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2017 Offseason In Review: Chicago Bulls

October 20th, 2017 at 6:59pm CST by Austin Kent

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2017 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2017/18 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Chicago Bulls.

Signings:

Cristiano Felicio: Four years, $32MM.
Nikola Mirotic: Two years, $25MM. Second-year team option.
Justin Holiday: Two years, $9MM.
Antonio Blakeney: Two-way contract. Two years, $50K guaranteed for each season.
Ryan Arcidiacono: Two-way contract. One year. $50K guaranteed.

Camp invitees:

Diamond Stone: Two years, minimum salary. $50K guarantee. (Waived)
Bronson Koenig: One year, minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10. (Waived)
Jaylen Johnson: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract. (Waived)
Jarell Eddie: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract. (Waived)

Waiver claims:

Claimed David Nwaba off waivers from the Lakers.
Claimed Kay Felder off waivers from the Cavaliers.

Trades:

Acquired Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the draft rights to Lauri Markkanen (No. 7 pick) from the Timberwolves in exchange for Jimmy Butler and the draft rights to Justin Patton (No. 16 pick).
Acquired cash ($3.5MM) from the Warriors in exchange for the draft rights to Jordan Bell (No. 38 pick).
Acquired Quincy Pondexter, the Pelicans’ 2018 second-round pick, and cash ($2.5MM) from the Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights to Ater Majok.

Draft picks:

1-7: Lauri Markkanen — Signed to rookie contract.

Departing players:

Jimmy Butler
Isaiah Canaan (waived)
Michael Carter-Williams
Joffrey Lauvergne
Anthony Morrow
Rajon Rondo (waived)
Dwyane Wade (bought out)

Other offseason news:

Hired Doug Collins as senior advisor of basketball operations.
As a result of a punch thrown by Bobby Portis, Nikola Mirotic expected to be out until late November with facial injuries; Portis suspended for eight games.
Cameron Payne out until at least December with a foot injury.

Salary cap situation:

Operating over the cap, but can create more than $17MM in cap room if necessary. Carrying approximately $81.4MM in guaranteed team salary. Portion of mid-level exception ($3.79MM) and full bi-annual exception ($3.29MM) still available.

Check out the Chicago Bulls’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

With mounting pressure to commit to an inevitable rebuild, the Bulls finally opted to ship lone star Jimmy Butler westward for a handful of intriguing young building blocks.

To say that Chicago fans have grown skeptical that Gar Forman and John Paxson are the men to lead them into the next great era of Bulls basketball is an understatement. Nevertheless, the executive team has accepted the ambitious task and attempted to make the most of a less-than-stellar chapter in franchise history.

While the Bulls may be a way off from their next postseason appearance, we can give the organization credit for hopping off the treadmill of mediocrity. Baby steps, people.

Key offseason losses:

The Bulls managed to break the 40-win mark in each of the past two seasons largely because they’ve had Butler on board to keep the team relevant in the Post-Healthy-Derrick-Rose Era. This season, however, the All-NBA forward will ply his trade for former coach Tom Thibodeau in Minneapolis. The team will miss Butler’s ability to shoulder the offensive load, among other things, but fans should be reasonably pleased with the haul he yielded.

Besides Butler, a pair of former All-Star guards made their exit from Chicago this summer — Dwyane Wade received a late offeseason buyout, while Rajon Rondo was waived before his full 2017/18 guarantee kicked in. While Wade and Rondo were valued pieces that nearly helped the Bulls upset the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last spring, they’re 35 and 31 years old, respectively, and weren’t going to be part of the all-out rebuild unfolding at the United Center.

The Bulls also said farewell to backup guard Michael Carter-Williams this summer, and while he didn’t play much of a role in his only season with the squad, he could have been an intriguing piece for the team if given more of an opportunity. That opportunity could have come this season considering that Wade and Rondo are gone, but the 26-year-old former Rookie of the Year will play for the Hornets instead.

Key offseason additions:

While he’ll need to prove that he can bounce back from the torn ACL he suffered last season, Zach LaVine represents Chicago’s closest thing to a star. LaVine averaged 18.9 points per game for the Timberwolves last season, despite competing with two franchise cornerstones for touches. The 22-year-old will have plenty of chances to reach his ceiling when he finally sets foot on the court in a Bulls jersey.

The shine on Kris Dunn has dulled since he was drafted fifth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, but the young guard – who drew significant trade interest on draft night a year ago – still has tantalizing potential. Although we saw first hand that Dunn may not be ready to guide a team as its starting point guard just yet, his development will be among his new organization’s chief priorities in 2017/18.

