Tag: 2021 NBA free agency

Chicago Bulls sign Alize Johnson, Matt Thomas and Stanley Johnson

The Bulls add a trio free agents to their roster as training camp approaches.

The Chicago Bulls continue to add to their roster as the offseason comes to a close.

The Bulls have signed forward Alize Johnson, guard Matt Thomas, and forward Stanley Johnson to help sure up their bench depth.

Alize Johnson signed a two-year deal with the Bulls following being waived by the Brooklyn Nets after the signing of LaMarcus Aldridge, first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Johnson, who averaged 5.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 18 games with the Nets last season, provides much-needed depth in the front court for Chicago as an above average rebounder who plays with great energy.

Matt Thomas, who spent time with the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz last season, brings some 3-point shooting depth to the end of the Bulls bench as a career 41.3% shooter from downtown.

First reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Stanley Johnson, the former No. 8 pick of the 2015 NBA draft, averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds last season in 61 games with the Toronto Raptors and brings end of the bench depth on the wing for the Bulls.

[mm-video type=video id=01fepq9myk1zpkvqfx1s playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fepq9myk1zpkvqfx1s/01fepq9myk1zpkvqfx1s-bd481c3f389bb01a8fbdbd102642d4e9.jpg]

ESPN’s Kevin Pelton gives the Chicago Bulls offseason a C+ grade

Check out why the additions of Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso landed the Bulls a C+ grade from Pelton.

As stated previously, the Chicago Bulls had arguably the most polarizing offseason in the NBA.

In free agency, the Bulls signed Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso, while also trading Lauri Markkanen in a three-team deal, which sent Derrick Jones Jr. to Chicago from Portland.

The Athletic’s David Aldridge recently ranked Chicago’s offseason as No. 4 in the NBA while ESPN’s Zach Lowe called the Bulls the ‘biggest gambler’ in free agency and ESPN’s Kevin Pelton called DeMar DeRozan’s contract the worst value.

On Monday, Kevin Pelton gave the Bulls’ offseason a grade of C+.

Check out Pelton’s reasoning below.

[mm-video type=video id=01febs9f38yem812nkxs playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01febs9f38yem812nkxs/01febs9f38yem812nkxs-dd27b73aac40377e51ea1e8d20140b95.jpg]

NBA 2K previews Lonzo and DeRozan in Bulls uniform

Get a first look of Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan in a Bulls jersey in NBA 2K.

One of the things NBA fans look forward to most during the offseason is seeing the updated rosters on NBA 2K after the draft and free agency.

For Bulls fans, their team will look a lot different in NBA 2K22 as Chicago has been very active this summer.

Most notably, Lonzo Ball was signed to a four-year, $85 million deal as free agency opened was followed by DeMar DeRozan signing a three-year, $85 million deal in a sign-and-trade from San Antonio.

Ball will continue to wear No. 2, which he has worn throughout his four-year career.

DeRozan will sport No. 11 in Chicago: Bob Love’s No. 10 is retired by the Bulls. DeRozan has worn No. 10 his entire 12-year career.

Via its Twitter account, NBA 2K posted a preview of what Bulls and NBA 2K fans should expect to see.

Check out Ball and DeRozan in their Bulls uniforms below.

[mm-video type=video id=01fcvfgz6ke2bh57dhv6 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fcvfgz6ke2bh57dhv6/01fcvfgz6ke2bh57dhv6-62dc560f4fca67aed821700d9d6340bc.jpg]

ESPN calls Chicago Bulls the biggest gambler in free agency

ESPN’s Zach Lowe has the Bulls as the biggest gambler during the offseason.

The Chicago Bulls have had one of the most active offseason’s across the league.

As soon as free agency kicked off Aug. 2, the Bulls signed Lonzo Ball to a four-year, $85 million deal, which is being investigated by the league for potential tampering.

The Bulls also added Alex Caruso to a four-year, $37 million deal and, most notably, DeMar DeRozan on a three-year, $85 million deal in a sign-and-trade with San Antonio.

Zach Lowe of ESPN identified the Bulls as being the biggest gamblers during free agency. See some of his reasoning below:

“I am somewhere in the middle on their raucous offseason. I see a slightly higher ceiling than those cementing them in the play-in tournament in the beefed-up East. Their offense should be really good. Don’t overthink the DeMar DeRozan fit just because he shoots long 2s and won’t provide pitch-perfect spacing for Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball.”

