The Hornets haven’t had much lottery luck over the years and this one was no different. With Brandon Miller representing the Hornets at the lottery, they dropped from the No. 3 pick to No. 6. “In this process, I don’t think anything is a surprise, just because you never know what can go on here,” Miller told Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “I think the main thing here is to always be focused, prepared just for anything because it can go the wrong way. It can go the bad way.”
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- After receiving an eight-year extension, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra won’t be going to the draft combine. Team president Pat Riley said Spoelstra is getting some much-needed time off. “He deserves it,” Riley said of Spoelstra’s extension, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “He could have been a free agent and gone anywhere. That leads to organizational stability with your players. Players who come to him and his staff and develop, other players see that. All of a sudden, they have career contracts and career opportunities. It’s a credit to him.”
- The Bulls remained in the No. 11 spot in the aftermath of the lottery. NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson looks at some potential prospects who could land in that area, including Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, USC’s Isaiah Collier, and Colorado’s Cody Williams.
- In his Bulls offseason preview for Spotrac.com, Keith Smith says he believes the team will trade Zach LaVine this summer, finding a way to move his contract to a contender in need of scoring punch. DeMar DeRozan‘s free agency is a bit more unpredictable, as the Bulls could re-sign him if they’re intent on remaining a playoff contender. If not, they’ll let him walk and look to rebuild, Smith writes.
Lavine had no trade suitors before he was injured and missed the last few months of the season. Maybe Detroit is desperate and dumb enough to trade for a player who doesn’t play D and isn’t good enough offensively to carry a team, but even that is unlikely. Everyone in the league just watched the Lillard trade kill the Bucks and Lavine isn’t nearly as good as Lillard.
While I’m no advocate for trading for Zack Lavine the Lillard trade didn’t kill the Bucks. Even though they panicked and fired Budenholzer they still won 49 games without their usual starting SF for a good portion of the regular season. Then Giannis missed the playoffs along with Lillard missing two games and being hobbled in the ones he did play in.
Agreed. Injuries can’t be controlled. Doubt that the Bucks would lose the series to the Pacer with Giannis playing and Lillard at full strength.
Maybe since the Pistons dropped to #5 they’d be willing to take Lavine and switch picks. Can’t hurt to ask. Otherwise I can guarantee AK will take the guy K.C. Johnson said had a 7’1″ wingspan and can’t shoot just like the 3 they already have.
Agree with you that it seems that it will be difficult for the Bulls to trade LaVine without the other teams first seeing LaVine back on the court. LaVine still has three guaranteed years for $138 million left on his contract. I’m in the minority but still think that LaVine is an amazing offensive talent when healthy. Wouldn’t be hasty to trade LaVine.
Hope the Bulls don’t sign DeRozan. DeRozan is a great player and great guy/teammate. Don’t think that signing a 36 year old DeRozan is a good idea. Even with DeRozan, Bulls are only an average team.
Not good enough to make the playoffs, not bad enough to bottom out and get high picks …. one of worst scenarios for an NBA team to be in.
BULLS should sign/trade Demar, get deeper, more 3PT shooting.
Demar is better served with a contender anyways.
Agreed. The Bulls have gotten themselves stuck in the middle. As you say, signing and keeping DeRozan will not get the Bulls out of ‘the middle’.
Maybe I don’t fully understand how DeRozan’s possible next contract works. Are the Bulls able to offer more money than another team? From DeRozan’s standpoint, does DeRozan have to first sign with the Bulls? Or is DeRozan free to sign with any team that he likes?
Trade Vujevic
Trade Lavine
Trade Williams
Let DDR and Drummond walk. People will overpay them.
Get at least a PF back in 1 of the trades-haven’t had one in years.
Coby-Caruso-Ayo decent start at G.
Get some draft picks in the trade
Exempt Lonzo and take the 21 million cap write off.
Sign some decent FA’s
Simple
I wouldn’t take that Lavine contract without a future unprotected first round pick attached. It’s almost as bad as Beal’s contract.
Bulls
Trade Zach LaVine for Jordan Poole and Marvin Bagley
At 11 draft the best forward available my guess is it’ll be Tristan Da Silva
Let DeMare DeRozan walk in FA and don’t overpay to keep Patrick Williams either, anything below 20m match it, otherwise goodbye. My guess again is he stays under that price.
Then fill out the roster with vet min deals like Alex Len and bring back Jevonte Green.
White Caruso P.Williams Bagley Vuce
Ayo Poole Green Da Silva Len
Carter Terry Phillips
Eek that would be a dismally poor defensive team, with Williams and Caruso the only real defenders, Green is just an energy guy, as are Phillips and Terry. Come b to think of it, that would be no doubt the worst 3 point shooting team in history, with White’s streakiness and Williams hesitance.