Bulls Rumors

Central Notes: Butler, Marion, Harris

November 16th, 2014 at 8:53am CST by Arthur Hill

With restricted free agency looming next summer, Jimmy Butler has emerged as a solid two-way player for the Bulls, reports Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. Butler has maintained a reputation as a solid defender since he entered the league, but he has shown a potent offensive game this season, including a career-high 32 points in Saturday’s loss to the Pacers. “Last year was an up-and-down year because of all the injuries,” said Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau. “But he’s healthy, he was in great shape this summer, he got lighter, I think he understands the league really well. He’s strong on both sides of the ball and he’s scoring a lot of different ways. He’s getting to the line, shoot, probably six more times, eight more times.” Butler and the Bulls were unable to reach a deal on an extension before the October 31st deadline, with Chicago reportedly offering about $11MM annually and Butler seeking $13MM a year.

Eastern Notes: Brooks, Dellavedova, Powell

November 9th, 2014 at 8:24pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Bulls guard Aaron Brooks credits coach Tom Thibodeau with rebuilding the confidence that once made him the NBA’s Most Improved Player, according to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. Thibodeau quickly became a fan of the 6’0″ guard after he signed a one year deal with the Bulls in the offseason for $915,243. “I came in here lacking confidence,” Brooks admitted. “Even when I doubted myself, he was there to tell me, ‘You know what? I’ve watched you play, you’ve done well’ and just to keep working hard. It’s been a breath of fresh air for me.” Brooks earned the Most Improved Player award with the Rockets during the 2009/10 season, but has since bounced around the league, playing for the Suns, Kings, Rockets again and Nuggets before signing with Chicago.

Here’s more from the east:

Matthew Dellavedova has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee and is expected to miss four to six weeks of action, the Cavs announced in a press release. The backup point guard is averaging 2.7 points and 2.3 assists in three appearances.
Celtics forward Dwight Powell has been assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA D-League, the team has announced. The rookie has yet to make a regular season appearance after averaging 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game in six preseason appearances.
The Pacers are doing their best to remain positive despite a spate of injuries affecting their top seven players, according to Candace Buckner of The Indianapolis Star. “It’s almost comical,” point guard Donald Sloan said. “Just how it’s happening. It seems game by game, it’s something. Same story.” The latest victim is center Roy Hibbert, who is day-to-day after leaving Saturday’s loss to the Wizards with a bruised left knee. The spiral for the 1-6 Pacers, who were the East’s top seed last season, began when Paul George suffered a broken leg in August during an exhibition game with the USA Men’s National Team.

Arthur Hill contributed to this post.

Eastern Notes: Bucks, Allen, Wear

November 7th, 2014 at 10:30am CST by Chuck Myron

The Raptors, Wizards and Bulls are in a three-way tie atop the Eastern Conference, a pair of them clash tonight with Washington in Toronto. The two surprise teams from last year’s Eastern Conference playoffs took somewhat divergent paths this past summer, as the Wizards replaced Trevor Ariza with Paul Pierce while the Raptors retained Kyle Lowry and are mostly intact from 2013/14. We’ll have an early read on which approach was better by night’s end, but for now, here’s the latest from around the Eastern Conference:

Bucks majority partners Wesley Edens, Marc Lasry and Jamie Dinan, along with former owner Herb Kohl, have pledged an estimated $300MM toward the roughly $420MM cost of a new arena in Milwaukee, according to Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times. That’s up from the approximately $200MM the current and former owners were set to invest in the building when the sale of the team took place this past spring. The new total includes a “major” contribution from Dinan, who joined the partnership this summer, as well as additional money from Edens and Lasry, and the Bucks are expected to raise yet more funding through a naming rights deal, Woelfel writes. The NBA has the right to take control of the Bucks if there isn’t significant progress toward construction by fall 2017, but it appears most of the arena will be privately financed, as Woelfel points out.
The Bulls have remained in contact with representatives for Ray Allen, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes in his mailbag column. An early September report identified the Bulls as one of many suitors for the Jim Tanner client, who recently made a non-basketball-related trip to Chicago.
Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders recounts the journey of Travis Wear, who went from 2009 McDonald’s All-American to undrafted this past summer before the Knicks, who’d begun to eye him even before the draft this year, gave him a chance. Voluntary workouts prior to training camp were the key to Wear’s ability to win a spot on the opening-night roster, as Beer details.

