Chicago Bulls Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Zach LaVine Expected To Miss 2-4 Weeks

December 19th, 2018 at 2:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Just when the Bulls‘ roster appeared to be getting a little healthier, the team’s leading scorer has gone down with an injury that will sideline him into the new year. Speaking today to reporters, including Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, head coach Jim Boylen said that Zach LaVine is expected to miss the next two to four weeks.

LaVine, who injured his left ankle late in last Thursday’s loss to the Magic in Mexico City, returned to Chicago in a walking boot and has already missed the Bulls’ last two games. Cowley suggests the 23-year-old has been able to start the rehab process, but the team will be “extra cautious” with the injury, which will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.

Kris Dunn, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Justin Holiday could take on some added backcourt responsibilities as long as LaVine remains on the shelf, while Cameron Payne and Shaquille Harrison should also see regular minutes off the bench.

The Bulls are unlikely to make a roster move, since they have a full 15-man squad and LaVine’s absence isn’t expected to be a long-term one.

Bulls Evaluating Whether Dunn, Others Are Part Of Core

December 17th, 2018 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bulls are still trying to determine whether Kris Dunn, Bobby Portis, and Denzel Valentine will be a part of their core going forward, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. As Cowley observes, Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter Jr. are building blocks in Chicago, but the team has yet to make any long-term decisions on Dunn, Portis, and Valentine.

While the Bulls may have had aspirations of playoff contention coming into the season, the team is off to a 7-23 start and will be prioritizing player development and long-term roster planning going forward. Valentine will be out for the season with an ankle injury, but Chicago should have plenty of opportunities to evaluate Dunn and Portis, who both returned to the court last week after rehabbing injuries of their own.

Dunn, who posted 13.4 PPG, 6.0 APG, and 4.3 RPG in 2017/18 during his first season with the Bulls, has appeared in just four games so far this season due to a sprained MCL. Although the former fifth overall pick came off the bench upon returning from that injury, he reclaimed a starting job on Saturday with LaVine sidelined, and responded with a team-high 24 points in a road win over San Antonio.

Dunn has another season left on his rookie contract after this year, so the Bulls won’t have to make any final decisions on him during the 2019 offseason. That may not be the case for Portis though, since the power forward is eligible for restricted free agency next summer.

By all accounts, Bulls management is very fond of Portis, who was praised last season for his attitude and hard work even after punching teammate Nikola Mirotic during a practice. Portis is also a member of the club’s recently-formed leadership committee. Still, he didn’t receive a contract extension when he became eligible during the 2018 offseason, so his future with the franchise is somewhat uncertain. He’ll have to prove this season that he can be a good fit in a frontcourt that figures to predominantly feature Markkanen and Carter going forward.

Jazz Have Interest In Jabari Parker

December 17th, 2018 at 9:23am CST by Luke Adams

The Jazz are one of the teams that have interest in Bulls forward Jabari Parker, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. A report on Friday indicated that Chicago had engaged in trade discussions involving Parker, who doesn’t project to be part of the Bulls’ future and has drawn interest from multiple clubs.

Parker’s appeal as a trade chip may be somewhat limited, given his subpar defensive play and his $20MM salary. If the Bulls were willing to take on a multiyear contract or two in exchange for Parker’s expiring deal, it could open up additional opportunities, but finding the expiring salaries necessary to match that $20MM figure will be trickier.

Still, as O’Connor observes, the Jazz are one team that could be a match, as Derrick Favors is earning $16.9MM and has a non-guaranteed salary (also worth $16.9MM) for 2019/20. Favors isn’t an ideal frontcourt fit next to Rudy Gobert and may not have a future in Utah, so the Jazz may be in the market for a stretch four like Parker who could better complement Gobert.

Of course, from the Bulls’ perspective, Favors – who can’t be moved until January 15 – wouldn’t be a particularly attractive return on his own, considering the Bulls already have Wendell Carter, Lauri Markkanen, Robin Lopez, and Bobby Portis in their frontcourt. O’Connor notes that it’s hard to see Chicago taking back Favors in a Parker deal unless additional assets are included.

While it remains to be seen if the Jazz are the right fit for a Parker trade, it seems inevitable that Chicago will make a deal at some point before February 7. A source told Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times over the weekend that Parker’s camp is hoping the Bulls will move the former No. 2 overall pick and is working with the team to try to find him a better situation.