There’s no consensus on what to expect out of Lauri Markkanen in his rookie season, but the forward out of Arizona could step into a significant role out of the gates. Markkanen lands in a unique situation this year with room to develop, though he’ll have to share the spotlight with several promising young teammates.

The Bulls managed to lure journeyman Justin Holiday back to the organization and the 28-year-old wasted no time stepping up as a leader of the youthful roster. Holiday’s career mark of 5.7 points per game leaves much to be desired, but the new-look Bulls core will benefit from his presence in the locker room.

Outlook for 2017/18:

While Chicago’s return in the Butler deal was widely panned, it stacks up well to the packages included in the offseason’s other blockbuster trades. Even if the Bulls didn’t net any sure-fire studs, the fact that they landed three potentially substantial building blocks in a summer when Paul George, Kyrie Irving and Carmelo Anthony were traded for pennies on the dollar should be celebrated.

Things will get a lot uglier before they get better in Chicago, something made abundantly clear when Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic threw down in a practice prior to the team’s season opener. But at least the front office, for better or worse, finally committed to a rebuild.

Don’t expect many wins out of the team in 2017/18, but rather a genuine commitment to developing their young core. If the front office shows any signs of mishandling that process, then don’t rule out another Fire GarPax billboard before the season’s out.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Front Office Sold Jordan Bell Pick To Build Equity With Ownership; Fight Fallout

October 19th, 2017 at 4:28pm CST by Austin Kent

The Bulls have gotten flak for, among other things, selling second-round pick Jordan Bell to the Warriors. Cody Westerlund of 670 The Score tweets that VP of basketball operations John Paxson said that he was “building up equity” with ownership when he sold the No. 38 pick to Golden State for $3.5MM.
The Bulls are looking to regroup after a fight in practice set the team into chaos before the season even began. Sam Smith of the team’s official website offers an inside account of what happened and what comes next.

Bulls Suspend Bobby Portis For Eight Games

October 18th, 2017 at 12:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bulls have suspended power forward Bobby Portis for eight games for punching and injuring teammate Nikola Mirotic, tweets K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Portis, who will be allowed to practice during his suspension, per Johnson (Twitter link), will be eligible to return on November 7 in Toronto.

As we detailed on Tuesday and earlier today, Poris and Mirotic were involved in an incident during scrimmage that saw Portis punch his teammate, ultimately hospitalizing him. Mirotic suffered a concussion and fractured two facial bones, and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month or so. Bulls executive John Paxson said today that it will be four to six weeks before Mirotic gets back on the court (Twitter link via Johnson).

Although Mirotic was on the receiving end of the blow that ended the altercation, reports out of Chicago have suggested that both players were going back and forth at one another, exchanging words and shoves as tensions escalated during a scrimmage. The fact that Portis’ suspension is only for eight games and will allow him to practice suggests that the Bulls may agree that both players were partially to blame.

Paxson said today that both players owned responsibility, adding that he wouldn’t call Portis’ blow a “sucker punch.” However, Paxson did acknowledge that Portis crossed a line, calling his punch “inexcusable” (Twitter links via Johnson).

With Portis and Mirotic both sidelined for the near future, the Bulls may have to rely on first-round pick Lauri Markkanen more than expected in the early going. Cristiano Felicio also figures to see an increased role for the next couple weeks, though the Bulls may play smaller lineups in general, given their lack of frontcourt depth. Of course, with Kris Dunn, Cameron Payne, and Zach LaVine also on the shelf with various injuries, the Bulls aren’t particularly deep in the backcourt right now either.

Chicago may have an opportunity to add an extra player to their roster next week, but the team isn’t eligible for that extra spot right away. Portis can be transferred to the suspended list after the third game of his ban, opening up a spot, while the Bulls can apply for a hardship exception if they have four players miss at least three games due to injuries.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis, Bulls

October 18th, 2017 at 10:41am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of a physical altercation between Bulls power forwards Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic, the team is expected to be without both players for several games in the near future. As we heard on Tuesday, Mirotic will likely miss a few weeks while he recovers from being punched by Portis, and his teammate is facing a certain suspension.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter), Portis has a call with the league office today to discuss the incident. K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune indicates (via Twitter) that Portis will be suspended at some point after the Bulls conclude their communication with the NBA.

Mirotic, who has been released from the hospital, suffered two facial fractures and a concussion, and will have to wear a mask when he eventually returns to the court, says Johnson. As for Portis, Johnson tweets that the Arkansas alum is well-regarded for his work ethic and his commitment to the team, but he’ll face a multi-game suspension for his actions.

