Bulls shopping Zach LaVine dubbed mostly fiction

Despite the recent rumblings, the Chicago Bulls don’t seem too eager to trade Zach LaVine.

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Despite missing the postseason this past year, the Chicago Bulls seem intent on running back the same roster. Arturas Karnisovas said he’s against rebuilding the roster, and, so far this summer, that’s remained true. The Bulls extended Nikola Vucevic, giving him a new three-year, $60 million deal.

However, despite their intentions, reports of the Bulls considering a roster reset have persisted. Recent rumblings indicated Chicago has been testing the waters around the league regarding a Zach LaVine trade, but Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report isn’t buying it.

According to Buckley, the reports of the Bulls asking around about LaVine trades should be considered mostly fiction because none of the other moves they’ve made this summer point toward a rebuild.

“If the Bulls wanted a shake-up this summer, they could have let Vučević walk and shopped DeMar DeRozan,” Buckley wrote. “Turn these 30-somethings into more long-term assets, and Chicago might have sidestepped a rebuild and perhaps done something closer to a reloading.

“Dealing LaVine would’ve been something different. The 28-year-old is the cornerstone of this club now and for the foreseeable future. If the Bulls let him go, their entire focus could have (and should have) shifted into asset-accumulation mode.

“That’s why this is hard to take at face value. Nothing suggests Chicago is ready to embrace the kind of wholesale changes that a LaVine trade would have sparked.”

There’s always a chance the Bulls shift their focus toward a rebuild, but right now, it seems like they want to run it back.

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Bulls among 7 teams showing significant interest in Donte DiVincenzo

The Chicago Bulls, along with six other teams, are expected to show interest in Donte DiVincenzo in free agency.

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The Chicago Bulls will need to stay active in free agency this summer if they hope to improve their playoff chances heading into next year. The core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, who the Bulls just re-signed, is solid, but it’s not good enough to compete for a championship.

If Chicago hopes to get close to that level, it needs to add depth to the roster. Outside of the point guard spot, its biggest need is 3-point shooting. The Bulls were one of the worst shooting teams in the league this past year.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Bulls are one of seven teams who will have “significant interest” in Golden State Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo in free agency.

“Donte DiVincenzo could land a new contract worth somewhere around the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and is drawing significant interest around the league from several teams, including the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and Chicago Bulls, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.

DiVincenzo played a significant role on the Warriors this past year and was great on both ends of the court. His defensive presence has always been there, but his 3-point shooting really came around this past season.

The 26-year-old averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 43.5% shooting from the field and 39.7% shooting from behind the arc. He attempted 5.3 3-pointers per contest.

Adding DiVincenzo would give the Bulls a massive boost.

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Report: Andre Drummond accepts player option, will stay with Bulls

Despite recent reports, Andre Drummond has picked up his player option and will remain with the Chicago Bulls.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Andre Drummond has picked up his player option for the 2022-23 season and will remain with the Chicago Bulls. The option is worth $3.36 million. Drummond will return to Chicago to presumably back up Nikola Vucevic, who just signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Bulls.

This news conflicts with a previous report from Marc Stein, who noted Drummond was expected to sign with the Dallas Mavericks at the start of free agency. However, in an update he posted to Twitter, Stein noted Dallas’ pursuit of Drummond was contingent on another trade going through.

Ultimately, the veteran big man will stay with the Bulls, which has supposedly been his plan for a while. He said as much on a podcast appearance at the beginning of June.

During an appearance on I AM AN ATHLETE’s podcast, “Paper Route,” Drummond stated he planned to pick up his player option and return to the Bulls, which is what he ended up doing.

With Drummond on board, the Bulls have both him and Vucevic to run their center position, but there’s still plenty of work to do this summer if they hope to bounce back and make the playoffs next year.

Chicago needs to address its need at the point guard position, as well as its  need for 3-point shooting. Lonzo Ball addressed both of those issues, but he is expected to miss the entire season.

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