Bulls Notes: Parker, Boylen, Alkins

December 16th, 2018 at 10:54am CST by Arthur Hill

Jabari Parker is refusing to lash out at the Bulls, even though he finds himself on the trading block after being pulled from the rotation, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Parker’s situation in Chicago soured quickly after he joined the team as a free agent in July. New coach Jim Boylen reportedly cites poor effort on defense and a selfish attitude on offense as the basis for his decisions, but Parker doesn’t want to get caught up in a war of words.

“I chose to come here,” Parker said. “I did everything I can to prove that I belong here. And I’m going to continue to do that. My job is to be ready to be on the court. My agent’s job is to just be my defense and be that voice for me that I’m not able to say.”

Parker is open to a deal, and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, is working with the team to resolve the situation. According to Johnson, the Bulls began seeking trade partners well before restrictions were lifted on newly signed free agents yesterday.

“It’s not easy,” Boylen said. “I’ve been direct and honest with him about what I expect and what I hope he can continue to work on.”

There’s more this morning out of Chicago:

The Heat, Suns, Cavaliers and Hawks are teams that might be good fits for Parker, writes Frank Urbina of HoopsHype.
Boylen had a strong supporter in Spurs coach Gregg Popovich even before the Bulls’ surprising win in San Antonio last night, Johnson adds in the same story. Boylen, who has been under fire since replacing Fred Hoiberg two weeks ago, spent two years as an assistant with the Spurs and was with the team when it won the 2014 NBA title. “He’s a pretty straightforward, honest individual, and he’ll do it the way he thinks is best for that group,” Popovich said. “And he’ll be fair, he’ll be demanding, and he will try to make everything clear so whatever system he wants to employ will get across. I’ve learned as much from him as he’s learned from us here.”
If there’s a bright side to Zach LaVine‘s injury, it gives the Bulls a chance to evaluate rookie Rawle Alkins, notes Michael Walton of NBC Sports Chicago. Alkins signed a two-way contract this summer and has spent the season in the G League at Windy City, where he is averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He will be called up in time for tomorrow night’s game, tweets Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.

Bulls Don’t Believe LaVine Will Need Surgery

December 15th, 2018 at 5:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls are finishing their road trip without Zach LaVine, who left for Chicago this morning for further examination on his injured left ankle, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.

LaVine, who sprained his deltoid ligament Thursday night, will miss at least two games. Early indications are that he will need a least a week to rest, Johnson reports, but the team doesn’t think surgery will be necessary.

“We are going to consult with some other specialists and try to figure out exactly what’s going on and create a plan of action,” coach Jim Boylen said. “We’re disappointed and sorry that he was hurt. But we’re hopeful we can get a good evaluation and get moving towards recovery. He’s seeing our guys right now. And he’s going to see some specialists because we want to get as much information as we can. And then we’ll get a diagnosis and start building a rehab schedule.”

The Bulls were in Mexico City on Thursday, and an MRI wasn’t performed until the team arrived in San Antonio Friday afternoon. The team wants its specialists in Chicago to review the results before deciding on the next step of treatment.

LaVine is having by far his best NBA season, averaging career highs in points (23.8), rebounds (4.9) and assists (4.8). He is providing plenty of value on the new four-year, $80MM contract he received when the Bulls matched an offer sheet from the Kings in July.

Losing LaVine is the latest in a long string of bad luck for the Bulls, who just saw Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis all return from early-season injuries. The team is having trouble building any continuity with a constantly changing lineup.

Although Chicago is short-handed, Jabari Parker still won’t return to the rotation, Johnson adds. Boylen plans to start Dunn and Ryan Arcidiacono in the backcourt tonight, while Chandler Hutchison will return after missing Thursday’s game with an illness. The Bulls are trying to work out a trade involving Parker.

NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Central Division

December 14th, 2018 at 8:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the course of the 2018/19 NBA season, up until February’s trade deadline, we’re keeping an eye on potential trade candidates from around the NBA, monitoring their value and exploring the likelihood that they’ll be moved. Each of these looks at possible trade candidates focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on three players from that division.

The Central has been the most active division in terms of in-season trades so far in 2018/19, with the Cavaliers participating in two trades so far and the Bucks making one. There’s no indication those will be the last deals made by Central clubs this season, as there are still a number of players who could be on the move by February 7.

Here’s our latest look at a few possible trade candidates from the Central…

Jabari Parker, F
Chicago Bulls
$20MM cap hit; $20MM team option for 2019/20

It has been an eventful couple days for Parker, who was pulled from the rotation by the Bulls on Thursday and then became the subject of trade rumors on Friday.