In his full report on the incident, Johnson cites several witnesses who say that “tensions heightened” between Portis and Mirotic during a team scrimmage. After exchanging words for a few minutes during play, Mirotic and Portis began shoving one another, and Mirotic “once moved in Portis’ direction,” per Johnson. Then Portis landed the lone punch.

As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes, NBA teams are eligible to apply for a hardship exception granting them an extra roster spot if they have four players on their roster out for at least three games. With Zach LaVine, Cameron Payne, and Mirotic now expected to miss significant time, Chicago could apply for that exception next week – after the team’s third game – assuming Kris Dunn also remains sidelined with his finger injury.

Nikola Mirotic Hospitalized After Altercation With Bobby Portis

October 17th, 2017 at 6:43pm CST by ChrisCrouse

6:43pm: The Bulls are evaluating disciplinary options for Portis, per Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic (Twitter link). Mayberry adds that the league office is also involved while Johnson tweets that the power forward will likely be suspended.

6:23pm: Nikola Mirotic was sent to the hospital after engaging in a physical altercation with teammate Bobby Portis during practice earlier today, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. Shams adds that at the conclusion of the shoving match, Portis took an alleged “cheap shot” at Mirotic’s face, which resulted in the emergency care.

Mirotic suffered a concussion and multiple fractures in his face, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com tweets. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter) hears that the power forward will be out “a few weeks.”

Bobby Marks of the Vertical (Twitter link) notes that league contracts contain a clause that allows a team to terminate a deal if a violent act is committed. I’d speculate that Portis faces some sort of discipline for the action, though no word of a suspension, fine or release has yet to trickle out.

Assuming Portis remains in Chicago, the team may need him to play extended minutes with his backup currently ailing. No. 7 overall pick Lauri Markkanen is also a candidate to see additional court time.

Extension Talks With Zach LaVine Never Got Serious

October 17th, 2017 at 2:44pm CST by Luke Adams

Although the Bulls and Zach LaVine‘s representatives remained in communication, the two sides never really got close to working out a contract extension for LaVine before Monday’s deadline, says Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago. However, Goodwill reiterates what we’ve heard from other reporters, suggesting that the club has no intention of letting LaVine get away in restricted free agency next summer.

Bulls Claim Felder, Waive Eddie And Stone

October 16th, 2017 at 4:45pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Bulls have claimed point guard Kay Felder, Shams Charania of The Vertical tweets. They will waive swingman Jarell Eddie, league sources told Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Chicago will also shed center Diamond Stone to reach the 15-man roster limit, Charania adds in another tweet.

The Cavaliers traded Felder along with veteran forward Richard Jefferson to the Hawks on Saturday in order to shed salary and create roster space. Atlanta then immediately waived both players.

Felder, a second-round pick in 2016, appeared in 42 regular-season games last season and averaged 4.0 PPG and 1.4 APG in 9.2 MPG. He had a $457K guarantee on his $1,312,611 salary for this season. There is a team option on his $1,544,951 contract for next season.

The Bulls have Kris Dunn and Jerian Grant as their top point guards but Cameron Payne was declared out for 3-4 months in September after undergoing foot surgery.

Eddie, 25, played for the Wizards and Suns over the last two seasons. He played sparingly in 26 games for Washington during the 2015/16 season.

Eddie then played for the G League’s Windy City Bulls before hooking on with Phoenix late last season. He saw action in five games with the Suns last season after signing a pair of 10-day contracts.

Though he signed a contract for $1,471,382, most of the money was non-guaranteed. He collected a couple of extra days’ salary by remaining on the roster through Saturday.

Chicago still has plenty of shooting guards and small forwards on the roster, including Paul Zipser, Denzel Valentine, Justin Holiday, David Nwaba and rookie Antonio Blakeney. Zach LaVine and Quincy Pondexter are still rehabbing from knee injuries.

Stone received a modest guarantee after signing with Chicago in September. Stone, who played his rookie season with the Clippers, was also waived by the Hawks after Atlanta acquired him in late July. Robin Lopez, Christiano Felicio and rookie Lauri Markkanen are the main options at center.

Zach LaVine Unlikely To Sign Extension Today

October 16th, 2017 at 1:26pm CST by Luke Adams

K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune suggested over the weekend that it’s a matter of when – not if – the Bulls lock up Zach LaVine to a new contract. It appears the “when” won’t be today though. Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link) hears from a source that a rookie scale extension for LaVine is “not likely.”

