The Bulls are looking to make to major additions to shore up their point guard position, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
The Bulls have been linked for months to Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball and there’s thought to be mutual interest between the two sides on a four-year deal worth more than $80MM. If the Pelicans extend a $14.36MM qualifying offer to Ball, he’ll be a restricted free agent — the Bulls would have to give him an offer sheet and hope New Orleans doesn’t match it, or work out a sign-and-trade with the Pels.
The Bulls may have some competition from the Celtics, who have been recently mentioned as a potential Ball suitor after dealing away Kemba Walker. There’s increasing speculation the Celtics will not look to re-sign unrestricted free agent Evan Fournier, says Fischer. That possibility increased significantly after the Celtics agreed to acquire Josh Richardson from the Mavericks.
Chicago is also considering another Derrick Rose reunion and there’s mutual interest. It’s uncertain if the Knicks and head coach Tom Thibodeau can convince Rose, an unrestricted free agent, to re-sign with them if the Bulls make a hard push. However, Chicago will likely need to shed salary in order to bring in both Ball and Rose and the Knicks have plenty of cap room to outbid the Bulls for his services. While that’s a best case scenario in the Bulls’ eyes, they’re intent on adding two point guards this summer, especially with Coby White out indefinitely after undergoing left shoulder surgery, per Fischer.
Fischer offers up a number of other interesting items:
- The Bucks are interested in bringing back two of their prominent free agents. They’d like to re-sign defensive specialist P.J. Tucker on a contract in the neighborhood of two years and $20MM. They are also hoping to re-sign forward Bobby Portis and the feeling is mutual. Since the Bucks only have Non-Bird rights on Portis, they’d have to use their mid-level exception to give him a starting salary higher than about $4.3MM.
- The Cavaliers view the Raptors as their main threat to re-signing restricted free agent Jarrett Allen. Toronto’s interest in Allen surfaced last weekend. However, Cleveland is likely to match any offer sheet for Allen. The Raptors are also eying Kings free agent Richaun Holmes.
- League sources think Lou Williams, one of the league’s top reserves, could re-sign with the Hawks on a veteran’s minimum deal, sys Fischer.
- The Knicks, who need to add scoring punch, have expressed interest in Fournier. They’ve also been linked to Lakers guards Dennis Schroder and Talen Horton-Tucker. Schroder will be looking for a new home after the Lakers agreed to acquire Russell Westbrook. Previous reports have indicated the Knicks’ potential pursuit of Fournier and Schroder. Horton-Tucker is a restricted free agent after the Lakers extended a qualifying offer, though the team has the option of pulling it off the table.
- According to SNY.TV’s Ian Begley, there’s support within the Knicks organization to pursue Nets free agent Spencer Dinwiddie and he’s interested in remaining in New York. Devonte’ Graham, Kendrick Nunn, and Kyle Lowry are some other potential targets at point guard. At the wing, the Knicks have some interest in the Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan and they’ve had discussions with the Magic this week regarding a potential Terrence Ross trade.
10 million a year for tucker feels like an overpay at age 36-37. Doesn’t mean it won’t get offered to him
It don’t count against Milwaukee salary cap so Milwaukee good
I’m in the fence with this. Seems like with his age they might limit his minutes and/or sprinkle in some DNP/OLD during the regular season to have him fresh for the playoffs. That makes me cringe even more at the $$..unless he helps us win another chip then it’d be a bargain.
I think all things being equal (money/contract/captetc) I’d rather have Portis if it’s 1 or the other, but both would be great.
Fournier is a better player than Richardson.
Why do Celtics like Richardson better?
He plays defense
Fournier is severely unathletic and is a defensive liability. Richardson is a solid shooter and can also defend wing players far better than Fournier.
3 pointer
Fournier 39%
Richardson 33%
Same minutes per game
Fournier 19.7 points
Richardson 12.1 points
I think that more than anything, you’re looking at cost comparisons. Pretty sure that the C’s have an idea of what EF’s market it, and it may be too rich for them at the moment.
So Dinwiddie wants to go back to LA, then he wants to go to Washington, then he wants to stay in NY. It’s hard to keep up.
I’d be ecstatic if the Raptors went after Allan.
Rumors are rumors not fact. No to Ball. I doubt any team is paying him big money. No to Lowry. Why NY for him. Makes no sense. Dinwiddie is only FA PG who makes sense in NY. But I’m not overpaying for him. 2-3 yrs and prove yourself. I like McBride. Give him a yr and he just might step up. He already plays D and is tough. He can shoot n score. He has to prove he can run a team. Manage a gm an offense. He’s got big potential imo. Rose you have to resign to backup. Quickley and Toppin are expandable now. Also Burkes and Bullock are expandable. We can sign n trade them. Grimes and McBride can be rotation guys. Definitely can be part of top 10 for us. Sign Dinwiddie and Fournier to start. And this is a good team. A young team better than the 4th seed team of last yr. Mitch is playing for a contract. I expect a big year from him. Only 22 yrs old.