Fred Hoiberg Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bulls Notes: Rondo, Butler, Hoiberg, Gibson

February 23rd, 2017 at 9:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls don’t plan to buy out Rajon Rondo, tweets K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. GM Gar Forman confirmed that tonight, telling reporters the organization would rather hold onto the veteran point guard and use his contract as a trade chip in the offseason. Rondo signed a two-year deal with Chicago in July, but only $3MM of his $13,397,000 salary for next season is guaranteed before June 30. Rondo’s time with the Bulls has been a disappointment, as he was benched briefly, then relegated to the second unit. Although he has been effective in that role, there’s no guarantee it will continue after today’s trade for Cameron Payne.

There’s more post-deadline news out of Chicago:

The Celtics were willing to include one of the Nets’ first-rounders in trade talks for Jimmy Butler, but sources tell Johnson that Boston wanted to place protections on it (Twitter link). The scope of those protections was not released.
Bulls executive John Paxson says the organization wouldn’t commit to rebuilding without “certainty” and never got close to that in any of the offers for Butler (Twitter link). He acknowledges that trade discussions with the Celtics will probably start again by June, and insists Chicago’s playoff fate won’t factor into the decision on Butler (Twitter link).
Paxson hasn’t wavered in his support for coach Fred Hoiberg, saying there has been growth in his second season behind the bench (Twitter link).
The deal that sent Taj Gibson to Oklahoma City was made to create more playing time for Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine (Twitter link). “When you’re trying to develop a team with young players, you need them to get on the floor,” Paxson said (Twitter link).
Gibson said he knew of eight teams that were trying to trade for him (Twitter link). “The hardest part was seeing people’s faces on the way out,” Gibson said in a radio interview. “It’s family.”
Gibson would consider coming back to Chicago “at the right price,” tweets Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. He will be a free agent this summer after making $8.95MM this season. Gibson also indicated that he would consider being a coach with the Bulls when his playing days are finished (Twitter link).

Eastern Rumors: PG-13, Celtics, Rose, Bulls

February 22nd, 2017 at 10:12pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Earlier tonight, we passed along the latest notes and rumors from the Western Conference. Here’s the latest from the Eastern Conference:

Teams around the league believe that the Pacers are simply looking to gather information on the market for Paul George rather than shopping him, David Aldridge of NBA.com tweets.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe (Twitter link) hears that there have not been any “substantial talks” between the Celtics and the Pacers or Bulls this week.
There’s a feeling around the league that the Knicks “would give Derrick Rose away” in a trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Facebook Live link). Rose has recently been linked to the Wolves.
In the same segment, Wojnarowski adds that he believes the Bulls may be interested in Jahlil Okafor regardless of whether they trade Jimmy Butler. Wojnarowski added that the Sixers would need at least a first-round pick to part with Okafor while the Bulls are likely to try and offload Nikola Mirotic in an Okafor deal.
Wojnarowski adds (same piece) that the Bulls are firmly behind coach Fred Hoiberg. The organization wants to make it work with the former college coach and if Chicago trades Butler, the franchise could put together a team that’s much younger and possibly better suited for Hoiberg’s coaching style.
Reggie Jackson‘s trade value is at an all-time low and Wojnarowski (same piece) doesn’t envision the Pistons trading him at the deadline.
The Hawks acquired Ersan Ilyasova earlier today and Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link) hears that the team isn’t done dealing.
The Raptors continue to offer Jared Sullinger and a draft choice to teams as they look for help on the wing, Sam Amico of Amico Hoops tweets.

Central Notes: Hoiberg, Smith, Maker, Pistons

January 29th, 2017 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Coach Fred Hoiberg plans to get tougher with players as he tries to fix the Bulls, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. That was one of the points made at a team meeting Friday that capped a tumultuous week in which Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo all went public with comments about problems in the locker room. “His message was, ‘I’m going to hold you guys more accountable. I give you guys a lot of leeway because I care about you and I understand how hard it is to be an NBA player and to go home at night with so much on your back. I was there. I’ve been there. But now I have to do a better job.’ And I can respect that,” said Taj Gibson.

