Rajon Rondo faces an uncertain future with the Bulls, but he got an endorsement from coach Fred Hoiberg after tonight’s season-ending loss, tweets Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago. “I love Rondo,” Hoiberg told reporters. “I love the kid. I Iove coaching him.” Rondo is set to make $13.397MM next season, but only $3MM of that is guaranteed through June 30th. The 31-year-old point guard had a rocky regular season, but was instrumental in the eighth-seeded Bulls taking a 2-0 lead over the Celtics before he got hurt and missed the final four games of the series.
There’s more tonight from the Central Division:
- There were loud chants of “Fire Hoiberg” toward the end of tonight’s 22-point loss, but the second-year coach said he sympathizes with fans who are upset (Twitter link). “I understand the frustration,” Hoiberg said. “We got off to a 2-0 lead but couldn’t finish it off. I do understand.” He has three seasons left on the five-year, $25MM contract the Bulls gave him in 2015.
- The results of next month’s draft lottery could impact a potential Paul George trade, tweets Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. The Celtics, who enter the lottery with the best odds, and the Lakers, who are third, are the two teams most often mentioned as trading partners for George. Either could improve their bargaining positions by landing a top-two pick and giving the Pacers a shot at Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball. With Jeff Teague entering free agency, Indiana might be tempted to unload George in exchange for its point guard of the future. Pincus notes that the Celtics could trade for George and still be able to make a max offer in free agency (Twitter link).
- The Bucks need another star but may not have the resources to add one, writes Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Milwaukee will be over the cap if it re-signs Greg Monroe or Tony Snell, and would have less than $20MM to offer if both players leave, not enough to attract a max-level free agent. O’Connor believes keeping Snell should be a priority. In the draft, the Bucks have all their future first-rounders, but will pick 17th this year and won’t move any higher as long as they keep making the playoffs.
The Bulls’ roster is terrible–until that changes, It doesn’t matter who coaches the Bulls.
Can someone explain to me why someone would trade a top pick for George when he has a opt out and can just sign with the lakers instead of forcing them to trade
Bird rights transfer over in trades I think, so whoever has him can offer more money and it doesn’t require cap space. So Boston could theoretically sign Hayward this year and then trade for George and march salaries, and then go into the tax and max eveyerbody out. Don’t see that happening, and it would mean Isiah would probably leave, unless they can find someone who wants Horford in the ’18 offseason (not likely), but that would be the reasoning.
They do transfer you are right so if he makes All-NBA he can make 5 yr 209 million.
A carpenter is only as gd as his tools.
Front Office shld be blamed for the mess @ Chicago!!!
FIRE PAXON! FIRE FOREMAN! FIRE HOIBURG! Reinsdorf puts his trust in people who can’t get the job done. And his kid is as clueless as Hoiburg.
If you’re going to talk trash about a head coach of a NBA team, at least spell his name right.