A pair of reports on the Parker trade talks today both suggested that there’s considerable interest around the NBA in the former No. 2 overall pick, which is somewhat hard for me to believe. While there’s sure to be some interest in Parker, who remains a dynamic scorer, the Bulls and agent Mark Bartelstein may be motivated to exaggerate that interest a little. It’s just hard to imagine a bunch of teams driving up the bidding for a player who is on a $20MM contract, will likely be a free agent in a few months, and has admitted to not having much interest in playing defense.

A trade would be particularly challenging if the Bulls are unwilling to take on multiyear money that would cut into their projected 2019 cap room. For instance, if a team like the Trail Blazers pursued Parker, there would be virtually no way to make a deal work without including a player like Meyers Leonard or Maurice Harkless – who are earning more than $11MM apiece in 2019/20 – or someone with an even more expensive ’19/20 salary.

The Kings are one potentially intriguing fit, given their expiring contracts and their cap room — Zach Randolph‘s $11MM expiring deal would be enough to send out for Parker, who could subsequently fit into Sacramento’s cap space. However, the Kings, who have long been seeking their small forward of the future, would have to be confident Parker could play at the three instead of the four, since they already have a number of options up front.

Darren Collison, G
Indiana Pacers
$10MM cap hit; unrestricted free agent in 2019

A report this week suggested that league executives believe the Pacers may consider trading one of their veteran point guards – Collison or Cory Joseph – in advance of the trade deadline. A move would make some sense, with Victor Oladipo and Tyreke Evans also sharing ball-handling duties for the Pacers, who in turn want to carve out regular minutes for rookie guard Aaron Holiday.

While Collison is Indiana’s starting point guard, Joseph is probably having the stronger season. Joseph’s shooting numbers are better, he’s a stronger defender, and the Pacers have been noticeably better when he’s on the court (+7.4 net rating) than when he’s not (+2.0 net rating). That could make Collison the more expendable of the two guards.

Of course, the Pacers project to be a top-five seed in the East, so they won’t trade a starter in a deal that doesn’t provide an immediate upgrade at another position. They may also want to do right by the veteran Collison by not sending him to an unfavorable situation like, say, Phoenix.

There are some trade scenarios that could be viable though, even if the Pacers limit their scope. The Sixers, Pelicans, Nuggets, Spurs, and Magic are among the many playoff contenders who could benefit from the presence of a veteran guard like Collison.

Rodney Hood, G
Cleveland Cavaliers
$3.47MM cap hit; UFA in 2019

The Cavaliers have already moved Kyle Korver and George Hill, and we profiled J.R. Smith in our last check-in on the Central’s trade candidates. There are still plenty of players who could be on the block in Cleveland, however, with a report this week indicating that Alec Burks and Hood are among them.

Although Hood has seen his stock dip a little over the last year and hasn’t developed into the kind of impact player that many observers expected him to, his .438 FG% is a career-best and he’s knocking down 37.5% of his three-point attempts. At just $3.47MM, he’d be an inexpensive target for a playoff team looking for a second-unit scorer, and he could likely be had for a reasonable return, given his looming unrestricted free agency.

There are just two potential roadblocks in the way of a Hood deal: He’s not trade-eligible until January 15 and he has the power to block a trade, since he’d lose his Bird rights if he’s moved. Still, if the Cavs signal that they don’t plan to re-sign him, losing those Bird rights wouldn’t hurt much, and he may welcome a change of scenery, given Cleveland’s place in the standings.

Previously:

NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Central (11/20)
NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Central (10/25)
The rest of our NBA Trade Candidate series

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bulls Notes: Markkanen, Leadership Committee, More

December 14th, 2018 at 7:10pm CST by Luke Adams

While not every Bulls player was on the original group text that discussed a possible boycott of last Sunday’s practice, Lauri Markkanen was — and his voice “resonated immediately” when he urged teammates to show up, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.

“I thought that was a more professional way to go about it,” Markkanen said of going to the team facility on Sunday. “I thought about other members of the staff. Like, they show up to work. Obviously, this isn’t the main point, but some of the staff lives an hour away and they come to work. I try to think how disrespectful that is to tell them that we wouldn’t show up.”

As Johnson details in that story, Markkanen believes he can be one of the leaders of the Bulls, and it appears he’ll get the opportunity to play that part. As Johnson tweeted on Thursday, the team’s new “leadership committee” will be comprised of Zach LaVine, Robin Lopez, Justin Holiday, Bobby Portis, and Markkanen. According to Johnson (Twitter link), the committee was originally just going to be four players, but Markkanen asked to be added.

