Chicago Bulls Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Central Notes: Sanders, Korver, Mirotic, Miles

March 19th, 2017 at 1:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers‘ plans for Larry Sanders remain uncertain after the recently signed big man played his first D-League game Saturday night, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Sanders had two points, a rebound and three blocks to go with five fouls for the Canton Charge. Afterward, Canton coach Nate Reinking refused to comment on Sanders’ future, calling the plans “classified.” The Cavaliers sent Sanders to the D-League to get used to playing again while they are on a four-game Western swing. The two minutes he played on Tuesday represented his first NBA action since the 2014/15 season. “Get my legs under me. Hopefully help this team win games and get back into basketball shape,” Sanders said of his goals with Canton. “Just defensive timing off a bit and trying to get into position, but it will come.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

The expected return of Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver during the road trip may be delayed, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Korver has missed the past six games with inflammation in his left foot, and he has already been ruled out for tonight’s contest with the Lakers. “There’s still something in there,” Korver said. “It’s getting better but it hasn’t come along like I’d hoped. I should’ve stopped playing on it a week and a half earlier. Now that I’m out, we might as well let it come all the way back, but it just hasn’t yet.”
Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic is focused on a playoff push rather than his impending free agency, relays K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Mirotic, who has gone from inactive to the starting lineup in less than a week, knows that Chicago tried to trade him before last month’s deadline and that his time in the city may be over once the season ends. “There have been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of things I never lived in my life,” he said. “Who could see that? It’s crazy. But I know that I’ve been playing much better the last couple games.”
Veteran swingman C.J. Miles could parlay his newfound starting role with the Pacers into a healthy raise this summer, writes Jordan J. Wilson of The Indianapolis Star. Miles has started every game since the All-Star break and is the team’s best 3-point shooter. After the season, he will have to decide whether to opt out of a nearly $4.8MM salary for next year.

Heat Notes: Free Agents, Waiters, Wade, T. Johnson

March 19th, 2017 at 9:59am CST by Arthur Hill

The surprising Heat may be able to keep this year’s team together and still have cap room to be players on the free agent market, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. With team president Pat Riley saying at the All-Star break that he would use the rest of the season to evaluate which players will be kept, Jackson assesses the situation for several impending free agents:

James Johnson should get at least $10MM annually after his best NBA season, and possibly a contract similar to Evan Turner‘s at $70MM over four years. Johnson loves the team and the city, and the organization wants to bring him back.
Dion Waiters is also enjoying a breakthrough season and wants to sign a long-term deal with the Heat. But if Dwyane Wade stays in Chicago, there will be little competition at the shooting guard position in free agency and Waiters could get an offer of $14MM per year or more.
Wayne Ellington‘s $6.3MM deal for next season doesn’t need to be guaranteed until July 7th, the first day after the moratorium is lifted. The Heat will know where they stand with free agents before making that decision.
Willie Reed can opt out of hiss $1.5MM deal, and Miami may need to use part or all of its $4.3MM room exception to keep him.
The Heat have Bird rights on Luke Babbitt, so if he re-signs he will only count $1.47MM against the cap regardless of his salary.

If Chris Bosh is cleared off the cap as expected, Miami will have about $41MM in available space, with three small cap holds. If the Heat elect to keep Ellington and Babbitt, while using the room exception for Reed, that figure will be closer to $33MM. Jackson expects Riley to use that money to chase top-level free agents before committing to any of his current players.

There’s more today out of Miami:

The Heat aren’t sure when Waiters will return from a sprained ankle he suffered Friday, Jackson writes in a separate story. Waiters was on crutches after the game and has been ruled out for today’s contest with Portland. Coach Erik Spoelstra said it’s too early to talk about when Waiters might play again. “He’s young. He heals fast,” Spoelstra said. “He healed very fast from the last one and he rolled that one all the way over. There’s no way to really tell until we get through this process. We’ll see how he feels after this weekend.”
Wade is turning aside questions about free agency, but Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel envisions a scenario where the veteran guard could return to Miami next season. If Wade opts out of his $23.8MM deal, Miami could create additional cap room by trading Tyler Johnson, possibly to the Nets, who made the four-year, $50MM offer that the Heat elected to match.

Will Dwyane Wade Decline His $23.8MM Player Option?

March 17th, 2017 at 3:44pm CST by Luke Adams

In free agency last summer, Wade reportedly received multiple offers in the same range as the Bulls’ $47MM proposal. The Heat’s two-year offer was believed to be worth a little less, while the Nuggets’ offer was said to be worth a little more.

It’s also worth noting that Wade’s year in Chicago hasn’t exactly represented the storybook homecoming he might have hoped for. The Bulls’ season has been marred with dysfunction, rotation confusion, and a late-season slide that will likely keep the club out of the playoffs. Even if Wade isn’t confident in his ability to land more money in free agency, perhaps he’ll want to decline his option just to have the opportunity to choose a new team.