The fit and contract of DeRozan alongside LaVine and Vucevic can be questioned. That’s a considerable amount of money to put alongside Zach LaVine, who is a free agent next summer, in the backcourt.

Lowe continued:

“I like Ball, and I’m super-high long-term on Williams. You’d just like to have a little more in the young-player cupboard after one megatrade and years in purgatory.

That said, LaVine and Alex Caruso are just entering their primes; DeRozan and Vucevic are still in theirs. The Bulls have a nice age-range mix, which should give them at least some wiggle room to change direction if need be.”

With a bigger focus on the defensive end for veterans like LaVine and DeRozan, and youth around them in Ball, Caruso, and Patrick Williams, this Bulls team can move their way up the Eastern Conference standings.

[mm-video type=video id=01fcvfgz6ke2bh57dhv6 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fcvfgz6ke2bh57dhv6/01fcvfgz6ke2bh57dhv6-62dc560f4fca67aed821700d9d6340bc.jpg]

The Charlotte Hornets among ESPN’s winners during free agency

ESPN’s Zach Lowe has the Hornets having one of the best offseason’s in the league.

You could call the Charlotte Hornets’ offseason a success. No overwhelming acquisitions but all-around, a well put together roster is coming to fruition.

While they lost Cody Zeller, Devonte’ Graham and Malik Monk to free agency, the Hornets countered those losses with adding Mason Plumlee, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Ish Smith following the draft of James Bouknight and Kai Jones in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft.

Zach Lowe of ESPN coined the Hornets as winners during free agency. See some of his reasoning below:

“Charlotte is quietly building a solid team with future flexibility. The Hornets are probably one really good young player from a high-level long-term nucleus — depending on the development of Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington — but they are giving themselves avenues to get there.”

In 2020-21, the Hornets finished as the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and lost in the play-in tournament to the Indiana Pacers. With the offseason moves that they’ve made so far, they’re poised to take a leap in the standings come 2021-22.

[mm-video type=video id=01fcs4j8dgw8bxw0q5hx playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fcs4j8dgw8bxw0q5hx/01fcs4j8dgw8bxw0q5hx-037c0d721feb2dce00b9b87f95f63bd1.jpg]

Kelly Oubre excited to play with LaMelo, Hornets’ youth and energy

The newest Charlotte Hornet expresses his excitement to play with LaMelo.

Charlotte has had an active offseason with the draft, free agency and extending coach James Borrego’s contract.

One of its free agency signings, new wing Kelly Oubre Jr., spoke to the media on Tuesday about his signing and excitement to join the team.

“Youth and energy,” Oubre Jr. said about why he chose the Hornets. “I knew this would be the perfect fit.”

Oubre Jr., who is 25 years old, comes in as a veteran compared to the young core of the Hornets: LaMelo Ball (19), James Bouknight (20), Kai Jones (20), P.J. Washington (22) and Miles Bridges (23). Gordon Hayward is the elder statesmen of the team at 31 years old.

The former Kansas Jayhawk also spoke on his excitement to play with 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year, LaMelo Ball.

“It’s going to be fun. I’m not going to lie. Big shouts to him winning Rookie of the Year. This is a new year and I’m blessed to play with him,” Oubre Jr. said. “It’s time to have some fun … I look forward to it. It’s going to be fun and pretty swaggy, too.”

Can you imagine Ball and Oubre Jr. walking into the arena together? LeagueFits better get ready.

Watch Oubre Jr.’s full media availability here.

[mm-video type=video id=01fc9gy6kez7nygwjpdq playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fc9gy6kez7nygwjpdq/01fc9gy6kez7nygwjpdq-f281abfc3a2bff6d4c53f6a5f8e47220.jpg]

 

Report: Former Celtics C Daniel Theis is on the radar of at least one NBA GM

Former Celtic Daniel Theis has impending free agency in 2021

A destination already filled with former Celtics could be looking to add another this offseason. Last season, the Charlotte Hornets had a glaring hole in the middle of their team with the lack of a truly imposing center. Bismack Biyombo and Cody Zeller acted as the temporary duct tape put on a more serious issue, but all year long the Hornets struggled to defend skilled centers.

After being dealt to Chicago earlier this season, Daniel Theis now has impending free agency looming. The Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell reported yesterday that Theis is on Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak’s short list for centers to add this off-season:

Theis averaged 9.6 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game with his time split between Boston and Chicago in the 2020-2021 season. If Theis heads to Charlotte, he would join a trio of former Celtics in Gordon Hayward, Brad Wanamaker, and Terry Rozier.