There’s more news from the Central Division:

Injured guard J.R. Smith isn’t worried about the recent turbulence in Cleveland, relays Chris Fedor of The Plain Dealer. The Cavaliers have been suffering through a losing skid that prompted LeBron James to call for management to add a backup point guard and then question whether the roster was good enough to repeat as champions. Cleveland was also tied to Carmelo Anthony trade talks, with rumors floating of an Anthony for Kevin Love proposal. However, Smith notes that last season also had its hectic moments –including the firing of coach David Blatt last January –before the team regrouped to win its first NBA title. “We’ve been here before,” Smith said. “We was in the same situation last year. We were losing games. I believe it was Brooklyn, we were in New York, and had a huge team meeting — a lot of team meetings last year about us losing and quote unquote stuff within the team and whatever. But it’s all good. It’s all love and we love each other.”
Thon Maker‘s start at center Saturday night could be part of a trend, according to Matt Velasquez of The Journal Sentinel. Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Maker’s playing time will probably increase as the season wears on. “We would like to see more [of Maker] so someone has to sit,” Kidd said in explaining why Miles Plumlee was pulled from the starting lineup. “I thought the second group yesterday did a really good job of getting us back in the game and when he’s been on the floor for us he’s been positive so we’ve got to figure out how to get him more minutes on the floor.”
Injuries through the first half of the season make it difficult for Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy to make informed decisions before the trade deadline, writes Rod Beard of The Detroit News. The Pistons are a disappointing 21-26, but only a game-and-a-half out of a playoff spot.

Central Notes: Ellis, Rondo, Pistons

January 27th, 2017 at 1:20pm CST by Arthur Hill

Monta Ellis‘ role with the Pacers keeps declining, notes Zach Lowe of ESPN.com. The 31-year-old shooting guard has been replaced in the starting lineup by Glenn Robinson III and has struggled to contribute off the bench. Ellis is averaging just 8.3 points per game, the lowest since his rookie season, and shoots just 29% from 3-point range. He’s also taking a career-low 9.3 shots per 36 minutes and his free throw and assist rates have both fallen. Ellis is signed for $11.23MM next season and has an $11.7MM player option that Lowe expects him to exercise in 2018/19.

Here’s more from the Central Division:

Rajon Rondo said he wasn’t trying to be the “bad guy” when he called out Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune relays (Twitter links). “I have a great relationship with the young guys [on the Bulls] and they had some things to say,” Rondo said. “When people express feelings relationships get better.”
Coach Fred Hoiberg said there will be no suspensions for any of the Bulls players as a result of the verbal battle between Wade, Butler and Rondo, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com passes along (Twitter link). However, Hoiberg did say there will be fines handed out.
Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy says the idea of a 10-man rotation isn’t workable, even though the team is getting past its injury problems, relays Aaron McMann of MLive. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jon Leuer recently returned to the lineup, giving Detroit 10 players who have seen regular playing time this season. But Van Gundy says decision have to be made on what’s best for the team, not to make sure certain players get enough minutes. “I like having all of those guys available,” he said. “It certainly gives us more flexibility, but the idea it’s as simple as, ‘Play 10,’ or ‘Play nine’ … you start charting out the minutes guys should get, and it doesn’t work.”

Chris Crouse contributed to this post

Bulls Notes: Hoiberg, Rondo, Mirotic, Forman

January 27th, 2017 at 11:10am CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg will eventually have to pick a side in the ongoing verbal battle involving Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, writes Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago. The team has seen verbal sniping this week, with Wade and Butler questioning the effort some of the players and Rondo responding on social media by saying his former Celtics teammates wouldn’t criticize players in the media. Goodwill states that Hoiberg faces a “defining moment” in trying to diffuse the situation.

There’s more today out of Chicago:

Nikola Mirotic and Michael Carter-Williams have been the main sources of frustration for Wade and Butler, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Johnson adds that both addressed the players privately before speaking to the media. “I’m very expressive. I want good for these guys. I try to help these guys,” Wade said. “But there also comes a time [when] I can’t want it for you. It’s not every person on this team. But guys know who they are if they want to be real with themselves, if they’re doing enough.”
GM Gar Forman is expected to make a statement to the media at this afternoon’s shootaround, Johnson tweets. Rondo will also reportedly answer questions (Twitter link).
Waiving Rondo would be the easy way out for the Bulls, says Bobby Marks of The Vertical on a podcast with Chris Mannix. Marks suggests a team meeting where all the players can discuss their grievances and says Rondo shouldn’t be made a scapegoat for exposing the problems in the Bulls’ locker room. The former Nets executive also criticizes the Bulls’ roster, which he says is poorly formed outside of Butler and Wade.

