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Knicks Internally Discuss Derrick Rose Trade

June 17th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Luke Adams

With the Knicks eyeing backcourt upgrades this offseason, one potential trade target the team has talked about is Derrick Rose, league sources tell Ian Begley of ESPN.com. According to Begley, it’s not clear how serious New York’s interest in Rose is, but the team has internally discussed the possibility of a trade.

Point guard is an area of need for the Knicks, whose incumbent starter at the position is 34-year-old Jose Calderon. The team figures to be involved in the free agent market as it attempts to address the position, but Rose could be a solid fallback option if New York’s top free agent targets sign elsewhere.

There’s no guarantee that the Bulls will trade Rose this summer, but at least one recent report suggested that people around the league think it’s a real possibility. That same report indicated that Chicago will be much more inclined to move Rose rather than Jimmy Butler this offseason. Rose is entering the final year of his contract and is set to earn a $21.323MM salary in 2016/17.

Of course, if Chicago does decide to move Rose, the team won’t give him up for nothing, and the Knicks aren’t exactly loaded with potential trade chips. With the salary cap expected to spike to $92MM+ this offseason, simply clearly Rose’s salary won’t be as advantageous for the Bulls as it might have been in the past, particularly since he only has one year left on his deal.

While Rose has been plagued by injuries since his MVP campaign in 2010/11, he managed to stay on the court for 66 games this past season, his highest mark in five years. In those games, he recorded averages of 16.4 points and 4.7 assists, shooting .427 from the floor.

Brigham: Trade Scenarios For Jimmy Butler

June 17th, 2016 at 5:27pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons and Bulls pulled off the first trade of the 2016 NBA offseason today, with Detroit sending 2014 second-rounder Spencer Dinwiddie to Chicago for Bulls big man Cameron Bairstow. According to Pistons GM Jeff Bower, the team wanted to give Dinwiddie a change of scenery, allowing him to get into a situation “that could benefit him long-term,” as Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press writes.

Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders attempts to put together five plausible trade proposals involving Bulls forward Jimmy Butler, with a focus on the Timberwolves and Celtics as Chicago’s potential trade partners.

Pistons Acquire Cameron Bairstow

June 17th, 2016 at 10:52am CST by Eddie Scarito

David Banks/USA TODAY Sports Images

The Pistons have agreed to a trade with the Bulls that sends power forward Cameron Bairstow to Detroit in exchange for combo guard Spencer Dinwiddie, the team announced. The deal is official, per the press release. Chicago has confirmed the trade with a press release of its own.

Bairstow, 25, appeared in 18 games with Chicago last season, averaging 1.9 points, 1.6 rebounds in 5.7 minutes per outing. The two-year veteran was drafted out of the New Mexico with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. As a senior for the Lobos, he averaged a Mountain West Conference-high 20.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 32.9 minutes in 34 games. Bairstow holds career averages of 1.2 points, 1.0 rebounds and 4.6 minutes in 36 NBA games with the Bulls. His 2016/17 salary of $980,431 is non-guaranteed.

Dinwiddie, 23, completed his second NBA season with averages of 4.8 points, 1.8 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 13.3 minutes over 12 contests. He was drafted by the Pistons with the No. 38 overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft. Dinwiddie owns career averages of 4.4 points, 2.7 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 13.3 minutes in NBA 46 games. The player is also set to earn $980,431 next season, an amount that is non-guaranteed.

Butler Believes He and Rose Can Thrive Together

June 17th, 2016 at 10:16am CST by Eddie Scarito

Despite the rumors of discord between himself and Derrick Rose, Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler believes the pair can be dominant on the court together moving forward, as he told Bill Simmons of The Ringer (audio link). “I think us being one in the same player, maybe I’m a little taller, he’s a little faster, we can both attack the rim,” Butler explained. “We can both beat our guy and then get shots for other players. Finish at the rim, midrange and we can both really guard to tell you truth. Get out in the open floor. There are so many things that we have in common that when we utilize those things and play together like that, I think we can be just as unguardable as anybody else.”

Unsigned Draft Picks: Central Division

June 17th, 2016 at 9:00am CST by Eddie Scarito

As the 2016 NBA draft rapidly approaches the term draft-and-stash will be mentioned quite often in regard to international players and late second-rounders. While some of these athletes will eventually sign with an NBA team, it seems like the majority of them stay overseas and never make it to the league. Those players in the latter category aren’t without value as they become trade assets for the teams holding their rights.

While many players fail to work out the way teams expect them to, they can at least become tradeable assets for teams that don’t want to part with a future second-round pick in a deal. Each team must give up something in a trade, which is why many swaps include top-55 protected second-round picks. Older draft rights held players who clearly will never come over to the NBA are essentially the same as flipping those heavily protected second-rounders, for all intents and purposes.

Listed below are the current unsigned draftees for the teams of the Central Division:

Chicago Bulls

Tadija Dragicevic — Selected No. 53 overall in 2008.
Milovan Rakovic — Selected No. 60 overall in 2007.
Vladimir Veremeenko — Selected No. 48 overall in 2006.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Edin Bavcic — Selected No. 56 overall in 2006.
Ilkan Karaman — Selected No. 57 overall in 2012.
Milan Macvan — Selected No. 54 overall in 2011.
Cedi Osman — Selected No. 31 overall in 2015.
Sir’Dominic Pointer — Selected No. 53 overall in 2015.
Ejike Ugboaja — Selected No. 55 overall in 2006.

