The Bulls have exercised their 2019/20 team options on three players, announcing today in a press release that Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, and Denzel Valentine have all had their salaries guaranteed for next season.
[RELATED: Decisions On 2019/20 Rookie Scale Team Options]
Dunn and Valentine were 2016 draft picks, so their options for 2019/20 are for the fourth and final year of their respective rookie scale contracts. Dunn’s will have a cap charge of $5,348,007, while Valentine’s is worth $3,377,569. Both players will be eligible for rookie scale extensions during the 2019 offseason before entering the last year of their rookie deals. If they don’t sign extensions, they’ll remain on track for restricted free agency in 2020.
Markkanen’s $5,300,400 option is for his third year, meaning the Bulls will have one more option decision to make on his rookie contract next October. He won’t be extension-eligible until 2020.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, all three of these young players are currently injured, with Markkanen sidelined by an elbow injury, Dunn recovering from an MCL sprain, and Valentine battling an ankle issue. Barring setbacks, all three players could get back on the court for Chicago within the next four or five weeks.
Let the tanking commence!
Just such a rough start to this season for the Bulls.. What looked to be a season where they could really start to mesh their young core and all build chemistry together, has turned into just a waiting game for them all to be healthy…
Usually, in these circumstances there are at least some positives, because other young players are getting more PT and gaining valuable experience, but that isn’t even the case, because the Bulls have yet to be able to build depth within their roster rebuild.
Hutchison, Felicio, Blakeney, and Payne are all getting some extended playing time, but none of these players have really stepped up and taken advantage.
Portis was supposed to get more playing time, step up in Lauri’s absence, and earn himself a nice new contract next season, but of course he gets injured as well..
Arcidiacono has somewhat shown he’s a capable backup, but he’s really nothing more than a 3rd PG on a contending team. He’s a tough and gritty, all-effort kind of guy, that’s capable of shooting well from 3, and managing an offense, but he’s certainly replaceable..
Harrison got his first taste of action against the Warriors, and he actually had a pretty good showing. Hopefully, with more PT and an honest opportunity, he can take over that back-up PG role the Bulls have been searching for the past few seasons. It would be a huge boost to their core moving forward, if Harrison can step in and show he’s capable of handling the starting PG duties in Dunn’s absence..
Dunn, Markk, LaVine, Carter Jr., Portis, and Valentine all need A LOT more time rotating together on the court to build up their chemistry moving forward..Especially, since it won’t be long before the Bulls have to make some crucial decisions on Portis, Valentine, and Dunn!!
The ONLY positives so far have been Carter Jr.’s defense and obvious maturity for a player of his age, LaVine looking healthy and like a true #1 option, and the fact the Bulls are likely to get a good shot at RJ Barrett in the next draft!!..lol
However, if it takes one year of misfortune, for at least 5 years of Barrett, I’ll gladly take it. Barrett is EXACTLY what this young core is missing, and drafting him would be an excellent accelerant for their rebuild!!
Looking at a starting five of Dunn, LaVine, Barrett, Markkanen, and Carter Jr., that would be one of the best collections of young talent in the East, and with a few quality, young role players coming off the bench like Portis, Valentine, Hutchison, Felicio, and maybe even Harrison that would set the Bulls up to be in a position to fill in the gaps with a couple of key, solid veterans. Adding Barrett, with a couple key veterans, that would help catapult the Bulls into contention in the East. Not to mention, they’d certainly be a really fun team to watch!! This next draft though, they REALLY have to hit on their pick, and it’s extremely important that they get an athletic SF/Wing that’s also capable of guarding multiple positions…That’s certainly describes the 6’7″ Barrett, but unless they’re able to secure a top 2-3 pick, they aren’t getting him…
Im not reading all that.
It was about, how it’s no use, and tanking, & drafting some teen who will make it all better. Nothing new