Eastern Notes: Antetokounmpo, Allen, Nets

November 6th, 2014 at 8:42pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Knicks second-rounder Thanasis Antetokounmpo remains a work in progress as a basketball player, but the team is extremely high on his potential, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv writes. As for when Antetokounmpo will be ready to dazzle the fans at Madison Square Garden, assistant GM Allan Houston said, “I don’t think you can put a time frame on a guy like that because you have to just take it as a daily process. I think because he’ll be with us this year [in the D-League], it’s the right approach for him personally. So he won’t get frustrated or impatient if it didn’t happen right away.”

Here’s more from the east:

Houston also added that the team sees Antetokounmpo’s eventual NBA position as a shooting guard, notes Zagoria. “When we saw him in the draft process we saw his just relentless energy,” Houston said. “I think his size [helps] because he’ll be able to guard multiple positions, especially in this league, and I think hopefully if he develops into an NBA player we want to see him be able to be comfortable on the perimeter with guard skills. He shot the ball better toward the end of the year in the D League so we think he can improve there as well. But I think it’s just his impact on the game is high. He finds a way to leave an imprint and I think in this system if he can continue to grow and we develop him into playing in different places on the floor and not be limited to just the wing or maybe a forward position, I think we’re going to keep him equipped and ready to make that jump.”
Free agent guard Ray Allen is visiting Chicago, but his agent Jim Tanner insists the trip has nothing to do with a possible Bulls signing, Shams Charania of RealGM reports (Twitter link). Chicago does happen to have an open roster spot, and would be a desirable destination for Allen, as the team is expected to contend for a title this season.
The Nets were reportedly up for sale last month, but majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov had told commissioner Adam Silver recently that he intends to maintain his controlling interest in the franchise, Mitch Abramson of The New York Daily News tweets.

Q&A With Former Bulls Guard Craig Hodges

November 5th, 2014 at 11:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Last week, Phil Jackson hired old friend Craig Hodges to serve as an assistant coach for the Knicks’ D-League affiliate in Westchester. A two-time champion as a player under the Zen Master, Hodges later reunited with Jackson as an assistant coach for the Lakers and added two more rings to his collection. During his playing days, the guard led the league in three-point shooting percentage twice over the course of his ten-year career and established himself as one of the most consistent long-range threats of his time.

When the Bulls visited the White House after winning the 1992 NBA Championship, Hodges handed President George H.W. Bush a letter outlining his dissatisfaction with the administration’s treatment of disadvantaged black Americans. That summer, he was waived by the Bulls and, surprisingly, was not picked up by another team, prompting him to later file a lawsuit against the NBA alleging that he was blackballed from the game. He was unsuccessful in court but the experience hasn’t hardened Hodges and he is still very much an activist for the downtrodden.

When he’s not busy with the Westchester Knicks this season, Hodges will be working on his forthcoming book, which he expects to be released in January. The NBA champion and the newest member of the Knicks D-League operation was kind enough to take some time and chat with Hoops Rumors on Tuesday.

Zach Links: How did the opportunity to join the Westchester Knicks coaching staff come about? It was reported that you were initially among the head coaching candidates.

Craig Hodges: It actually was one of those things where it was a basic interview and they didn’t really tell me which job was available. Initially they talked to me in May and asked if I would be interested in working with the D-League team. I got a call again in August to actually come and interview we’ve been going back and forth since then.

ZL: How often do you and Phil Jackson talk?

CH: Well, with him, even when you don’t talk to him you know you’re still cool with him and I have a cool relationship with him. He’s a great manager of people and his management style is that he understands what you do well, and if he sees something that you need help with, he’ll help you or find a person to help you. I’ve never felt uncomfortable around him, and I’ve been blessed to be one of the first players to win a championship [with him], and I was a coach on his staff when he won his last one, so hopefully we can make something happen here.

ZL: I know you just joined the staff, but do you have a sense of how closely the Westchester Knicks will work with the main organization?

