The Bulls could be in position to build the NBA’s next superteam, suggests Michael Walton of NBC Sports Chicago. Citing a report that Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving would like to team up, Walton notes that Chicago has the resources to make it happen. Both players could become free agents next summer, and the Bulls have a path to offer two near-max contracts.
By renouncing their rights to Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne and stretching Omer Asik‘s contract, Chicago can trim its payroll to $64.6MM. The Bulls could also improve their chances by trading for Butler or Irving this season, Walton notes. Getting Butler away from former Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau seems impossible, but Walton states that the Celtics may be tempted by an offer for Irving centered around Zach LaVine or Kris Dunn, whom Boston tried to trade up for when he was coming out of college.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- The Pacers boosted their chances to be a top three team in the East by landing Tyreke Evans, writes Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star. The addition of Evans, along with Doug McDermott and rookie Aaron Holiday, gives Indiana far more firepower off the bench than it had this season, Doyel contends. One of eight players to average 19 points, five rebounds and five assists during the season, Evans is versatile enough to help the Pacers in a variety of ways.
- Ed Stefanski has been maximizing his resources since taking over as senior adviser for the Pistons, notes Rod Beard of The Detroit News. In his brief time in the new role, Stefanski hired the reigning Coach of the Year in Dwane Casey, added Malik Rose to the front office, drafted two promising second-rounders in Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown, then added Jose Calderon and Glenn Robinson III in free agency.
- Pistons guard Luke Kennard suffered a left knee strain during practice that will force him to miss summer league, the team tweeted. The decision to hold him out is most likely a precaution, Beard notes (Twitter link).
- The Cavaliers remain focused on making the playoffs, even after the loss of LeBron James, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. The team insists it will hang onto Kevin Love, the only All-Star remaining on the roster, and try to rebuild around him.
The Celtics going for Lavine or Dunn? Kyrie and Jimmy on the Bulls would be absolutely sick though.
This is a laughable and uneducated article. Asik’s contract next year is guaranteed for only $3MM, this there would be absolutely no need to “stretch” him. Plus Boston isn’t going to trade Kyrie to the Bulls for a package that includes Kris Dunn, Bobby Portis and Justin Holiday… c’mon man. Clearly the writer is clueless.
lmfao the celtics dont want dunn or lavine stop it
The Celtics won’t have to worry about it if Kyrie leaves as a free agent next summer?
Question: Why don’t the Cavs have the $8.9mil MLE instead of the $5mil MLE? Their roster is only at about $104mil now.
BTW, SN says Jeff Green signed 1yr/$2.5mil with WAS.
The Cavs have $106MM+ in guaranteed money, plus non-guaranteed deals for Perkins/Okaro White ($4MM combined), and a new deal for Hood still to come. If they cut the non-guaranteed guys and can sign Hood for cheap, they could still use the full MLE, but that’s not a lock.
Kyrie and Butler together on the Bulls is not a “super team,” it is just a team. Those two together do not make think guaranteed title contenders.
Top 3 in the east though?
Plus Markannhan, Wendal Carter, Hutchinson, Lavine, Valentine, and Dunn. Should be a great team
I realize Jimmy really misses Chicago. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s a high-line, first class, world class city.
With that said, The Bulls just need to stay the course with the youth movement, and keep building from within. Build your own Kylie, our own Kawhi, your own LeBron.
We tried the Butler thing….it didn’t work. He’s not a leader, and he causes an unhealthy cliquish stir in every clubhouse he enters.
They tried building around Butler. It didn’t work because they never had the cap space or draft pick to bring in guys around him.
Adding him to a group of Markhannen and Carter – along with Kyrie Irving – is a completely different situation.
Love my Bulls, but this article is a bit silly. I realize Kyrie asked to be traded to the Bulls when he was in CLE. I realize Jimmy wants to come back, but come the F*** on! There is NO WAY the Wolves are gonna just trade Jimmy back when they gave up Dunn, Lavine and Markkanen (whom the Bulls would never trade) Also, the Celtics are not trading Kyrie unless they get a proven star, franchise player in return. The Celtics are aiming for the Finals next season and the Wolves will likely be a playoff team again as well. Makes no damn sense for them to trade their best players.
Now, Kyrie and Jimmy uniting as free agents NEXT summer to sign with the Bulls and play w/ Markannen, Carter, Lavine, Dunn etc…. That I can see.
Also, the Asik contract has a measly 3 mil buy out next year, it will not affect their cap. It will be fairly easy for the Bulls to have the cap space for two max deals next summer if they choose to go that route.
Ok my turn! I wonder if Mr.Chicago reporter is aware of any other colleagues of his or anyone in his field who share his thoughts on the Celtic’s being (wait for it) “Tempted” to trade Kyrie Irving to the Bulls for a package headlined by a Zach LaVine OR Kris Dunn. But I guess it makes sense because the Celtics liked them coming out of the draft 3 years ago before Dunn stunk and LaVine tore his ACL!
Reporters are out of legit team up’s they gotta make up dumb donkey bull feces
Kyrie has said he wants to go to NY, and I’d believe that’s where such a play would happen as opposed to Chicago.
Jimmy will definitely opt out next summer and become a UFA. Kyrie will also be an UFA next summer. If they REALLY want to “team up” it isn’t going to be with the Knicks. My guess they’ll look to go to the Clippers who should have enough cap room for the both of them. Both guys love LA and with LBJ on the Lakers now, with Kawhi set to join them next summer as a UFA, LA fans could be in for an interesting run for the next few years.
Did you miss Irving’s preferred destinations? Even Boston knows he’s going to sign with them…stating facts, not where he should go fantasies.
Kyrie says a lot of things. He says the earth is flat.
They’ll stay in the East, it would be stupid for them to try and team up in the West.
Why doesnt Boston make the Kawhi offer to Minnesota for Butler? Seems like that would keep Kyrie and Butler happy. Plus Minnesota gets a back a solid haul.
Sure. Butler, Brown, Tatum, and Hayward all vying for two positions. Makes sense.
I still think Kyrie is a gonner, never wanted to go to Boston, but sounds intriguing if they could send the package they thinking for Kawhi to Minny for Butler, you see as of now I rate Butler more, I think offensively is similar to Kawhi, defensively also not much difference, but what separates them is Butler is much more healthy than Kawhi & doesn’t quit on the team… so sounds good if the price is right. Yeeesh how could anyone wanna go to Chicago or miss it SMH
Agreed, Kyrie never wanted to go to Boston to begin with. He’ll sign with NY or Chicago next year.