Bulls Notes: Rebuild, Rondo, Mirotic, Wade
Bulls executives Gar Forman and John Paxson spoke to reporters late on Thursday night in the wake of the blockbuster trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota and signaled a full-scale rebuild in Chicago. As Nick Friedell of ESPN.com tweets, Paxson explicitly used the R-word (“rebuild”) in his comments.
As a result of the its new direction, the club will remain “patient and disciplined” this offseason, according to Paxson, who says the Bulls won’t be investing big money in players unless there’s a long-term fit (Twitter link via Friedell).
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Forman said tonight that it’s not yet clear whether the Bulls will pick up Rajon Rondo‘s option (Twitter link via Friedell). According to Sam Amick of USA Today (Twitter link), there has been no discussion yet of a buyout for Rondo, but it’s “clearly a possibility” after the Butler trade. Rondo’s contract has a built-in buyout, since it’s only guaranteed for $3MM right now, so the Bulls would have to waive him by June 30 to avoid being on the hook for another $10MM+.
- Despite using the seventh overall pick on Lauri Markkanen, a stretch four, the Bulls intend to re-sign Nikola Mirotic as a restricted free agent, Paxson said (Twitter link via K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune).
- Although he won’t be thrilled to see Butler depart, Dwyane Wade is still picking up his player option for 2017/18, as Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com tweets. Paxson suggested on Thursday night that if Wade had serious concerns about the team’s direction, he might not have exercised that option (Twitter link via Sam Smith of Bulls.com).
- The Bulls believe newly-acquired Zach LaVine is ahead of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear, but don’t yet know when he’ll get back on the court, tweets Friedell.
- How did Butler react to Thursday’s deal? “He’s great,” a source close to the forward tells Goodwill (Twitter link). “He’s with Thibs now.” Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, confirmed that his client “has definitely embraced the opportunity to look forward” (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press).
Clippers Acquire Sindarius Thornwell From Bucks
JUNE 23, 12:35am: The deal is official, with the Clippers sending cash considerations to the Bucks in exchange for Thornwell’s draft rights, per a press release.
JUNE 22, 11:03pm: Having already reached a deal for the No. 39 pick, the Clippers have picked up another second-rounder, according to Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Turner reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles has bought the No. 48 overall pick from the Bucks.
The Clippers are using the pick on South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwell, per Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link).
Thornwell was the SEC Player of the Year in 2016/17, averaging 21.4 PPG to go along with 7.2 RPG and 2.1 SPG. He also upped his shooting percentages to .445/.395/.830, all career-bests.
The exact details of the deal aren’t yet known, but it appears that the Clippers paid cash to obtain the pick from Milwaukee.
Wizards Reach Agreement With Kris Jenkins
The Wizards have reached a free agent agreement with Villanova’s Kris Jenkins, tweets David Aldridge of TNT.
Jenkins is best known as the hero of the 2016 NCAA championship game, when he sank a last-second shot to defeat North Carolina. The 6’6″ forward returned to the Wildcats for his senior season and put up 13.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Washington didn’t have any picks in tonight’s draft and will be looking for inexpensive players to help rebuild its bench, so Jenkins may have a chance to make the 15-man roster.
Rockets Trade Dillon Brooks To Grizzlies
JUNE 23, 12:11am: The trade is now official, the Grizzlies confirmed in a press release announcing the acquisitions of both Brooks and Rabb.
JUNE 22, 10:47pm: The Rockets drafted Oregon’s Dillon Brooks at No. 45 and will trade him to Memphis, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. In return, Houston will receive the worst of the Grizzlies’ 2018 second-rounders. In addition to their own, Memphis has the rights to picks from Charotte and Miami.
A 6’7″ junior, Brooks averaged 16.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for the Ducks. He could be part of a youth movement for the Grizzlies, who also acquired 35th pick Ivan Rabb from the Magic tonight.
Houston eliminated a potential financial commitment by dealing the 45th pick and using the 43rd choice on 19-year-old Isaiah Hartenstein, who will likely spend at least one more year overseas. That fits in with the Rockets’ reported desire to clear cap room and pursue elite free agents next month.
