Tag: NBA Free Agency

Chicago Bulls free agency plan should focus on future not continuity

As the Chicago Bulls prepare for the 2024 offseason, they should be looking toward the future, not the present.

In 2021, the Chicago Bulls decided to go all-in on a new core of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic. Throw in the role-player pieces of Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, and the Bulls were off and running. Until they weren’t. An injury to Ball that has still yet to be resolved derailed their season, and now, they’ve spent two years without an above-.500 season.

Heading into the 2024 offseason, big changes should be on the horizon in Chicago. They need to take a long look in the mirror and figure out what they can do to improve their future outlook because their current roster clearly isn’t working.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report recently detailed an offseason plan for the Bulls, and in it, he breaks down their potential pathways in free agency.

“If Chicago bets big on continuity again, then financial flexibility isn’t happening,” Buckley wrote. “Should the Bulls choose to bring back DeRozan (unrestricted free agent), Patrick Williams (restricted) and Andre Drummond (unrestricted), they could wind up in the luxury tax. If they don’t, they’d have a better chance of adding external talent. Then again, letting them walk might be a signal that this front office is prioritizing the future and therefore less incentivized to spend now.”

The Bulls need change in a bad way.

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Goga Bitadze listed as potential Chicago Bulls free agency target

Goga Bitadze was suggested as a potential free agency target for the Chicago Bulls.

As the Chicago Bulls look to restructure their roster this summer, they’ll have a lot of different pathways to consider. Nailing their pick in the draft will be a top priority, as will hitting on any trades they make. However, the Bulls will also have to be smart with their money in free agency. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report sees Goga Bitadze as a potential target for them.

“For the past two seasons, the Bulls have had one of the Association’s best backup bigs in Andre Drummond,” Buckley wrote. “He may have been too productive for them to keep, though, as he enters unrestricted free agency having posted per-36-minutes averages of 18.9 rebounds, 17.4 points and 3.1 combined steals and blocks, per Basketball-Reference. If Drummond heads elsewhere, Chicago could tab Goga Bitadze as his replacement.

“The 24-year-old quietly engineered his best season to date. With his breakout somewhat masked by his limited role within Orlando’s crowded frontcourt, though, he might not see the kind of contract offers his play arguably warrants. And since he’s mostly confined to contributing on the interior, he probably isn’t the kind of big that really excites modern front offices. Still, he’s super reliable as a finisher (career-high 60.3 field-goal percentage) and as a rim protector (1.2 blocks in only 15.4 minutes), and he sees the game well enough to chip in as a passer, too.”

Adding a guy like Bitadze could help the Bulls upgrade their center depth.

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San Antonio Spurs urged to consider Lonnie Walker IV reunion

Should the San Antonio Spurs consider a reunion with Lonnie Walker IV?

This summer will be an important one for the San Antonio Spurs, who have a chance to take a huge leap next season. Despite being the worst team in the Western Conference this year, the talent of Victor Wembanyama alone should be enough to carry them far, but they should be focused on putting a great team around him.

Not only will they have a chance to add another high lottery pick to the mix in the 2024 NBA Draft, but they should have some room to work with in free agency this offseason. Adding solid pieces around Wembanyama will be crucial.

Cal Durrett of Air Alamo recently wrote a list of former Spurs who San Antonio should consider bringing back. One of them was Lonnie Walker IV.

“Stranger things have happened and San Antonio could use more scoring off the bench next season,” Durrett wrote. “With Walker having yet to sign a long-term deal, he may want multiple years on his next contract, which wouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker. But the Spurs would have to weigh his fit with his potential contract demands and they may instead look at more short-term options.”

Walker has enjoyed a great season with the Brooklyn Nets this year, and a reunion in San Antonio would certainly help the Spurs’ bench.

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Celtics’ Jrue Holiday listed as ‘reasonable’ Spurs free agency target

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday was listed as a “reasonable” free agency target for the San Antonio Spurs.

