Tag: 2024 nba offseason

Moving Zach LaVine reportedly the focal point of Chicago Bulls’ offseason

Recent rumbles suggest that moving on from Zach LaVine this coming offseason is a priority.

Fans of the Chicago Bulls have been calling for the team’s front office to make some substantial changes to the organization after three straight offseasons and trade deadlines without making major moves. And the Bulls’ execs have finally made some changes to the team, but not likely of the sort fans have been clamoring for.

Chicago’s front office has reportedly made the decision to make some changes to Bulls head coach Billy Donovan’s bench of assistant coaches, with Mo Cheeks and Chris Fleming reportedly out. But it is change in an organization that desperately needs it — perhaps it will soon be followed by more substantive moves?

Recent rumbles from NBC Sports Chicago’s KC Johnson suggest that moving on from Zach LaVine this coming offseason is a priority.

The hosts of the “Locked On Bulls” podcast, Haize and Pat the Designer, recently dialed in on what this news could mean for Chicago. Check it out above!

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Should the Boston Celtics try to trade for Memphis Grizzlies big man Santi Aldama this offseason?

The Celtics will need to keep their frontcourt depth capable and cheap while they contend for titles in the near-term future.

Should the Boston Celtics try to trade for Memphis Grizzlies big man Santi Aldama this offseason? The Celtics will need to keep their frontcourt depth capable and cheap while they contend for titles in the near-term future, and the Grizzlies combo big is cut from the sort of cloth that would work well in Boston. But could Memphis be convinced to part ways with him?

Per Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale, they ought to try. “(Aldama) will make a hair less than (Jaden) Springer, and Boston could use a combo big to back up—and serve as insurances against injuries to—Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis,” writes the B/R NBA analyst.

“Aldama will cost more in total assets than Xavier Tillman (a free agent this summer),” he adds. “That’s fine. Boston has an armory of seconds, not to mention some firsts, it can dangle.”

“His prospective fit is good enough to contemplate giving up No. 30 as part of any package, even as he enters a contract year,” suggests Favale. “Aldama is pretty good at positioning himself in the right spots on defense, his 3-point clip will tick up above 35% on the Celtics, and he has some shiftiness to him off the dribble.”

We agree wholeheartedly on the fit for Aldama, but think it possible that Memphis simply isn’t interested in dealing him away with frontcourt depth issues of their own to consider. But if he were available, a first projected to go late in the top 30 picks would be worth the expense in our estimation.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Should the San Antonio Spurs blow up their roster to find players who fit better next to Victor Wembanyama?

Already knee-deep in a rebuild that helped the Spurs to net Wemby via the 2023 NBA draft, the question may sound odd to fans of San Antonio.

Should the San Antonio Spurs consider blowing up their roster to find players who fit better next to French rookie forward phenom Victor Wembanyama? Already knee-deep in a rebuild that helped the Spurs to net Wemby via the 2023 NBA draft, the question may sound odd to fans of San Antonio.

But the Spurs are armed with plenty of draft capital to make moves (or select players) to better pair with the otherworldly skill and size of the team’s new franchise player. If they did go this route, which players might still be on the team when the dust settles on the 2024 offseason?

To talk it over, the host of the “Locked On Spurs” podcast, Jeff Garcia, linked up with “Sweep The League” host Rudy Campos stops by to discuss whether the team should consider blowing up the ball club, sans Victor Wembanyama, once the season is over.

Check it out above!

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NBA analyst floats Gordon Hayward reunion as optimistic free agency target for Celtics

The Celtics will not have a lot of spending power this summer to add talent to the roster, but this IS optimistic if not out of the question.

The Boston Celtics will not have a lot of spending power this summer to add talent to the roster as they build the next iteration of the team in the 2024 NBA offseason. But they could still add talent via the minimum exception, and Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey could see a reunion of sorts happen to such an end with veteran forward Gordon Hayward.

“Going from a high-value player to one on a minimum contract can happen fast in the NBA, and … Hayward may have reached that point this season,” suggests the B/R analyst of what he himself describes as an “optimistic” free agent target for the Celtics.

“He turns 34 this month and is averaging just 4.3 points since being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder,” notes Bailey.

“For Boston, he could fill a role (of a veteran wing) while being younger (than some options out there) and bringing more experience as a volume scorer,” he suggests.

We do think such a reunion would be optimistic if only because Hayward would likely still find a larger role with a commensurate payday, if only of the midlevel exception sort.

That’s out of the Celtics’ likely reach next season, but as is said around these parts every once in a while — anything is possible (even if unlikely here).

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Could the Chicago Bulls poach Kelly Oubre away from the 76ers in free agency this summer?

We don’t think it is out of the question.

Could the Chicago Bulls poach veteran wing Kelly Oubre, Jr. away from the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency this summer? Having become something of a journeyman — if a fairly good one — in this latest stage of his career, it is certainly not out of the question, and such is the thinking of Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey.

“In the event the Bulls aren’t able to move Zach LaVine and tip off a rebuild this summer, Kelly Oubre, Jr. is the kind of multipositional wing who could help them continue to compete for play-in berths,” writes the Athletic NBA analyst of the possibility of landing the Kansas alum this offseason.