After earning All-Star nods in each of his two seasons with the Bulls, Pau Gasol has had to adjust to a reduced role this season in San Antonio. Gasol’s 25.7 minutes per contest this season is easily a career low, but he has been about as effective as you’d expect when he does play — his .504 FG% is his best since 2011/12.

Wade's Departure Would Free Cap Space

March 16th, 2017 at 5:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Bulls can hit the reset button if Dwyane Wade opts out of his contract, ESPN.com’s NBA analyst Kevin Pelton opines. The club could have significant cap space this summer if Wade, now out for the remainder of the regular season with a fractured elbow, turns down his $23.8MM player option and becomes a free agent again. That cap space could grow to approximately $50MM if the Bulls waive Rajon Rondo and stretch out his guaranteed money while also renouncing the rights to their other free agents, Pelton explains. Wade would probably have to settle for much less on the free agent market but opting out would allow him to join a contender such as the Cavaliers or Clippers, Pelton adds. The Spurs or even Warriors could be other possible suitors if Wade goes that route, according to the Sporting News’ Sean Deveney, and the Bucks and Nuggets would also check in on him since they showed interest last summer.

Dwyane Wade Out For Regular Season

March 16th, 2017 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

12:00pm: Wade said today that if the Bulls make the playoffs and he gets medical clearance, he intends to return for the postseason (Twitter link via Friedell). However, those are both big ifs.

11:50am: After leaving Wednesday’s game with a right elbow injury, Dwyane Wade was diagnosed today with a sprain and a small fracture in that elbow, the Bulls announced (via Twitter). According to the team, Wade will be out for the rest of the regular season.

The Bulls’ announcement explicitly states that Wade will miss the rest of the “regular” season, so it’s not clear if he’d have the opportunity to return in the playoffs if the club were to sneak in. Given how poorly Chicago has played lately even with Wade in the lineup though, that may be a moot point. Having lost six of their last seven games, the Bulls currently have a 32-36 record. That puts them one game back of the Heat and the Pistons, who are tied for the No. 8 seed in the East.

Wade, who inked a two-year, $47MM contract last summer, has averaged 18.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 3.9 APG in his first year with the Bulls, shooting a career-worst 43.4% from the floor. If the veteran guard doesn’t suit up again for Chicago this season, it’s possible he has played his last game with the team. Wade will have to make a decision this offseason on a $23.8MM player option for 2017/18.

Wade’s health figures to play a part in his decision on that option. According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune (Twitter link), Wade told reporters today that he won’t undergo surgery to repair the break in his elbow. Nick Friedell of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) that the 35-year-old will be re-evaluated in a week.

Wade Injures Elbow; MRI Set For Thursday

March 15th, 2017 at 10:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls are concerned that Dwyane Wade could miss several games with a right elbow injury he suffered tonight, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.

An MRI is scheduled for Thursday morning to determine the extent of the damage. Wade, who was wearing a sling after the game, said he “heard a couple of pops.”

“My concern level is there are only 14 games left, and I’ve never had this injury,” Wade said. “So I can’t say two days, two weeks. I don’t know.”

Bulls Notes: Wade, Butler, Hoiberg

March 14th, 2017 at 8:02pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Dwyane Wade‘s homecoming with the Bulls hasn’t gone as planned and rival executives expect him to hit free agency this summer, Ken Berger of Bleacher Report writes. Wade holds a player option worth $23.8MM for next season.

Wade recently suggested that “upper management” should be the people answering questions on coach Fred Hoiberg‘s lineup decisions. “I don’t want to say too much,” Wade said after a recent game. “I don’t want to say the wrong thing.”

Hoiberg has been experimenting with the rotation, something that’s atypical this late in the season for a team trying to stay afloat in a playoff race. The Bulls entered the day with the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference.

This wasn’t this first time that Wade showed frustration this season. In late January, Wade and Jimmy Butler criticized their teammates via social media for how they how handled a tough loss. Point guard Rajon Rondo then took to Instagram to criticize them, exclaiming that his “vets” in Boston wouldn’t take to social media to address their concerns. Sources tell Berger that as a result of the bickering, all three were fined by the team.

Here’s more from Berger’s piece:

Some rival teams always felt that the additions of Wade and Rondo were never going to work out. “It’s a three-point shooting league, and they have a backcourt where that’s not their forte,” a rival head coach told Berger.
Chicago’s lack of shooting is problematic, but Hoiberg contributes to the organizations’ issues. There’s a belief around the league that Butler is not a fan of the coach and a rival scout told Berger that he’s seen instances of Butler, Wade, and Rondo ignoring the coach’s play calls. “When Fred would call plays on the sideline, Rondo would just flat-out blow him off,” said the scout. “Wade does it, too. Butler does it, too. … That becomes infectious.”
Another rival coach told Berger that the Bulls‘ front office wants Hoiberg to work out, adding that the franchise was entertaining trade offers for Butler because dealing the 3-time All-Star would “protect” Hoiberg. “Getting rid of Butler saves Fred’s job,” the source said. “Otherwise, malaise continues.”
According to Berger, league sources “insist” that the Bulls haven’t ruled out bringing Rondo back for the second season of his contract. His salary for 2017/18 is mostly non-guaranteed.

