It hasn’t been scheduled yet, but Bulls management has an important meeting coming up to plot the team’s future, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago is part of a crowded field fighting for playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, and decisions will have to be made soon on whether to try for the postseason or build for the future.
“Nothing has been presented to me in terms of any ideas or suggestions of buying, selling or anything like that. I don’t have anything on that,’’ coach Billy Donovan said before Saturday’s game. “My focus has been on trying to continue to help the group get better and improve and to try to help the team get better. But I know in speaking to (executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas) that he wants to sit down and have a conversation at some point, probably a couple of weeks before we’re out from the trade deadline.’’
The Bulls, currently in ninth place in the conference, must decide whether to be buyers or sellers ahead of the March 25 deadline. Several teams are reportedly interested in veteran forward Thaddeus Young, and the team will have to determine whether it wants to keep building around Zach LaVine or listen to offers for a potential franchise-altering deal.
There’s more from Chicago:
- Starting center Wendell Carter Jr. is healthy again, but that’s the only positive news on the injury front, Cowley adds in a separate story. Lauri Markkanen remains sidelined by a sprained right shoulder that will likely keep him out of action until mid-March, and Otto Porter Jr. is still being bothered by back issues. “He’s done nothing in practice, but he has gotten shots up, and he has been doing more physically,’’ Donovan said of Porter. “Still do not know a timetable of when he’ll actually be back.”
- Donovan made the case for LaVine to be added as an All-Star after his 38-point outburst Saturday night, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports. The reserves are chosen by coaches and will be announced Tuesday. “When you look at players that are All-Stars, you are saying they are playing at a high level individually and they are also raising the level of the team,” Donovan said. “I think Zach has done that.”
- Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports looks at how Patrick Williams‘ “stone cold” reputation has helped him move into the starting lineup as a rookie without a normal training camp or preseason.
The Bulls need a great interior player. Friday night Embiid scored 50 points against the Bulls. The Bulls have no one to match up against Embiid. Understand Embiid is a tough matchup for all teams. Understand that finding athletic talented big men is very difficult. Not enough to go around.
Porter and a second for Drummond
Lauri and Lonzo want market salary contracts
Bulls don’t pay market salary for this kind
Let’s say Lauri is worth 5 years $70 million
Lauri wants market $90 million
Bulls say no
Lonzo is a good fit for Bulls except market contract
No. Don’t want Drummond.
Youre right thats what we need in the draft we need to either get rid of carter and lauri now
I have the Bulls & Mavs in similar FO/Franchise positions currently. I expect both to compete & improve on what they have. That will probably involve moving names Like KP, Richardson, Powell, Carter, Markkanen, White.
Both teams have something at their core, but unless they move other pieces, they will not compete for a playoff spot this season.
Zach LaVine is worth Devin Booker contract $158 million
If Bulls don’t want to pay this amount, trade him to Pelicans
I think Lavine will get his money from the Bulls. If anyone will take Markannen, Porter, and Young, might as well get a PG and a pick as part of a deal. Young in particular has been terriffic but is at peak value, the other two cannot seem to stay on the court.
Lavine and White are tied at the hip, same player, different experience level. They could be part of a killer guard rotation or duplicative. Carter and Gafford if combined into one player might be a good backup. Bulls need a bruising big to deal with size as Carter just isn’t big enough, although he has a speed advantage over most other than the exceptional Embiid.
Would love to be a fly on the wall in that meeting, some tough choices.
Williams is clearly a keeper, ceiling is Kawhi-like. He and Carter are both very mature for their age and that is also a consideration. Getting Lonzo might make it all work. Kings also have 2 good pgs, might part with one for the right deal.
Bulls get Wiseman, Wolves pick and Oubre
Warriors get LaVine and Carter
Who says no?
Warriors get low cost contracts, bench Kay Thompson
Bulls rebuild around Wiseman and maybe Kumingo
Jalen Johnson could be good in CHI if not looking at Oubre long term. I’m not high on Oubre fitting with the Bulls, good salary filler in this trade though.
No. Bad trade for Bulls.
Thats a dumb xs trade
According to Marc Berman
Knicks are interested in LaVine, Beal and McCollum
Berman also says that Knox and Frank NT are in the trade package for them
Lol
I’d have to say no to Knox if he came back in a deal for one of those 3 players. Unless the compensation was satisfactory.
Sillivan,
Do you even have a NBA team? It smells to me that you’re a NYK fan, with the constant Lavine to NYK talks. Is this another Dionnis burner account???
He’s not a Knick fan. He just likes talking about Knicks. Good or bad. Like National media
Bulls only losing in first rd if they make it. Probably can make it without Thad. So why not move him. Imo LaVine seems tired of waiting on Bulls. Even though Williams was a solid pick. Halliburton would make them a better team now, today. There’s a possibility they move LaVine. If they do I hope Knicks are in on it.
3 draft1 picks because the bulls doesn’t want any player on the knicks team
Do you guys watch the NBA? Without a guaranteed scorer your team has no chance. Lavine is that guy and therefore only gets traded for Hugh return. Not a bunch of bench players
Exactly. LaVine is in the same category as Beal, Booker, Donovan Mitchell and Lillard.