CH: We’re going to function as their minor league team and we’re going to operate the way that they operate so that they can gauge the pulse of our players. It’s a great situation and I’m looking forward to it. We’ll also have an emphasis on getting guys accustomed to the triangle and ready to play in that system.

ZL: The D-League is very youth-centric, but what do you think of it as a tool for veterans to find their way back into the NBA?

CH: I think it’s good for both young guys and vets. I don’t know how many vets look at it as an opportunity, but they should. One drawback would be the money, but I think the opportunities that come from it would be worthwhile for guys trying to get back into the NBA and get their games back to that level. I think we have a great thing going in Westchester and, hopefully, guys will see it as a destination location.

ZL: In 1992, you brought a lawsuit against the league when you felt that you were blackballed from playing for expressing your beliefs. Do you feel like in 2014 a player can take up a cause without repercussions, or do you think that could still be problematic career-wise?

CH: You’re always going to be sacrificing something if you speak out, but I think it’s important for people to do so when it comes to issues that are near and dear to their hearts. If someone [takes a stand], they need to know that they’ve done critical studies on what they want to speak about. I was the baby of the movement and my mission then [was], and it continues to be, ‘How can I help people who are less fortunate than me and help them move upward?’ Many people saw that as a militant stand to take, but I look at it as a cultural imperative. Mentors in my life have always told me that you’re only as strong as the weakest of your people, and when I look at the condition of my people, especially in Chicago where the young people are killing each other and getting killed at a horrible rate, you just have to say something. We have the opportunity as a nation to take the lead role in getting people to realize how important it is to teach young people.

ZL: Could you tell me a bit about your upcoming book?

CH: It’s not a book to bash anybody, but it’s a book to clear the air as far as the stuff that happened in my career and also what I see going on. God blesses me and he blesses you with teachings, but not everyone is taught the same way and not everyone is passionate about the same things. I think God has blessed us with a garden where we can have a lot of good people do a lot of good things and we can change the face of the Earth by doing so.

ZL: Now that you’re actively working for the NBA again, will you be pulling any punches in the book when it comes to how your career ended, or are you putting it all out there?

CH: I think it’ll be somewhat cathartic when I put it all on paper. I’m just putting the facts out there and letting people study things for what they are, it’s not up to me to make judgement calls. Everyone has their own reasoning and logic. … For me, I just want to make sure that I put it out there as a written history for my sons and my grandbabies, but I also want it out there for the overall legacy of it, man. I think that it’s important that I took the stand that I did. My mantra has been to help others ever since I was 8 years old. My mom was a civil rights organizer who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and those ideals have been on my heart. They haven’t diminished.

ZL: Do you have a publisher yet?

CH: We’re still shopping it and we have a few meetings over the next few weeks with publishers. It’s been a cool experience and I’m looking forward to getting the book out there. It’s something I should have done a long time ago. Having Daniel [Hazan, of Hazan Sports Management] to help me has been great. I never had an agent for off-the-court matters [before], and looking back on my life, I wish I had an agent for that type of stuff. It would have made things a lot easier.

ZL: Do you have your eye on becoming a head coach in the NBA?

CH: [laughs] Not at all! That’s the thing, I love what I do as an assistant coach. The purity of the game is what I love. I get to help make guys better and do as much as possible with their talent. That’s what I like doing, so I haven’t thought about moving up the ladder. I think in general if you do a good job, then opportunities open up, and then you can assess and go from there. I’ve been trying to live more in the spiritual realm. I’m not looking forward or behind.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Lucas Eyes Bulls Amid Widespread Interest

November 5th, 2014 at 6:28pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Free agent guard John Lucas III has had inquiries from the Thunder, Pacers, and Grizzlies, but the player has declined those opportunities, Shams Charania of RealGM reports. Lucas has also received offers from teams in the Chinese Basketball Association, but the short-term nature of all the offers is what led him to pass on them, adds Charania. Lucas is believed to be hoping to ultimately return to the Bulls on a deal later this season, Charania notes.