Bulls Notes: Felicio, Lopez, Hoiberg, Valentine

January 15th, 2017 at 12:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Cristiano Felicio has taken over as Chicago’s center at the end of games, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Felicio played the entire fourth quarter in Saturday’s win over New Orleans and has established chemistry with the Bulls’ guards on pick-and-roll and lob plays. “The other thing he gives us is a big-time defensive presence,” said coach Fred Hoiberg. “We can get out and trap ball screens with him because of his ability to move. There are not a lot of big bodies that move as well as he does.” The Brazilian big man is putting up slightly better numbers during his second season in the NBA, averaging 4.4 points and 5.0 rebounds through 33 games.

There’s more news out of Chicago:

Starting center Robin Lopez has accepted the change without complaining, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “I’m just trying to play my part a little bit,” Lopez said. “I think that’s kind of the good thing about our team. When we’re playing really well, we’ve got a lot of different options.’’ Lopez, who was acquired from the Knicks in an offseason deal, is under contract through 2018/19.
The Bulls have been disappointingly average through the first half of the season, Johnson writes in a separate piece. Young players like Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic haven’t become the building blocks that management expected, and the team’s last two first-rounders, Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine, aren’t part of the rotation. Johnson expects Hoiberg to be brought back next season, but his future after that could be uncertain.
It’s too early for the Bulls to write off Valentine as a failure, argues Cole Zwicker of Fan Sided. Injuries and illnesses have helped to derail his rookie season, but Zwicker contends that Valentine still has the skills to develop into a productive NBA player.

Rajon Rondo Talks Situation With Bulls

January 10th, 2017 at 7:02pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Rajon Rondo, whose status with the team remains unclear, said a member of the Bulls’ coaching staff told him that the team was trying to “save him from himself,” as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune relays (series of Twitter links). Rondo was told that he was playing poorly during a game against the Pacers—the one where he was initially benched—and that was a major reason why the team took action.

“Save me from myself,” Rondo lamented. “I never heard that before in my life. But I guess he was trying to do the best thing for me.”

Rondo added that he didn’t appreciate the team’s comments. Rondo was asked if he and coach Fred Hoiberg have spoken much about the situation. “Um. How can I say this? No,” Rondo said. “We speak. Cordial. Nothing much to say.”

A member of Chicago’s public relation staff attempted to end the media session midway through the interview, but Rondo said he would like to continue, as Johnson passes along (additional series of Twitter links). “I haven’t had this much attention in awhile,” Rondo said.

Rondo added that when he signed with Chicago, he envisioned things going differently and called the situation the most confusing of his career. He’s played in 29 games for the Bulls this season, posting the lowest points and minutes totals since his rookie season.

Rondo is playing tonight for the first time since being benched late last month. The point guard hasn’t seen NBA action in nearly two weeks, but said he’s been trying to stay in shape by playing pick-up games at a local middle school. He’ll be the team’s sixth man while Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler are absent from the lineup.

Rondo Will Seek Trade If Benching Persists

January 1st, 2017 at 7:46pm CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls guard Rajon Rondo plans to ask for a trade if his benching becomes permanent, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.

Rondo sat out his first full game Saturday, then met with GM Gar Forman and executive vice president John Paxson afterward. Rondo told them the same thing he told reporters, which is that he will “absolutely” request a trade if he is not getting regular playing time.

Coach Fred Hoiberg may use Rondo as part of the reserve unit, but his time as a starter in Chicago appears to be over. If Rondo comes off the bench, Hoiberg may alter Dwyane Wade‘s minutes because he and Rondo haven’t effective when playing together.

Rondo and Wade were the Bulls’ major free agent acquisitions over the summer, but there were concerns that their games were too similar for them to work in tandem. Both like to drive to the basket, and neither is especially dangerous as a 3-point shooter. Talking to reporters Saturday, Rondo refused to criticize the way the roster was constructed.

“I’m not going to say that,” Rondo said. “Am I going to think it? I thought a lot the last 24 hours. I thought a lot all season. I’m trying to figure out a way to help this team grow and get some wins.”

Rondo has experienced run-ins with coaches during past stops in his NBA career, but Hoiberg said his behavior has been good apart from a one-game suspension for throwing a towel at associate head coach Jim Boylen. Hoiberg’s decision to bench Rondo stems from his production rather than off-court incidents.

Rondo is averaging 7.1 assists per game for the Bulls after leading the league with 11.7 per night last season with the Kings. His scoring average has also dropped from 11.9 to 7.2 points per game.

