Tag: NBA Free Agency

Tyus Jones listed as potential impact free agency fit for Spurs

Could the San Antonio Spurs look to sign Tyus Jones in free agency?

As the San Antonio Spurs look to improve their roster around Victor Wembanyama this summer, one of their top priorities should be to add playmaking. Dan Favale of Bleacher Report listed Washington Wizards guard Tyus Jones as a potential free-agency fit for the Spurs this summer.

“Bringing in a game manager like Tyus Jones, the brother of Tre Jones, is a modest move that would go a long way,” Favale wrote. “Turnovers are a foreign concept to him, he knows how to bob and weave in and out of the lane, and he’s a good enough shooter to stretch defenses away from the ball. (He hit over 42 percent of his spot-up triples last year.)

“San Antonio can chisel out close to $20 million in cap space, so giving chase to Tyus isn’t an issue and neither is prying him from the Wizards. They’re in the infancy of a rebuild, and Tyus is an unrestricted free agent. His leaving for what profiles as a more competitive situation is hardly farfetched unless Washington is throwing gobs of money his way. None of this is to say Tyus plus two inbound lottery picks and some moves on the margins will transform the Spurs into an immediate playoff threat. But they did just decidedly win the minutes Wemby and Tre logged together. Upgrading and expanding that dynamic by signing Tyus renders them a more immediate menace in the Western Conference without crashing into their long-term plans or assets.”

Jones’ playmaking would seriously help the Spurs’ offense.

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Spurs free agency prediction would be to search for playmakers

Would the San Antonio Spurs look for playmaking help if free agency started today?

Should NBA free agency start today, the San Antonio Spurs would have a chance to get active. According to a prediction made by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, the Spurs would likely start to look for additional playmaking help, scouring the markets for point guards or other guys to help run the offense.

“Victor Wembanyama’s rise through the galaxy of NBA stars is already going full-throttle, meaning patience-practicing might already be a thing of the past in San Antonio,” Buckley wrote. “Even if the Spurs don’t go floor-to-pedal this offseason, they’ll look for ways to accelerate. Upgrading at point guard feels like the most sensible starting point. Tre Jones is the definition of mediocrity—15.1 career player efficiency rating; league-average is 15—and he essentially makes up the entire point guard rotation. Jeremy Sochan as a jumbo floor general sounded fun in theory, but it was decidedly less so when those super-sized lineups routinely malfunctioned on offense.”

“San Antonio has enough trade chips to give one of the Atlanta Hawks’ guards chase, but it might view free agency as a less expensive (albeit less exciting) alternative. The Spurs could target Jones’ brother, Tyus, or even try their hands at Immanuel Quickley (restricted) or Malik Monk. They have options.”

Adding some ball handlers to the mix would give the Spurs a much-needed boost on the offensive end.

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Chicago Bulls will likely find right deal with DeMar DeRozan

It seems very likely that the Chicago Bulls will end up re-signing DeMar DeRozan.

The Chicago Bulls have some big decisions to make this summer. According to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, one of their top focuses at the start of free agency will likely be to find a deal with DeMar DeRozan that makes sense for both parties involved.

“Because this exercise involves predicting what each team would do and not propounding what they should do, there’s no need to dig into the logistical issues of a team like the Bulls, who last won a playoff series in 2015, committing major coin to DeMar DeRozan, who turns 35 before next season tips,” Buckley wrote. “By all accounts, that new contract is coming. While executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas spoke of a general need to make changes to this roster, he also maintained his public commitment to bringing DeRozan back. And the scoring swingman himself has said he isn’t looking for a reason to leave.

“It seems, then, that all there’s left to figure out is contractual terms that make sense for both parties. NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reported Chicago offered a new two-year pact with an annual salary of “perhaps as much as $40 million per season,” but DeRozan “is seeking a longer-term deal.”

Whether or not the Bulls should re-sign DeRozan is one question, but it seems likely that they will.

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Report: DeMar DeRozan likely to re-sign with Chicago Bulls

DeMar DeRozan is likely going to re-sign with the Chicago Bulls this offseason.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the belief around the NBA is that DeMar DeRozan will end up re-signing with the Chicago Bulls this summer. The veteran forward is an unrestricted free agent, but recent rumblings have indicated that the Bulls will be willing to pay to bring him back.