Detroit Pistons

None

Indiana Pacers

Stanko Barac — Selected No. 39 overall in 2007.
Andrew Betts — Selected No. 50 overall in 1998.

Milwaukee Bucks

Andrei Fetisov — Selected No. 36 overall in 1994.
Albert Miralles — Selected No. 39 overall in 2004.
Eurelijus Zukauskas — Selected No. 54 overall in 1995.

Malachi Richardson Worked Out For Bulls

June 15th, 2016 at 1:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Syracuse wing Malachi Richardson is taking part in workouts with the Bulls, Bucks, and Raptors this week, writes Mike Waters of Syracuse.com.
According to Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link), Michigan State guard Bryn Forbes has also been busy in recent weeks, having worked out for the Celtics, Magic, Hawks, Bulls, Wizards, and Lakers in addition to four more teams that were previously reported. Forbes still has workouts with the Pistons and Spurs on his schedule.

Noah Looking Forward To Free Agency

June 14th, 2016 at 5:14pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Bulls center and unrestricted free agent Joakim Noah is looking forward to the free agent process and being recruited by interested suitors, as he told Orazio Cauchi of Sportando. When asked how involved he is in the free agent process, Noah said, “I’m very focused on free agency. I spent the last 10 years in Chicago, there were good moments and bad moments but now I have an incredible opportunity for a player, being recruited by a team, I definitely want to live that kind of experience. It’s new for me but it’s something very intriguing for a player. I’ll consider every offer on the table, no doubt.”

The big man was also asked if the culture of the team changed under Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg this season, with Noah telling Cauchi, “I don’t think so. I mean, Hoiberg is a good coach, the locker room is something that the players need to make work. It’s on us, not on the coach.”

Community Shootaround: Bulls’ Offseason

June 14th, 2016 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

As Dana Gauruder noted in our preview of the Bulls’ offseason on Monday, this summer could be a period of major transition in Chicago, with big men Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah eligible for free agency, and trade rumors swirling around Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. It’s possible the Bulls will try to keep their roster mostly intact, adding a free agent or two and attempting to contend immediately, but a significant retooling of the roster is also in play.

The Timberwolves reportedly have interest in pursuing Butler if he becomes available, and the Celtics are said to be eyeing the All-Star forward as well. However, a Butler deal would probably signal a full-fledged rebuild, and it’s not clear that the Bulls are willing to go that far, unless they get blown away by a trade offer they can’t refuse.

Moving Rose, who is entering the final year of his contract and has had trouble staying healthy since his MVP season, seems more plausible, and at least one report has indicated that Chicago is far more willing to consider a Rose trade than one involving Butler.

As for Noah and Gasol, it’s not clear if either player will re-sign with the Bulls. There have been rumblings that Noah is ready to move on from Chicago, though agent Bill Duffy downplayed those rumors. Gasol, meanwhile, expressed disappointment as the 2015/16 season wound down with the way the team fell apart during the second half.

Today’s discussion question focuses on Chicago’s upcoming decisions. How do you expect the Bulls’ offseason to play out? Will Noah or Gasol be back? Will Butler or Rose be dealt? Do you expect the team to make a splash in free agency, or sit back and make smaller moves? How will the club use its No. 14 overall pick?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the Bulls’ summer. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Bulls More Likely To Trade Rose Than Butler

June 14th, 2016 at 11:38am CST by Luke Adams

A Monday report from ESPN indicated that the Timberwolves are eyeing Jimmy Butler as a trade target, but the Bulls may not be willing to deal their star forward. In fact, league sources at the annual Adidas Eurocamp in Italy tell Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders that Chicago is much more open to the idea of trading Derrick Rose, rather than Butler.

With Rose entering a contract year and attached to a cap number of $21MM+, it’s not clear how much interest he’ll generate, or whether any teams have made a real offer yet. However, Kyler writes that there’s a sense around the NBA that teams unable to land a starting point guard in free agency could turn to the Bulls as a potential trade partner.

Prospects like Wade Baldwin and Demetrius Jackson are viewed as potential targets for the Bulls at No. 14, particularly if the team gets serious about moving Rose, writes Kyler.

Timberwolves Pursue Butler Deal, Dangle Pick

June 13th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Timberwolves are willing to move the No. 5 overall pick as the centerpiece of a trade package to acquire Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler, league sources told ESPN.com’s Chad Ford and Marc Stein. The Timberwolves are eager to reunite Chicago’s top scorer with new coach and former Bulls head man Tom Thibodeau and have told the Bulls they’re strongly interested in making such a deal if Butler is available, the story continues.

While Bulls are not believed to be shopping Butler, they are willing to listen to offers, Ford and Stein claim. The Bulls would demand a major package in return, which would likely translate to at least one front-line player in addition to a top lottery pick, sources told the ESPN duo. Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns would seemingly be untouchable but the Timberwolves have some other young talent to dangle, including Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and Gorgui Dieng.

A multi-team trade scenario is also in play, according to the story. Butler has four years remaining on his five-year, $90MM contract.

The Celtics, who have three first-rounders including the No. 3 pick, are also angling to acquire Butler, according to Ford and Stein. The Bulls are high on Providence point guard Kris Dunn, a projected Top 5 selection, the story adds.

The Bulls would save $2.6MM on a trade kicker if they deal Butler this month, according to a tweet from Basketball Insiders’ Eric Pincus.