Bulls Notes: LaVine, Valentine, Rotation, Arcidiacono

October 15th, 2017 at 2:43pm CST by marksuleymanov

The Bulls acquired Zach LaVine in a June trade despite a torn left ACL he suffered last February, putting his 2017/18 debut on hold. The two-time dunk contest champion is currently rehabbing and Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters, including K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, that LaVine’s recovery is on schedule.

“Zach is coming along great,” Hoiberg said Thursday. “He’s been really good, very vocal with our players. He’s ahead of schedule. He’s cleared to do more movement. He’s not cleared for contact yet, but he’s moving around in unpredictable movements now, which is important.”

LaVine, still just 22 years old, could become an important piece of the Bulls’ future. Before the season-ending injury last season, LaVine was enjoying his best year to date, averaging 18.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 3.0 APG in 48 games. If he recovers from knee surgery — which has been known to zap players’ explosiveness — without issue, LaVine eventually re-signing with Chicago would be a question of when, not if, Johnson writes in a separate article.

Check out other news surrounding the Bulls below:

Denzel Valentine will not the Bulls’ backup point guard, Hoiberg told reporters, including Johnson (via Twitter).
In a separate tweet, Johnson notes that the Bulls are expected to use a 10-man rotation. Johnson adds that the injured Paul Zipser, who has been dealing with a back ailment, will likely start in Thursday’s season opener.
Ryan Arcidiacono is the expected backup point guard for the Bulls in the season opener, per Johnson. The Bulls reporter adds that 45 days of NBA service on two-way deals does not start until Oct. 23., allowing the Bulls to keep Arcidiacono on the roster a while longer.

Roster Moves Still Required For Four NBA Teams

October 15th, 2017 at 11:52am CST by Luke Adams

After Saturday’s flurry of roster moves around the NBA, most of the league’s 30 teams are all set for the regular season. Heading into opening night, teams are allowed to carry up to 17 players — no more than 15 on their respective NBA rosters, plus an additional two on two-way contracts.

Saturday didn’t represent the deadline for teams to set the regular season rosters, but it was the last day for a club to waive a player on a fully non-guaranteed contract and avoid having his salary count against the cap. That’s why most teams have already made the necessary moves to ensure their rosters are regular-season-ready.

However, as our roster count page shows, there are four teams who will need to make at least one more trade, cut, or other roster move before they’ll be set for the season. These moves are due by Monday afternoon.

Here are those four teams:

Chicago Bulls

NBA contracts: 16 (13 fully guaranteed)
Two-way contracts: 2
The Bulls still have three players on non-guaranteed contracts — Jarell Eddie, David Nwaba, and Diamond Stone. Eddie looked like the most logical candidate to be waived, so it’s somewhat odd that Chicago didn’t make that move on Saturday. Of course, the Bulls’ team salary is well below the salary floor, so if they end up paying Eddie or Nwaba for a couple days of service, it’s hardly the end of the world. Stone already has a $50K guarantee on his contract, so he could be waived on Monday without it affecting the Bulls’ bottom line.

Dallas Mavericks

NBA contracts: 16 (12 fully guaranteed)
Two-way contracts: 1
The Mavericks are already at 17 players, so the most logical move would be to convert Gian Clavell‘s NBA contract into a two-way deal and avoid waiving anyone. Dallas has held off on that move, however, with Clavell drawing some trade interest. The club will have to make a call on him – or another player with a full or partial guarantee – by Monday.

Memphis Grizzlies

NBA contracts: 17 (16 fully guaranteed)
Two-way contracts: 2
No team has more work to do before Monday than the Grizzlies, who will have to trade or cut multiple players and may end up eating a decent chunk of guaranteed money. The most likely scenario would see the team waiving Jarell Martin and perhaps Andrew Harrison (or Wade Baldwin), while retaining Mario Chalmers, who only has a modest $25K guarantee. Martin, Harris, and Baldwin all have full guarantees, which is why Memphis wasn’t under pressure to make any decisions on Saturday.

Utah Jazz

NBA contracts: 16 (15 fully guaranteed)
Two-way contracts: 2
Like the Grizzlies, the Jazz appear set to waive a player on a fully guaranteed salary, which is why they could afford to wait until Monday rather than getting something done on Saturday. Raul Neto, the team’s lone non-guaranteed player, appears safe, meaning the decision will likely come down to Joel Bolomboy vs. Royce O’Neale. Both players have fully guaranteed minimum salaries.