“In general, the belief around the league is DeRozan will ultimately re-sign with the Bulls, given the team’s continued desire to compete, his role, and Chicago’s willingness to pay him,” Scotto wrote. DeRozan is 34 years old, but he revived his career in Chicago. The question is, what will the roster look like around him should be return?

The Bulls have Coby White, who just wrapped up a breakout season, and are supposedly looking to trade Zach LaVine this summer. But should they be looking to tear things down instead?

Bringing back DeRozan would signal the Bulls’ willingness to continue competing with the current core, which is clearly not working.

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Report: Mutual interest between Klay Thompson and Orlando Magic

With the start of free agency looming, there’s already one team reportedly being linked to Klay Thompson.

The first domino to fall during the Golden State Warriors highly anticipated offseason will likely involve four-time champion Klay Thompson. The five-time NBA All-Star sharpshooter is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he reportedly already has suitors outside of the Bay Area.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, there is mutual interest between the Orlando Magic and Thompson. In an appearance on Fan Duel TV’s “Run It Back,” Charania reported Thompson is a name to keep an eye on for the Magic.

Via @RunItBackFDTV on Twitter:

Coming off a loss in Game 7 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the postseason, the Orlando Magic are expected to have open cap space and spend in free agency.  The Magic will have the chance to build around the impressive young core of Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner.

Thompson is coming off an up-and-down season with the Warriors, during which he came off the bench for the first time in his decorated career. The 34-year-old averaged 17.9 points on 43.2% shooting from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc.

Free agency is set to begin on June 30 when the new league year gets underway.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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DeMar DeRozan contract situation could be out of Bulls’ hands

Is it for the best that the DeMar DeRozan situation may be out of the Chicago Bulls’ hands?

The Chicago Bulls need to figure out what they want to do with DeMar DeRozan this summer. The veteran forward is an unrestricted free agent and they must decide if they want to bring him back or let him walk. However, according to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune, the fact that the decision is slightly out of their hands could be for the best.

“The Bulls already landed on an initial price, according to an NBC Sports Chicago report: $40 million a year for the next two seasons,” Poe wrote. “This number is confusing for several reasons, not the least because it could force the Bulls to tiptoe near if not over the luxury-tax cutoff to maintain essentially the same core group that has been unsuccessful.

“A potential saving grace for the Bulls is that this decision is somewhat out of their hands. After the play-in loss in Miami, DeRozan cracked open the door to signing elsewhere as he admitted to frustration — and a rare sliver of concern over his age. Even if the front office highballs DeRozan, it’s possible he would choose a potential path to a ring or proximity to his family over the highest bidder.”

Re-signing DeRozan for a massive price would be a tough look for a Bulls team that should be looking to make serious roster changes.

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Spurs, Magic listed as potential suitors for D’Angelo Russell

The San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic could be the top suitors for D’Angelo Russell this offseason.

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic are potential suitors for Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell this summer. During an appearance on The Athletic NBA Show, Buha noted that they are the two biggest competitors for the Lakers in the race to land Russell. (H/t Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report)

Russell just wrapped up a solid regular season but, unfortunately, didn’t play up to that same level in the postseason. That said, the Spurs will undoubtedly be looking to add ball-handling next to Victor Wembanyama this summer. Whether or not Russell will be their top option is yet to be seen.

Orlando could also use some extra guard help, as their perimeter shot creation around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner could use a significant boost.

In 76 appearances for the Lakers this season (including 69 starts), Russell averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field and 41.5% from behind the three-point line.

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What is the Chicago Bulls’ biggest offseason priority?

What is the Chicago Bulls’ biggest offseason priority?

The Chicago Bulls are heading into the summer with a bunch of crucial decisions in front of them. Arturas Karnisovas has made it clear that their current roster isn’t working, so a serious shake-up should be in store. They can’t keep moving forward with the guys they have, accepting mediocrity at every turn.

Rumors have already indicated that the Bulls are hoping to trade Zach LaVine this summer, and guys like Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso should be hitting the trade market, too. In addition, Chicago needs to figure out what they want to do with DeMar DeRozan, as he’s going to be an unrestricted free agent.

The CHGO Sports YouTube channel recently spoke about what the Bulls’ biggest offseason priority should be.

It seems as though the Bulls are focused on getting rid of LaVine, but should that be taking priority over the decision they have to make regarding DeRozan?

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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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