“His 3-point shooting still leaves something to be desired, but Oubre’s slashing and competitiveness could be a boost to Chicago’s depth,” he adds.

We don’t think it is out of the question that the former No. 15 pick might see the substantial role he’d have with the Bulls and want to sign with Chicago.

But to make it happen, the team needs a strong finish and other supporting cast that would make sense on a team with postseason designs. Which they would be, clearly, if they were trying to bring on a player of Oubre’s caliber.

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Is Chicago Bulls big man Andre Drummond the Boston Celtics’ offseason dream target?

While another such prospect who better fits Boston’s age curve could become available via the draft, it seems pretty unlikely there’s a path to landing a player who is better at the UConn alum’s position.

Is Chicago Bulls big man Andre Drummond the Boston Celtics‘ offseason free agency dream target? The Celtics will be very limited by a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that was designed to do exactly that, so minimum deals are pretty much all that will be available to them.

For that reason, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey writes that after the campaign that Drummond has had for the Bulls, “he might not be eager to sign up to be a third big” behind Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. “But the Celtics could be in the market for one with Xavier Tillman, Sr. and Luke Kornet entering free agency, Porzingis still being an injury risk and Horford nearing 38.”

While another such prospect who better fits Boston’s age curve could become available via the draft, it seems pretty unlikely there’s a path to landing a player who is better at the UConn alum’s position.

And while Bailey is probably right about Drummond wanting a larger role, he’d get plenty of run when other bigs rest.

And the potential of adding a ring to one’s resume certainly does not hurt, either.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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What does a dream 2024 offseason look like for the Boston Celtics?

Probably a lot less exciting than some fans of the team might like, but when you are dominating the league, how much do you really need to fix?

What would an ideal 2024 NBA offseason look like for the Boston Celtics? Probably a lot less exciting than some fans of the team might like, but when you are dominating the league, how much do you really need to fix? This was the point of view of Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz as well in a recent article on what every ball club in the Association might want for a dream offseason this summer.

“The … Celtics’ roster should largely remain the same heading into next season, barring a total playoff collapse,” suggests Swartz, hinting that a repeat performance of last postseason for Boston could see bigger changes.

Noting how virtually all of Boston’s key players are under contract through at least next season, he notes that with “Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman Sr. becoming free agents, however, Boston may be forced to trade for some additional depth” on the cheap.

“The Celtics aren’t going to be big spenders in free agency, as this group is already projected to rack up an $85 million luxury-tax bill,” writes the B/R analyst.

“There will be no star-chasing for Boston. If this team can add one more rotation piece and cut the tax bill, that will be as close to a dream trade as the Celtics can make.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Do the San Antonio Spurs need a franchise point guard this offseason?

Or can they set their sights lower?

The San Antonio Spurs are, by all accounts, looking to get better in a hurry to keep rookie French forward phenom Victor Wembanyama happy and hopefully winning more games. But what sort of player ought the Spurs be targeting for that end?

For that particular question, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has an idea of what San Antonio should be looking for. “The Spurs have used quantity over quality to combat their lack of point guards on the roster this season,” writes Swartz. “There’s no denying this team needs a franchise floor general, though, especially for the development of Victor Wembanyama.”

“This team shouldn’t be afraid to add veteran talent around Wembanyama immediately and try to win,” adds the B/R NBA analyst.

“A trade for Trae Young or reunion with Dejounte Murray would be tremendous for the 20-year-old’s development overall,” suggests Swartz.

Even if the Spurs set their sights lower, they ought to see a marked improvement over their play this season, which has had at best replacement-level floor generals on the court — if any at all.

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Will the Chicago Bulls look to trade Zach LaVine in the NBA’s 2024 offseason?

It might be wise to re-allocate some of LaVine’s considerable cap hit to multiple young players better suited for a retooling roster.

Will the Chicago Bulls look to trade star guard Zach LaVine in the NBA’s 2024 offseason? Or will they see how the emergence of players like Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White mesh together with the UCLA alum playing alongside them in larger roles than in the past?

On one hand, it seems as if the market for LaVine’s services was rather limited ahead of the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline, but it is also a lot harder to trade for a player on a large salary in the middle of a season. On the other, it might be wise to re-allocate some of LaVine’s considerable cap hit to multiple young players better suited for a retooling roster.

Veteran Bulls beat writer KC Johnson weighed in on what he thinks the Bulls are going to do on a recent episode of NBC Sports Chicago’s “Bulls Talk” podcast.

Take a look at the clip above to get his take on LaVine and Chicago’s future together.

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What are the biggest questions facing the Chicago Bulls in the NBA’s 2024 offseason?

There’s even a case to be made about replacing some or all of the front office.

What are the biggest questions facing the Chicago Bulls in the NBA’s 2024 offseason? There are the several injuries to key players to attend to no matter what direction you want to do with their contracts, with Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, and Patrick Williams all finishing the season hurt. LaVine may need to be traded after hearing his name in the rumor mill so much, and it is unclear what direction the team will take with Ball’s recovery.

Williams has a looming free agency to consider, and what to do with the burgeoning youth movement all those injuries helped create an opportunity to develop? There’s even a case to be made about replacing some or all of the front office.

The host of the “Chicago Bulls Central” podcast, Haize, walked us through the possibilities for the Bulls this offseason on a recent episode.

Check it out above!

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