“I’m coming off not necessarily my best year but a pretty good year in Sacramento. I was able to do things a little bit differently,” Rondo said. “Obviously, coming here playing with Dwyane and Jimmy [Butler] I knew would be different. Fred and I talked in the beginning, said I would be able to call a lot of the plays. The flow of the game and throughout the season, things may change.”

Even if Rondo does request a deal, nothing is expected to happen until closer to the February 23d deadline, Johnson tweets. Rondo is making $14MM this season and nearly $13.4MM next season, but only $3MM of his 2017/18 salary is guaranteed before July 1st.

Rondo’s Future With Bulls In Doubt

January 1st, 2017 at 10:04am CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo asked for a meeting with GM Gar Forman after Saturday’s game to discuss his future with the team, writes Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.

Saturday was the first full game of Rondo’s benching after being pulled in the second half Friday. He wasn’t used at all as Chicago suffered a 20-point loss at home to the Bucks to fall to 16-18.

“Gar and I will have a talk,” Rondo said after the game. “We’ll talk tonight and go from there. I don’t know if it’s right now, maybe the next 30, 18, 45 minutes. Tonight, before ’17 [the clock strikes midnight].”

The uncertainty surrounding the 11-year veteran comes six months after he signed a two-year, $27.4MM deal with the Bulls. Rondo remains productive, leading the league in assists last season and averaging 7.1 per game this year, but has changed teams three times in the past 24 months.

He answered “absolutely” Saturday night when asked if he thought he has done enough in his career for the Bulls to send him to another organization if they don’t plan to play him. A source told Goodwill that a buyout has not yet been discussed. Rondo has just a $3MM guarantee for next season.

“I’m gonna explode…No, I’m not,” said Rondo. “I’m gonna continue to work, get some work in, play some one on one. Take care of my body, lift and give these young guys as much advice while I’m on the bench.”

Rondo met Saturday morning with coach Fred Hoiberg, who said he looked “slow” during the last five games and questioned Rondo’s health. Rondo responded that he has never felt better at this point of a season.

Bulls Notes: Hoiberg, Rondo, Lineup

December 30th, 2016 at 9:15pm CST by Luke Adams

After winning a pair of games earlier this week, the Bulls slipped below .500 with another loss today, and now have a 6-10 record for the month of December. With the team slipping down the Eastern Conference standings, a report today from ESPN’s Marc Stein suggested that Chicago is “increasingly assessing the coaching fit” of Fred Hoiberg, who is in his second year with the franchise. Asked before today’s game about that report, Hoiberg dismissed the idea that he’s worried about his job security, as Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com details.

“Someone just mentioned something to me about that,” the Bulls head coach said of Stein’s report. “You know I don’t know anything about it, so I’m not going to comment on it. I’ve got a job to do, which is to try and put this team in a position to go out and win basketball games. Like probably 24 other coaches I’m trying to find a way for us to go out and play consistent basketball on a nightly basis.”

According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, the Bulls are likely to stay the course with Hoiberg for now. There are a handful of reasons why it makes sense for the team to hold off on a coaching change, and Hoiberg’s contract is one significant factor, Johnson notes. With three and a half years still left on that deal, Chicago would be on the hook for more than $17MM if the club parted ways with its head coach.

Here’s more from out of Chicago:

According to Goodwill, members of Bulls management also downplayed the report of Hoiberg being on the hot seat, shooting it down with “one-word texts and dismissive comments.” Jimmy Butler weighed in after today’s loss as well, per Goodwill (Twitter link). “We go out there, we play, we fight with him,” Butler said of Hoiberg. “It’s over my head. He ain’t on no hot seat to me.”
Rajon Rondo was benched during the second half of today’s loss to the Pacers after struggling in the first half. As Nick Friedell of ESPN.com writes, it’s the second time this week that Rondo has been on the bench for the Bulls down the stretch, and Hoiberg hasn’t decided whether or not the veteran point guard will remain in the starting lineup for the team’s next game on Sunday.
For his part, Rondo handled the benching well, telling reporters that he didn’t get an explanation from Hoiberg but didn’t need to make it “a big deal,” per Friedell. “[Hoiberg] and [assistant coach] Jim [Boylen] made some decisions,” Rondo said. “It’s what it is.”
Hoiberg sounds like he might be ready to shake up the Bulls’ lineup going forward. “We have some decisions to make moving forward with our team,” the head coach said after today’s game (Twitter link via Goodwill).