Chicago Bulls Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bulls Close To Deal With Mike Dunleavy

July 1st, 2013 at 6:40pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Bulls are the front-runners for Mike Dunleavy, and they're negotiating a two-year, $6MM deal, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Other teams remain in play, but there's confidence an agreement can be reached, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).

Wojnarowski pointed earlier to the Rockets as another option for Dunleavy, if Houston falls short of signing Dwight Howard (Twitter link). The Mavs, Lakers and Wolves are also in the mix, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Knicks reportedly like him, too. Still, Dunleavy is intrigued by the chance to play alongside Derrick Rose, Johnson notes (on Twitter).

The 32-year-old Arn Tellem client spent the past two seasons with the Bucks, where he made a career-high 42.8% of his three-point attempts this past season. When I examined his free agent stock, I figured he could fit in as a role player on a contending club, and that appears to be just what he would sign to do in Chicago. The Bulls would be using their mini mid-level to bring him aboard.

Odds & Ends: Kings, Lee, Martin, Cavs, Bulls

July 1st, 2013 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Tyreke Evans is being courted by the Pelicans and Andre Iguodala is reportedly drawing interest from several teams, but the Kings are expected to make a pitch to both players today. Bryan May of News10 in Sacramento reports (via Twitter) that Sacramento brass is scheduled to meet with Evans and Iguodala in Los Angeles today.

Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:

Evans is also expected to meet with the Pistons today, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News follows up on Adrian Wojnarowski's report of the Warriors gauging trade interest in David Lee by exploring the possibility of a deal and noting that the Warriors were "quickly rebuffed" when they offered Lee to the Lakers last year in a proposal for Pau Gasol.
Expect the Grizzlies to become more interested in Kevin Martin if they're unable to bring back Tony Allen, tweets TNT's David Aldridge.
The Cavaliers came close to acquiring a second top-10 pick in last week's draft, with an eye on adding Alex Len or Ben McLemore, says Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
Thunder fans shouldn't worry that his new partnership with Jay-Z and Roc Nation Sports means he'll be leaving Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant tells Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman.
2011 second-round pick Bojan Bogdanovic continues to have interest in coming stateside to play for the Nets, but if Brooklyn uses its mini mid-level exception on a player like Kyle Korver, it's unlikely that Bogdanovic comes over this season, as Sean Deveney of the Sporting News writes.
Bulls GM Gar Forman has reached out to free agents Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli, and Nazr Mohammed, but sounds much more confident about retaining Mohammed than the other two. Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com has the details.

Bulls Targeting Mo Williams, Will Bynum

July 1st, 2013 at 1:52am CST by Luke Adams

With free agency underway, the Bulls are eyeing multiple backcourt options, exhibiting "significant interest" in Mo Williams and Will Bynum, according to Shams Charania of RealGM.com. Chicago has begun exploratory talks with both players' reps, says Charania. As our agency database shows, Williams and Bynum are represented by Priority Sports & Entertainment and agent Mark Bartelstein.

A report last week suggested that Nate Robinson was set to part ways with the Bulls due in part to a likely reduction in playing time, with Derrick Rose on his way back to the lineup. I'd imagine that Williams and Bynum will also be seeking significant playing time, so it's not clear if Chicago will be an ideal fit.

Still, even with Rose, Kirk Hinrich, and Marquis Teague on board, the Bulls could face losing Robinson, Marco Belinelli, and Richard Hamilton this offseason, so there will be backcourt minutes to be had next year, even if they don't necessarily come at the point.

Knicks, Others Express Interest In Monta Ellis

July 1st, 2013 at 1:04am CST by Luke Adams

Monta Ellis is drawing plenty of interest from contending teams early in free agency, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who reports that the Knicks are among the clubs to express interest in the veteran guard. The Bulls, Spurs, Nuggets and Suns have also inquired on Ellis, says Berger.

Many of those teams would seem to be long shots for Ellis. The Knicks, for instance, likely won't be able to acquire players via sign-and-trade since they're over the tax line, so they'll only have the mini mid-level exception ($3.18MM) available. Considering he just turned down an option worth $11MM, Ellis seems unlikely to sign with a team that can't even offer him that amount over three years.

Still, Ellis and agent Jeff Fried are "known to be willing to compromise in order to sign with a contending team," according to Berger, so it's probably too early to rule out any suitors, as unlikely as they may appear.

Odds & Ends: Mayo, Martin, Noel, Bulls

June 30th, 2013 at 8:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Here's the latest from around the Association as we gear up for the start of free agency..

The Jazz, Bucks, Timberwolves, Clippers, Blazers, Bobcats, and Bulls are all likely suitors for Mavs guard O.J. Mayo, USA Today's Sam Amick tweets. Mayo is expected to turn down his $4.2MM option this summer and it makes a lot of sense considering the number of teams with major cap space to burn.
Kevin Martin is expected to draw interest from the Bucks, Pelicans, Timberwolves, Mavericks, and Pistons, as well as the Thunder, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
Before Nerlens Noel fell to pick No. 6, the Pelicans were entertaining the idea of trading that selection to the Bobcats for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, as Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe notes amid his weekly roundup.
Drastic change isn't likely to blow through the Windy City for the Bulls this summer, writes Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com. There's still a lot of moving pieces for the club, but the major shifting probably won't come until the summer of 2014 for the Bulls.
The Wizards face some tough decisions with free agency approaching, writes Michael Lee of the Washington Post. Washington obviously won't be in play for any of the elite free agents this summer and they have their sights set on less-thrilling goals, like retaining small forward Martell Webster.
We hear similar news out of Portland, where Joe Freeman of The Oregonian cautions fans not to expect anything too crazy out of the Blazers. Of course, there have been rumblings over LaMarcus Aldridge's discontent.