Cooke, Beachem Agree To Deals With Wolves
Dayton’s Charles Cooke has agreed to a free agent contract with the Timberwolves, tweets Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. The 6’5″ senior averaged 15.7 points per game with the Flyers this year, but wasn’t listed among the Draft Express top 100 prospects.
The Wolves also reached an agreement with Notre Dame senior small forward V.J. Beachem, according to David Aldridge of TNT (Twitter link). Beachem averaged 14.5 points per night and is 67th on the Draft Express list. Neither deal can become official until after July 1st, per league rules.
Minnesota dealt away Zach LaVine in tonight’s trade for Jimmy Butler, so there may be an opportunity for Cooke or Beachem to make a run at a roster spot.
Pacers Buy 52nd Pick, Draft Edmond Sumner
11:47pm: The Pacers have officially acquired Sumner’s rights in exchange for cash considerations, the team confirmed (via Twitter).
11:03pm: The Pacers purchased the 52nd pick from the Pelicans and used it to take Edmond Sumner of Xavier, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Sumner is a 6’5″ sophomore point guard who averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 assists in 21 games this season. He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in January and missed the rest of the season.
Jazz Acquire Tony Bradley From Lakers
11:10pm: The deal is now official, according to the NBA. The Lakers used their picks on Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant.
9:33pm: The Jazz have agreed to acquire the No. 28 overall pick from the Lakers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (via Twitter). Wojnarowski reports that Utah will use its newly-acquired pick to grab UNC’s Tony Bradley.
In exchange for giving up the No. 28 pick, the Lakers will move back two spots and pick up an extra selection. According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), Utah is sending the 30th and 42nd overall picks to L.A. in the swap.
[RELATED: Complete 2017 NBA Draft Results]
The Lakers already used two first-round picks, selecting Lonzo Ball at No. 2 and Kyle Kuzma at No. 27. Now, the team will have two more selections to use, as Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka continue to stockpile assets.
As for the Jazz, it’s the second time they’ve traded up tonight. Utah used Trey Lyles in a deal with Denver to move up from No. 24 to No. 13 and select Donovan Mitchell. Now, they’ve used the 42nd overall pick to move up from No. 30 to No. 28 for Bradley.
Pelicans Acquire Frank Jackson From Hornets
11:07pm: The trade is now official, according to the Hornets, who used their newly-acquired pick on Dwayne Bacon (Twitter link).
9:58pm: The Hornets drafted Duke guard Frank Jackson at No. 31 and will trade him to the Pelicans, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Charlotte will receive pick No. 40 in return, along with cash. The selection they used to on Jackson was acquired from the Hawks in Tuesday’s Dwight Howard trade. The Hornets sent pick No. 41 to Atlanta in that deal, so they are essentially back where they started.
A 6’4″ combo guard, Jackson averaged 10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game during his lone season at Duke.
Bucks Acquire Sterling Brown From Sixers
JULY 6, 12:13pm: The trade is official, according to a tweet from the Sixers.
JUNE 22, 10:56pm: The Bucks and Sixers have reached an agreement on the No. 46 overall pick, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. Charania reports (via Twitter) that Milwaukee is acquiring the pick – and the draft rights to SMU’s Sterling Brown – from Philadelphia.
Brown is a 6’6″ senior who averaged 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Mustangs this season. He is the younger brother of former NBA player Shannon Brown.
In addition to top pick Markelle Fultz and Anzejs Pasecniks at No. 25, the Sixers came away from the draft with two second-rounders, Jonah Bolden at No. 36 and Mathias Lessort at No. 50.
Warriors Acquire Jordan Bell From Bulls
10:49pm: The trade is now official, per the NBA.
10:27pm: The Bulls drafted Oregon’s Jordan Bell at No. 38 and will trade him to the Warriors, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. Chicago will receive $3.5MM in return, the maximum amount allowable in a cash deal this season and a record amount for a draft pick.
Golden State is hoping to duplicate the success it had with Patrick McCaw, who was drafted 38th a year ago. Bell, a 6’9″ junior, was considered a possible first-round pick after a stellar junior season with the Ducks. He averaged 11.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and an impressive 2.3 blocks per game.
Chicago had waited several years to receive this selection from the Kings, but it turned into a second-rounder instead of a first due to protections. It was the last selection of the night for the Bulls, who came away from the draft with just Lauri Markkanen at No. 7.