Chicago Bulls Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bulls Center Tony Bradley Opts In For 2022/23

June 29th, 2022 at 6:09am CST by Dana Gauruder

JUNE 29: Bradley’s opt-in is official, according to RealGM’s transactions log.

JUNE 28: Bulls center Tony Bradley is exercising his $2MM player option for next season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.

Bradley’s decision has some cap implications, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks explains (Twitter link). Chicago now has 11 players on guaranteed contracts totaling $103MM.

However, Zach LaVine‘s $29.25MM cap hold moves the Bulls over the salary cap threshold. Assuming LaVine re-signs on a maximum-salary deal, the Bulls would have the full $10.5MM mid-level exception available, but using all of it would likely push them into luxury tax territory.

Bradley’s exact opt-in salary is $2,036,318, less than the projected minimum of $2,104,726 he could receive if he declines the option and signs a new deal. That suggests Bradley wasn’t confident about receiving another guaranteed contract in free agency.

Bradley, who entered the league during the 2017/18 season, appeared in 55 regular season games last season, including seven starts. He averaged 3.0 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 10.0 MPG.

Sindarius Thornwell Commits To Play Summer League With Bulls

June 28th, 2022 at 5:59pm CST by JD Shaw

Four-year NBA veteran Sindarius Thornwell has committed to play summer league with the Bulls, a league source told Hoops Rumors. Thornwell holds 160 games of experience, making past stops with the Clippers, Pelicans and Magic.

Bulls Adding Perrion Callandret To Summer League Team

June 28th, 2022 at 4:25pm CST by JD Shaw

The Bulls are adding guard Perrion Callandret to their summer league team, his agents Austin Eastman and Solomon Yon told Hoops Rumors. He played for the team’s G League affiliate this past season.

Free Agent Rumors: Brunson, Tucker, LaVine, Sexton, Campazzo

June 27th, 2022 at 1:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Marc Stein isn’t certain whether the Mavericks or the Knicks will end up signing Jalen Brunson this offseason, but he hints in his latest Substack article that it would be a surprise if the point guard ends up anywhere else.

After being identified earlier this year as possible suitors for Brunson, the Pistons and Pacers are no longer being mentioned as potential destinations, Stein writes. Both teams used lottery picks to draft guards last Thursday, with Detroit selecting Jaden Ivey and Indiana nabbing Bennedict Mathurin.

Elsewhere on the free agency front, Stein provides an update on P.J. Tucker after reporting last week that the Sixers are considered the biggest threat to sign the forward away from the Heat. According to Stein, numerous rival teams are saying “with even more conviction now than they did last week” that they believe Tucker will end up in Philadelphia on a three-year, $30MM deal.

After adding De’Anthony Melton, the Sixers project to be a taxpayer and would likely have to shed a little salary in order to give Tucker $30MM over three years. Using the full mid-level exception or acquiring him via sign-and-trade are the only ways Philadelphia could realistically offer a $10MM annual salary — either approach would hard-cap team salary at the tax apron.

Here are more free agency rumors from across the NBA:

K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes that all signs still point toward the Bulls being prepared to offer Zach LaVine a five-year, maximum-salary contract when free agency opens this week, with LaVine likely to accept.
The Wizards have some interest in Collin Sexton but are probably in the market for a more traditional point guard in free agency, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reports in a subscriber-exclusive story. Fedor believes the Cavaliers remain in the driver’s seat to re-sign Sexton, especially given that some of his potential suitors – including Detroit – drafted guards last Thursday.
After indicating an openness to returning overseas, Nuggets free agent guard Facundo Campazzo clarified that his goal is to remain in the NBA. He tweeted out a statement in Spanish that translates to English as follows: “My priority one, two, and three is to continue in the NBA. For now, I don’t have in mind to return to Europe. It is obvious that at some point it will happen, but not now. I have it very clear: I want to try again, in whatever franchise it is, but to try again.“
In an Insider-only story for ESPN.com, Bobby Marks takes an in-depth look at which teams project to have cap room, which will be taxpayers, and which fall somewhere in between.

Bulls Passed Up Trade Offers To Take Dalen Terry

June 26th, 2022 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls had opportunities to trade up and trade down Thursday night, but they were thrilled to get Arizona guard Dalen Terry with the 18th pick, per Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. “He’s going to bring versatility on both ends of the floor,” general manager Marc Eversley said. “Last year early on, we had a lot of success when we created turnovers defensively and got out and ran. I think he’s somebody who’s going to be able to do that for us.”

Summer League Commitments: Bulls, Hawks, Mavericks, Magic

June 25th, 2022 at 1:53pm CST by JD Shaw

The Bulls have agreed to a summer league deal with point guard Carlik Jones, a source told Hoops Rumors. Jones signed 10-day contracts with the Mavericks and Nuggets this past season. He averaged 22.1 points per game with Dallas’ G League affiliate, shooting an efficient 46% from the floor.