Bernie Lee, Lucas’ agent, offered a slightly different take, telling Charania, “John has received interest from different teams, but to say he has declined any formal offers would be inaccurate. John is in a situation, after a crazy summer, of trying to make the right decision versus any decision, but he is willing to prove himself as requested. John owes a tremendous amount of his value in the NBA to the opportunity Chicago’s front office gave him there initially. Over time, it’s become clear that [GM] Gar Forman has a unique ability to find value in obscure places: He signed John out of China, and he might be the best in the NBA at this. In some ways John was at the beginning of this.”

Lee confirmed the offers from the CBA, saying, “I have not had a single conversation with Gar about John since John left. The different situations just haven’t lined up. Gar has found various ways to replace the role John left including this year and John has been under contract since leaving. I do have every belief that John will resume his NBA career soon, but to date the only opportunities John has declined have been lucrative money offers with Jilin in China earlier in the year and Fujian on Wednesday.”

Lucas, who has been working out in Houston since he was waived by the Wizards, would seem to be a logical target for all three of the NBA teams previously mentioned in light of their early season injury woes. But the 31-year-old out of Oklahoma State had the most success as a player for Chicago during the 2011/12 season, notes Charania. Lucas had four 20-point efforts that season, and averaged 7.5 PPG and 2.2 APG overall.

Chicago currently has 14 players on its roster, so no additional moves would need to be made in order to sign Lucas, but for now the interest would appear to be one-sided, with the Bulls already having Derrick Rose, Aaron Brooks, and Kirk Hinrich on their depth chart at the point.

And-Ones: Thunder, Durant, Butler

November 4th, 2014 at 10:56pm CST by Alex Lee

Let’s take a look at some news and notes from around the Association late on this Tuesday night:

The injury-plagued Thunder might just become a “cautionary tale of prudence” this season, writes Scott Stinson of the National Post. Stinson argues that, in today’s NBA, a caveat of opting for competitive longevity over the aggressive pursuit of a title is that something out of a team’s control — injuries, in this case — might lay the best-laid plans to waste.
There’s been no shortage of Kevin Durant news today, as the Thunder superstar is making the media rounds to promote the premiere of his HBO special. On ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike (via the Oklahoman), Durant was asked if the decision of LeBron James to return to Cleveland might impact the possibility that he could sign with the Wizards. To which, Durant said: “I really haven’t thought about that, to be honest. I hear it a lot. But I think I can make an impact on the community I grew up from anywhere. So I think I’m doing a good job of that in Oklahoma. My friends, my family, the kids in my neighborhood, are seeing that. I’m inspiring them from Oklahoma City. I really haven’t thought about it. I love where I am. I know that sounds cliche and the answer everybody gives, but that’s really true from my side of it. I’m sure everybody’s watching from afar.”
Between the dearth of shooting guards in the NBA and Klay Thompson‘s near $70MM deal, Jimmy Butler‘s decision to turn down the Bulls‘ extension offer might prove to be a smart one if the swingman can stay healthy, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times.

Eastern Notes: Garnett, Butler, Pistons

November 2nd, 2014 at 1:45pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Retirement talks have surrounded Kevin Garnett over the past few seasons but he is still motivated to remain a key contributor for the Nets, writes Paul Flannery of SB Nation. “I feel good about this year like I did last year,” Garnett said. “But obviously, I have a little bit of edge to me this year, I’ll say that. I didn’t like the way I ended last year or even started last year. I am a very motivated person, very real with myself, watch a lot of film on myself, and I look to be a little different this year.” Based on his skill set, Garnett could easily find employment in a league scarce in big man talent, but based on his personality, it’s hard to see him accept a vagabond journeyman’s life in the NBA, Flannery notes.

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

Jimmy Butler knows for a fact that he will remain with the Bulls after his free agency this summer, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times. “People say I’m chasing money when that’s not it — yeah, get your mic closer — that’s not it, because I’m going to be in Chicago,’’ Butler said. “I’m not worried about it. I say that with a smile on my face because I know that for a fact. We’ll resume [negotiations] in July.’’
Pistons owner Tom Gores is heavily involved in the direction the team is heading, writes Keith Langlois of NBA.com. “Tom’s involved in every decision we make,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We communicate daily. Tom’s a great leader and really understands people.” Gores’ involvement may be a reason why Van Gundy hasn’t shipped out players from the old regime such as Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith, although that is just my speculation.
Tony Wroten has been inconsistent early in the season for the Sixers but coach Brett Brown still has faith in the guard, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s just a matter of continuing to coach him and put him on the floor, because he has to stay on the floor if he’s going to do better,” Brown said.