This summer will be crucial for the San Antonio Spurs. While Victor Wembanyama is still only 20 years old, he’s clearly talented enough to help the Spurs win basketball games. But if they want him to lead the way, San Antonio needs to put a better team around him. That’s where the offseason comes in.

In addition to the draft, the Spurs should have some money to spend in free agency. They should be looking to add a healthy mix of win-now talent while also keeping their team relatively young around Wembanyama. However, bringing in a high-level veteran would be super useful.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report labeled Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday as a “reasonable” free agency target for the Spurs this summer.

“Given how good the Boston Celtics are, Jrue Holiday opting out of his $39.4 million player option isn’t likely, especially if they win the title,” Bailey wrote.

“But if they fall short, and a team like the San Antonio Spurs can offer a little more long-term security, something like a four-year, $70 million deal might intrigue him.

“And there are few point guards and leaders who would be a better mentor for Victor Wembanyama. Beyond the playmaking upgrade over Jeremy Sochan and Tre Jones, Holiday would show the French phenom (and the rest of the young Spurs) what it means to be a reliable, workmanlike NBA veteran.”

Adding Holiday to the backcourt would be huge for the Spurs.

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Buddy Hield listed as ‘dream’ free agency target for Chicago Bulls

Buddy Hield could be a perfect free agency target for the Chicago Bulls.

It’s been a weird season for the Chicago Bulls this season. They started the year 5-14 and looked destined to be one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. However, they turned things around, and now, they’re going to be in the Play-In Tournament, likely taking on the Atlanta Hawks in the 9-10 games.

That said, there are a lot of areas in which the Bulls should look to improve this summer. One of which is their play behind the three-point line, as the Bulls have consistently been one of the worst shooting teams for the past few seasons with this current core.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report listed Buddy Hield as a “dream” free agency target for the Bulls this summer.

“The Bulls are in the bottom half of the league in both threes per game and three-point percentage, so a volume outside shooter like Hield (3.1 threes with a 40.1 three-point percentage for his career) would do a lot to open up the middle of the floor for LaVine and Vučević,” Bailey wrote.

Adding Hield would give Chicago a huge boost on offense.

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Kelly Oubre Jr. listed as potential top Bulls target in free agency

Kelly Oubre Jr. was listed as a potential Chicago Bulls free agency target.

This season is set in stone for the Chicago Bulls. Their roster isn’t going to change (barring a buyout market addition), and they seem destined to finish as a Play-In team with a chance at making the playoffs. That’s where the front office wanted to be, so that’s where they will be.

But this summer, they will have a chance to improve the roster in hopes of competing more effectively next year. They should be looking to address some of the weaknesses on their roster, one of which being their lack of consistent three-point shooting. There could be some decent options in free agency this summer.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report suggested that they target Kelly Oubre Jr. in free agency.

“The Chicago Bulls should have the non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception,” Bailey wrote. “If they continue to chug along in the middle of the Eastern Conference rather than rebuild (another quiet trade deadline suggests that’s in play), Oubre would be a solid option.

“The outside shot is still inconsistent, but Oubre has adapted to his role as a fourth or fifth option for the Philadelphia 76ers. He makes timely cuts and knows his touches don’t take priority over the stars’. His 7’3″ wingspan gives him positional versatility too.”

Oubre could be a big help in Chicago.

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LeBron James listed as top potential free agency target for Spurs

LeBron James was recently listed as a hypothetical San Antonio Spurs target in free agency.

The San Antonio Spurs have a big future ahead of them. With Victor Wembanyama in place, they should be projected to be in the playoff race for the foreseeable future… they just have to get past the current season. San Antonio isn’t going to be a postseason squad this season, but they could make some big-time moves this offseason.

If they play their cards right, they could open up a max contract spot, and while they may be better off spreading out their money and adding multiple rotation pieces, they could go all out. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report recently wrote a list of every team’s top three targets, and he put down three huge names for San Antonio.

The top of the list? LeBron James.

“And just imagine for a moment the possibility of Victor Wembanyama’s development being accelerated by the presence of LeBron on the roster,” Bailey wrote.