Jones, 24, was also named to the All-NBA G League Third Team and NBA G League All-Rookie Team. He played for the Mavericks in summer league last year after going undrafted.

Here are some other summer league commitments to share:

The Hawks have received a summer league commitment from Chris Clemons, a league source told Hoops Rumors. Clemons averaged 21.3 points per game with the Celtics’ G League affiliate this season, which included a 52-point outing. The 5’9″ point guard was one of the top scorers in the G League this season.
Free agent guard Jalen Lecque has accepted a summer league invite from the Mavericks, a source told Hoops Rumors. The 22-year-old averaged 16.8 points per game with the Wisconsin Herd this season, shooting 42%. He holds experience with the Suns and Pacers.
Free agent forward Emanuel Terry has committed to playing summer league with the Magic, according to a source. Terry, 6’9″, holds brief NBA experience with the Suns and Heat. He averaged 15.6 points and 8.4 rebounds with the Stockton Kings this year.

Lonzo Ball Making Progress, But Status For Camp Is Uncertain

June 24th, 2022 at 12:55pm CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is hoping to get past the knee issues that disrupted his season, but general manager Marc Eversley mixed uncertainty with optimism when he talked about Ball’s condition Thursday night, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

Ball was in the middle of his first season with the Bulls when he suffered a torn left meniscus. He was given a six- to eight-week recovery timetable after undergoing surgery on January 28, but a bone bruise that happened before the meniscus tear kept him out of action through the playoffs. A report in late April suggested his recovery was at a “standstill.”

Eversley said he wasn’t sure when asked if Ball would be able to suit up for a game right now.

“That’s something we probably need to talk to the performance staff about,” Eversley responded. “That’s not a call I can make now. I can just tell you that he’s rehabbing and he’s making progress.”

Eversley also couldn’t guarantee that Ball will be ready for the start of training camp, adding, “I certainly hope so.”

Chicago was one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference before its season got derailed by injuries. Losing Ball was among the most costly as his defensive presence and relentless transition attacks were an important part of that early success.

The Bulls were 22-13 with Ball in the lineup, but only 24-23 without him. They slipped into the sixth seed and were eliminated by Milwaukee in five games.

Bulls In The Market For Rim Protector

June 24th, 2022 at 9:18am CST by Arthur Hill

Finding a rim protector will be one of the Bulls‘ priorities for the summer, tweets Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. The Bulls will explore their options through free agency and trades, according to general manager Marc Eversley, who suggested the team wants a player who can complement current center Nikola Vucevic.

Bulls Plan To “Do What It Will Take” To Keep Zach LaVine

June 24th, 2022 at 12:51am CST by Arthur Hill

With the start of free agency now less than a week away, the Bulls‘ front office is determined to re-sign guard Zach LaVine, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

Asked Thursday whether the team plans to extend a five-year, maximum-salary offer to LaVine, general manager Marc Eversley didn’t provide a direct answer, but he responded, “We’re prepared to do what it will take to bring Zach back in the fold and be a Chicago Bull.”

Eversley added that he looks forward to meeting with LaVine and agent Rich Paul to work out the terms of a new contract for the unrestricted free agent.

LaVine previously said that he plans to explore his options, but more recent reports indicate that he may re-sign with the Bulls shortly after free agency begins next Thursday. Eversley said he’s not sure about LaVine’s intentions, but stressed the importance of keeping him in Chicago.

“Zach, two-time All-Star, he’s an Olympian, he’s been a terrific Chicago Bull thus far,” Eversley said. “It’s our every intention to bring him back. We’re excited about the opportunity to sit down and talk to him. We feel like he’ll be excited to sit down and talk with us. And we’re looking forward to that day.”

Despite his accomplishments, LaVine faces a somewhat limited market in free agency, Johnson adds. Only a handful of teams have the cap room to extend a max offer, and they all missed the playoffs this season. The Bulls also have the advantage of being able to offer LaVine a five-year deal worth about $212MM, while other teams will be limited to four years at roughly $157MM.

Bulls Sign Justin Lewis To Two-Way Deal

June 24th, 2022 at 12:11am CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

JULY 8: The Bulls have officially signed Lewis to a two-way contract, per NBA.com’s transactions log.

JUNE 24: The Bulls have agreed to a two-way contract with former Marquette forward Justin Lewis, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).

After going undrafted this year, the 6’7″ free agent rookie wasted little time in linking up with a big-market club coming off its first playoff appearance in five years. During his sophomore season, the 20-year-old was voted the 2022 Big East Most Improved Player, in addition to being named First-Team All-Big East.

In 2021/22, Lewis averaged 16.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG and 0.6 BPG across 32 games. In that last NCAA season, his first as a full-time starter, Lewis boasted a slash line of .440/.349/.761.

Lewis ranks as the top overall player on ESPN’s list of undrafted prospects.

Chicago also selected 6’7″ Arizona guard Dalen Terry with the No. 18 pick in the first round. The Bulls forfeited their second-round selection in this year’s draft.