Eastern Notes: Rondo, Harris, Larkin, Butler

November 2nd, 2014 at 8:57am CST by ChrisCrouse

Whether they decide to keep him or trade him, the Celtics are convinced that Rajon Rondo is back to normal, reports Jenny Dial Creech of The Houston Chronicle. Rondo, who had 4 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists Saturday in a loss to the Rockets, played in just 30 games last season because of an ACL injury. “He kind of looks like what I’d seen on film before I got here,” said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. “I don’t think he ever looked like that at any time last year, because he was coming back. And that’s just the way it goes with that injury. But he is back to full speed.” Rondo is in the final season of a five-year, $55MM contract and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

Tobias Harris faces a new challenge as he plays this season without certainty of his future status, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. The Magic and Harris did not reach an extension agreement by the October 31st deadline. “It’s business,” Harris said. “It’s a little disappointing. But at the same time, I’ll just approach it the same way.”
Shane Larkin understands the “business deal” that led the Knicks not to pick up his third-year option, but he told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com he wants to show the team he can be part of its future. “Obviously they want to build a championship team here,” Larkin said, “and they need as much money as they can next summer to be able to bring in the big free agents that they’re looking at.” Larkin will become an unrestricted free agent this summer and can re-sign with New York, but only for up to $1,675,320, the amount of the option that was declined, The Knicks, who also decided not to offer an extension to Iman Shumpert, are expected to chase maximum-salary players next summer when the hefty contracts of Amar’e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani expire.
The Bulls‘ Jimmy Butler is headed toward restricted free agency, but he explained to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com that doesn’t mean he’s headed out of Chicago. Friedell adds that Butler and his agent, Happy Walters, were asking for a deal similar to the $12MM a year that the Hornets gave to Kemba Walker last week. Bulls GM Gar Forman said the uncertainty looming over the salary cap with the league’s new TV deal affected the decision not to give Butler a long-term deal.

Arthur Hill contributed to this post.

Jimmy Butler Rejects $11MM Salaries From Bulls

November 1st, 2014 at 12:09am CST by Chuck Myron

The Bulls made extension proposals that would have given Jimmy Butler salaries that averaged $11MM a year, but the swingman turned them down, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. The sides failed to reach a deal before this evening’s 11:00pm Central extension deadline, so Butler is set to hit restricted free agency in the summer. Trade kickers and player options were on the table, and the clubs discussed the idea of doing a short-term deal, too, according to Johnson, but negotiations that the Tribune reporter describes as “cordial” came up empty.

Agent Happy Walters told reporters early this evening that talks were at an end and that Butler was unwilling to give the team a hometown discount. Bulls GM Gar Forman also acknowledged that talks were at an end, yet Butler wasn’t willing to give up hope until the last minute. The 30th overall pick from the 2011 draft also made it clear that he wants to remain in Chicago and stated a belief that he’d strike a deal with the team in free agency if an extension proved unreachable. Forman expressed the same optimism that the Bulls will re-sign Butler next summer, as Johnson notes.

The Bulls had reportedly preferred to reach an extension as talks got underway about a month ago, and while Butler expressed confidence earlier this week that they’d reach agreement before the deadline, a report early Thursday indicated it was unlikely. The sides apparently had a difference of $2.5MM in annual value in their proposals as they talked that day, and it’s unclear if they came any closer Friday.

Chicago already has nearly $60.2MM committed for 2015/16, leaving little room against a projected $66.5MM salary cap to replace Butler if he were to sign an offer sheet that the Bulls didn’t match. The now 25-year-old Houston native took a step back offensively last season, but it’s his strong defense that makes him a valuable part of coach Tom Thibodeau‘s schemes and a candidate for eight-figure salaries, as I examined this summer when I looked at Butler’s case for a deal.

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