“He’d instantly solve the (often self-imposed) point guard crisis in San Antonio, while showing Wemby the blueprint for navigating over-the-top hype up close.”

Whether or not James picks up his player option this summer will obviously determine his availability, but seeing him a Spurs uniform would be crazy.

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Andre Drummond talks free agency plans, potential future with Bulls

Andre Drummond recently spoke about his free agency plans and potential future with the Chicago Bulls.

The trade deadline has come and gone, and for the third straight season, the Chicago Bulls chose to do nothing. Rather than selling assets and planning for the future, Arturas Karnisovas committed to pushing for the postseason despite the fact that Chicago likely has no realistic chance of a deep playoff run.

The most confusing part of the decision is the fact that some of Chicago’s guys will be free agents this summer. DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond will have the option to leave in free agency this offseason, and the Bulls would get nothing back in return. They could have traded them both.

Drummond recently spoke about his free agency plans and a potential return to the Bulls. (H/t KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago)

“I’m excited to see what happens in the offseason. Whatever team sees me as an asset, I’m ready. Obviously, I’m here now, and I love it here. I would love to be here still,” Drummond said. “That’s why my main focus is on finishing out the year strong and making some noise in the playoffs.”

The veteran big man has given the Bulls some valuable minutes this season.

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Austin Reaves was intrigued by Victor Wembanyama pairing on Spurs

Austin Reaves was interested in the San Antonio Spurs in free agency partially due to the idea of playing with Victor Wembanyama.

The San Antonio Spurs had a relatively quiet offseason outside of selecting Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. They made a few small trades and added some veterans to the roster, but for the most part, they’ll be bringing back the same core as last year. However, they were in the mix for a few high-profile free agents.

When free agency was opened, the Spurs were rumored to be interested in Austin Reaves, though they didn’t make him an official offer. Reports indicated that the Spurs hesitated to offer Reaves a deal as they were afraid the Los Angeles Lakers would just match it. Reaves ended up going back to LA, but he recently admitted he was intrigued by the idea of playing with Wembanyama.

During an appearance on “The Lowe Post,” Reaves told Zach Lowe of ESPN that he wondered what it would have been like if he could have played with Wembanyama. (H/t Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report)

“You know, you hear things, and obviously with Wembanyama, like, you know so much upside with him, you know, your mind kind of just wonders into that basketball world what that would be like,” Reaves said.

Reaves enjoyed a breakout postseason run with the Lakers last season, as well as a solid run with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this summer.

Adding him to the roster would have given Wembanyama a great starting point guard to build with moving forward, but ultimately, Reaves rejoined the Lakers and will look to help LeBron James and Anthony Davis push for a championship.

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Will Bulls regret letting Christian Wood sign with Lakers?

Will the Chicago Bulls regret letting Christian Wood sign with the Los Angeles Lakers?

Despite their lack of success last season, the Chicago Bulls didn’t make many significant changes to their roster this summer. Instead of seriously shaking up their core group, they decided to simply make minor tweaks around the edges, adding two veterans to the rotation – Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig.

And while both guys will certainly boost the Bulls’ play on both ends, there are questions as to whether or not that will be enough to propel them to the postseason. Christian Wood was a name thrown around as a potential Bulls target, but he just recently signed with the Los Angeles Lakers instead.

The CHGO Bulls podcast of CHGO Sports discussed whether or not the Bulls should act been more proactive in chasing Wood rather than letting him go to LA.

In his lone season with the Dallas Mavericks this past year, Wood averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. However, inconsistent effort on the defensive end led to him earning fewer minutes than expected in Jason Kidd’s rotation.

The veteran big man was not signed during the first few waves of NBA free agency, leaving him fighting for scraps by the end of the offseason. He ultimately landed with the Lakers on a two-year deal for the league minimum.

As things stand, the Bulls only have two centers on the roster, Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond, with rookie Adama Sanogo on a two-way contract.

Despite his defensive issues, do you think the Bulls should have signed Wood in free agency?

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