Bulls Notes: Rondo, Mirotic, Grant, Wade

March 14th, 2017 at 9:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Rajon Rondo and Nikola Mirotic returned to familiar roles Monday as the Bulls broke their five-game losing streak, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. Making his first start since December 30th, Rondo put up 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a win at Charlotte. “That’s what I came here for,” said Rondo, who joined the Bulls on a two-year deal last summer. “But like I said, it’s a process I went through. It didn’t kill me. It’s decisions people made that’s out of my league.” Rondo’s performance should earn him some more starts, but it may not be enough to keep him in Chicago past this season. Only $3MM of his $13.397MM salary for next season is guaranteed if he is waived before June 30th.

Mirotic, who has spent nearly a week on the bench and was listed as inactive for Sunday’s game, responded to his opportunity with a team-high 24 points to go with 11 rebounds. The 26-year-old is in the final season of a three-year contract, and like Rondo, faces an uncertain future in Chicago. “It’s obvious I was not happy with the situation,” Mirotic said. “Nobody’s happy sitting on the bench, not playing — but like I said before, there’s not too much I can do. Just be ready. Work on yourself and once your chance came, try to prove it. I want to forget about this game as soon as I can because I want to stay ready, stay aggressive.”

There’s more this morning out of Chicago:

Rondo’s start came at the expense of Jerian Grant, who became the latest Bulls point guard to go from the starting lineup to out of the rotation, notes Joe Cowley of The Sun-Times. Grant’s playing time has been cut severely over the past week and he never left the bench in Monday’s game. “It’s hard to play when you’re looking over your shoulder after every play,’’ Grant said. “But when you’re out there, you’re playing to win. Whoever [coach Fred Hoiberg] puts out there, that’s what you have to do. You have to be mentally tough. But when there are four other guys fighting for that same position you’re in, it’s hard not to look over your shoulder.”
Mirotic is not part of the Bulls’ long-term plans, Cowley states in the same story.
Financial realities may force Dwyane Wade to spend another season in Chicago, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. The two-year deal Wade signed in July includes a $23.8MM player option for next season. Winderman doesn’t believe any contender will offer Wade nearly that much, so he may decide to opt in and not test the market again.

Nikola Mirotic Unhappy With Inactive Status

March 13th, 2017 at 2:38pm CST by Milo Taibi

After landing on the inactive list for Sunday’s game against the Celtics, Nikola Mirotic vented his frustrations to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Mirotic is a restricted free agent-to-be, and all signs point toward him parting ways with the Bulls over the offseason.

“It’s been difficult for me to understand,” Mirotic said. “Coach (Fred Hoiberg) told me I need to stay ready but didn’t give me any expectation when I can play. I know I can help those guys. Of course I’ve been inconsistent, but that’s been the whole team up and down. To be out of the rotation doesn’t make sense for me. I asked (Hoiberg) what can I do to be back in the rotation, what should I do differently? It looks like he wants to give an opportunity to the new guy on the team, Joffrey Lauvergne.”

As Mirotic alluded to, “inconsistency” appears to have hurt his value this season. The 26-year-old averaged 9.1 points on 30.2% shooting from long distance; each career-lows. Mirotic has received three consecutive DNPs, and the trend may continue through the season.

Mirotic isn’t alone in voicing criticisms of Chicago’s strategy (or lack thereof). Dwyane Wade chastised the team “experimenting” with lineups after the team’s fifth straight loss Sunday.

“I don’t know. I wish upper management could be answering the questions because I’m tired of answering them every game,” Wade said. “It’s tough, especially when you’re playing teams that’s ready for the playoffs, besides Orlando. It’s all been playoff teams and they’re ready. They know what they gotta do. We’re still…experimenting.”

Unlike Wade, a 12-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion, Mirotic’s remarks aren’t likely to move the needle. Mirotic will enter the open market following a season in which he posted career-lows in several areas. While the feeling may not be mutual with management, Mirotic has made it clear he wants to play in Chicago.

“I really wanted to stay because I came to Chicago because I wanted to play here,” Mirotic said. “For me, it was like another opportunity after the deadline. I really was focused. I was really working hard on myself to be the first guy in the weight room and working some extra shots, doing everything I was supposed to do to be ready. I was feeling much better on the floor. But they made the decision that’s been made. It’s been hard.”

Hoiberg's Decision: Playoffs Vs. Youth

March 12th, 2017 at 1:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg will have to decide soon whether to emphasize making the playoffs or developing young talent, writes Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago. Chicago is coming off a terrible week, losing four straight games and slipping to 10th in the East. Hoiberg continues to experiment with different combinations, playing everyone but Nikola Mirotic in the first half of each game.