Northwest Notes: Aldridge, Maynor, Wolves

June 28th, 2013 at 10:27pm CST by Chuck Myron

It was quantity over quality for Northwest Division clubs in the 2013 draft. None of them landed anyone picked higher than ninth, with Trey Burke heading to the Jazz, but seven of the 30 first-round picks wound up with Northwest teams, including two each for the Jazz, Timberwolves and Thunder. The only team from the division not to come away with a first-rounder was the Nuggets, who wound up with a pair of players from the second round. Here's more from the Northwest:

LaMarcus Aldridge isn't completely sure he wants a trade, but if he is dealt, he would reportedly prefer to go to the Bulls. Unless the Blazers are willing to accept Carlos Boozer or Luol Deng in return, it's unlikely Aldridge ends up in the Windy City, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
Eric Maynor didn't get a qualifying offer from the Blazers, but that move was expected and both team and player expressed interest in a reunion via unrestricted free agency. The drafting of C.J. McCollum is a much stronger sign that Maynor won't be back, according to The Oregonian's Joe Freeman.
Tim Leighton of the St. Paul Pioneer Press examines the uncertainty surrounding Andrei Kirilenko's pending decision on his $10.2MM player option for next season and speculates on possible free agent fits for the Wolves. He lists O.J. Mayo, J.J. Redick, Kevin Martin, Kyle Korver and Marco Belinelli as possible targets.

Nate Robinson Likely To Part Ways With Bulls

June 28th, 2013 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Nate Robinson and his camp have "already made it clear with the Bulls" that the two sides figure to part ways this summer, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Robinson is set to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent next week, and will be seeking a multiyear contract.

Cowley notes that Robinson would also be open to a one-year deal if he lands in a situation where he'll play major minutes. However, that's not likely to be the case in Chicago, with Derrick Rose on the way back. With Rose, Kirk Hinrich, and Marquis Teague at the point, the Bulls have some interest in re-signing Robinson, but would view him as an insurance policy at both backcourt positions, rather than as someone who will earn significant playing time again, says Cowley.

When Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors examined Robinson's free agent stock earlier this month, he noted that there wouldn't be much room for the 29-year-old in the Bulls backcourt, and suggested that a contending team looking to spend part or all of its mid-level exception on a backup point guard might be a fit.

Eastern Notes: Sixers, Nets, Deng, Webster

June 28th, 2013 at 11:17am CST by Luke Adams

Based on the direction in which the Sixers are heading, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel doesn't expect the Heat to ever see the lottery-protected first-round pick they acquired a year ago for Arnett Moultrie. With Jrue Holiday on his way to New Orleans and the Sixers not expected to re-sign Andrew Bynum, the young roster is unlikely to earn a playoff spot in 2014, thereby keeping its first-rounder. If Philadelphia's first-rounder lands in the lottery in '14, the Sixers will instead convey their 2015 and 2016 second-rounders to Miami.

Here are a few more Friday updates from around the Eastern Conference:

The Nets have agreed to terms with three assistant coaches, the team announced today in a press release. Lawrence Frank, Roy Rogers, and Eric Hughes will join Jason Kidd's staff.
Scott Gleeson of USA Today has an interesting behind-the-scenes look of draft day from Nerlens Noel's perspective, including Noel's reaction to slipping to No. 6 and being traded to the 76ers. Sean Deveney of the Sporting News has a similar look at Thursday's events from the perspective of Philadelphia's other first-round pick, Michael Carter-Williams.
Trade rumors have swirled around Luol Deng in recent weeks, but Bulls GM Gar Forman says Deng remains a "big piece of what we're doing moving forward," as Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald writes.
After the Wizards drafted a pair of wings last night, J. Michael of CSNWashington.com wonders if there will be room for the team to bring back Martell Webster.

Raptors To Decline Option On John Lucas III

June 28th, 2013 at 9:47am CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors have elected to decline their team option on John Lucas III for the 2013/14 season, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter). The decision will make Lucas an unrestricted free agent next week, and Stein believes the veteran point guard could end up back in Chicago, where he played before joining the Raptors last summer.

Lucas' team option for next season was worth a modest amount, about $1.57MM, so it's a little surprising that Toronto turned it down. The decision leaves Kyle Lowry as the only real point guard left on the Raptors' roster, since Sebastian Telfair is also headed for free agency, so that figures to be an area the team will focus on in July.

In 63 games with the Raptors, Lucas averaged 5.3 PPG and 1.7 APG while playing 13.1 minutes per contest.

Berger On Knicks, Spurs, Plumlee, Hawks, C’s

June 27th, 2013 at 5:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com is passing along a number of draft-night updates via Twitter, so let's dive in and check out the latest from him….

The Knicks figure to keep their first-round pick and will likely target the best available shooting guard at No. 24. Berger suggests Jamaal Franklin or Allen Crabbe.
With the Spurs hoping to get younger and more athletic, teams view Tony Mitchell and Lucas Nogueira as possibilities for San Antonio at No. 28.

Earlier updates:

Mason Plumlee is a "strong possibility" for the Hawks at No. 17 or 18, according to Berger. The team's other pick would likely be a draft-and-stash international player.
Jamaal Franklin has drawn interest from the Hawks, Bulls, Knicks, and Clippers.
Berger says that NBA teams are eager to see what the Celtics do at No. 16. If Boston drafts a point guard, it could be an indication that the club is open to trading Rajon Rondo as part of its rebuild.
On the other hand, if the Celtics intend to rebuild around Rondo, rival teams believe Reggie Bullock is a likely target for the C's at No. 16.
The Pacers (No. 23), Clippers (25), Wolves (26), and Nuggets (27) are teams who could end up moving their first-round picks.