Here’s more from out of Chicago:

With the Bulls facing plenty of outside criticism for the drama involving Boylen and his team, executive VP of basketball operations John Paxson pushed back this week against those critics, as Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times relays. “The only thing that discourages me is when there are storylines out there and no one asks us our side of the story,” Paxson said. “It’s easy to look from the outside in and gather information from other people around the league that you know, but if you’re not coming directly to us, how do you really know? I’m confident in what we’re doing. … There’s so much noise out there, so much negativity. I don’t feel it inside our building or our locker room. Like I said, I think that what happened the last week, long term, will be a good thing.”
Addressing the situation in Chicago on Thursday, commissioner Adam Silver said that no one from the players’ union contacted him this week about the Bulls, and he plans to stay out of matters relating to the “operation of any particular team.” Cowley has the details and the quotes for The Sun-Times.
K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune answered several Bulls-related questions in his mailbag earlier this week.
Earlier today, we passed along word that the Bulls have engaged in some Jabari Parker trade talks. That full story is right here.

Bulls Have Engaged In Jabari Parker Trade Talks

December 14th, 2018 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

As the Bulls prepare to pull Jabari Parker from their rotation, they’ve also engaged in trade talks with multiple teams regarding Parker, sources tell K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. According to Johnson, there’s “considerable interest” in Parker and there’s motivation to get a deal done.

Shams Charania of The Athletic confirms (via Twitter) that trade discussions have taken place and that teams have interest in Parker, adding that agent Mark Bartelstein is involved in the process too.

Parker, 2014’s second overall pick, joined his hometown Bulls during the 2018 offseason. While he has posted respectable counting stats through 29 games, averaging 15.2 PPG and 6.9 RPG, the former Buck hasn’t contributed much on the defensive end, which is one reason why he’s being benched. According to Johnson, Jim Boylen‘s benching of Parker is “yet another reminder” that Chicago’s new head coach wants his players to compete on the defensive end and play within the team structure on offense.

Although the Bulls have gauged the trade market for Parker, the team isn’t necessarily viewing his demotion as a permanent one, says Johnson. The 23-year-old has been told that how he competes in practice will determine his future playing time, assuming he remains with the Bulls. For now, Parker says it’s too early to determine whether he’ll eventually ask for a trade or even a buyout, Johnson adds.

“Everybody is telling me the truth and that’s just to stay ready,” Parker said. “They’re not telling me things I want to hear. They’re not pointing fingers. And personally, I know I’ve done my job to embrace Jim as the head coach. I’ve been nothing but welcoming of him. And that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

If the Bulls do get serious about moving Parker, his contract will be an obstacle, as both Johnson and Charania observe. It’s essentially an expiring deal, since he has a team option for 2019/20, but his $20MM salary for this season could be tough to swallow for potential suitors, given his play on defense. The Bulls would have to take back at least $15MM in any deal, but may be unwilling to take on multiyear salary, since they’re projected to open up significant cap room in 2019.

Parker will officially become eligible to be traded on Saturday.

Bulls To Pull Jabari Parker From Rotation

December 13th, 2018 at 8:16pm CST by JD Shaw

The Bulls will drop Jabari Parker from their rotation, no longer giving the 23-year-old regular minutes this season, according to Malika Andrews of ESPN.com.

Parker signed a two-year, $40MM deal to join the team this past summer in free agency, and his contract contains a team option for next season. The Bulls could – and almost certainly will – decline his option and send him him back to free agency in 2019.

There have been no discussions on a potential buyout between Parker and the Bulls, though that option could be increasingly possible as the deadline nears, Andrews adds. Head coach Jim Boylen originally showed confidence in Parker upon being promoted to replace Fred Hoiberg, testing the forward in different roles.

“Jabari has been great,” Boylen said, according to Andrews. “He understands. Jabari wants to make it about helping the team win. And that’s what I’ve asked him to do.”

In 28 games with the Bulls this season, Parker has averaged 15.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 31 minutes per game. He’s started in 17 of those games, seeing minutes at both the small forward and power forward positions.

Parker is expected to play in the team’s game on Thursday in place of Chandler Hutchison, who’s dealing with an illness, but likely won’t see consistent playing time moving forward.

Bulls Front Office Says Boylen Is 'Safe'

December 11th, 2018 at 5:06pm CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of Monday’s report that Bulls players contacted the National Basketball Players Association of Jim Boylen‘s coaching tactics, a front office sources stressed to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times that the team’s new head coach is “safe.” That source also had no complaints about what happened over the weekend: “Jim handled [Sunday] really well. It was a teachable moment for our young guys.”