Perhaps the Brooklyn Nets can rid themselves of Ben Simmons’ unfavorable contract and gain an asset back in return.

Long thought to be an albatross, there is one destination that can absorb the remaining $78-plus million that he is owed over the next two years from his five-year, $177 million contract and, possibly, get him back to his former All-NBA form.

“Forget all the James Harden nonsense and the [Houston] Rockets‘ intention to start winning games in 2023-24,” wrote Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report on June 25. “using a chunk of its $60 million in cap space to take on a bad contract with picks attached is the better alternative for Houston.”

Nets get:

– Kevin Porter Jr.

Rockets get:

– Ben Simmons
– 2027 1st Rd Pick (via PHI)
– 2026 2nd Rd Pick
– 2028 2nd Rd Pick

The Rockets hired former Nets assistant Ime Udoka to be their next head coach. Udoka, who was also the head coach of the Boston Celtics for one season, was also on the Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff when Simmons was still there in 2019-20.

Kevin Porter Jr. Could Provide Unique Value

Porter, 23, entered the league as a first-round pick (No. 30 overall) by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2019 NBA Draft but was traded on draft night and then again roughly one week later, eventually spending his first NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had an explosive falling out with team officials leading to his trade to Houston in 2021.

This past season, Porter averaged career-highs with 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals while also dishing out 5.7 assists and shooting 36.6% from beyond the arc.

While his ideal role may be off the ball, he has gotten extensive experience as a lead guard.

Porter is entering the first year of an interestingly structured four-year, $63.4 million contract that is non-guaranteed in the second and third years and has a $15.8 million team option in the final season.

Porter would likely have further value in subsequent deals. But needing to attach a pick to Simmons highlights how far the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft’s value has fallen.

Patty Mills: Ben Simmons ‘Looking Good, Feeling Good’

Simmons, 26, has been viewed as one of the worst contracts in the league over the last couple of seasons. He missed all of the 2021-22 campaign with a back injury and mental health issues then only made 42 appearances this past season before being shut down in March, again due to his balky back.

The former three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive selection averaged just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists this past season but could be primed for a bounceback campaign.

“From all accords and from what I’ve heard, he’s looking after his body, and getting into his shape and healthy,” said teammate Patty Mills, per Brian Fleurantin of NetsDaily on June 24. “From what I’ve heard, he’s looking good, feeling good.”

Mills, 34, noted that we will have to “wait and see” about Simmons getting back on the court but his account tracks with reports that Simmons has taken an improved approach to his rehab amid a slew of offseason workout photos. It also follows with Nets general manager Sean Marks saying that Simmons would not need any further procedures to address the issue.

Getting Simmons healthy appears to be the Nets’ only hope of offloading his remaining money without attaching additional assets.

True to his word, Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is looking at every avenue to improve the team.

“Onuralp Bitim, who went to work out for NBA teams, was very successful in Chicago Bulls and gained the attention of the club,” reads the Google translated version of a report from Turkish outlet, Basketfoul on June 23. “Onuralp Bitim, who is hopeful for the contract, feels [a] two-way contract from Chicago…if he accepts.”

He should participate in the G League and will represent Turkey in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Bitim also worked out for the San Antonio Spurs and Bulls head coach Billy Donovan’s former team the Oklahoma City Thunder. And BasketNews reports that EuroLeague teams Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul have shown interest in him.

He averaged 18.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists this season for Frutti Extra Bursa. He also has good size at 6-foot-5, is only 24 years old, and averaged 1.2 steals per game. But, perhaps most importantly, Bitim shot 40.9% on 6.9 threes per game this year – key for a Bulls team that ranked 30th in three-pointers taken and made in 2022-23.

Bitim would be the second of the Bulls’ three allotted two-way contract slots for this coming season under the new collective bargaining agreement.

Bulls Add National Champion

The Bulls’ first two-way slot went to big man, Adama Sanogo, the leading scorer on the 2023 NCAA champion UConn Huskies averaging 17.2 points adding 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists falling just shy of 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.

He too can space the floor, knocking down 36.5% of his looks, albeit on just 1.3 attempts.

Sanogo was the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and showed steady improvement throughout his career.

The Bulls’ had undrafted free agent forward Justin Lewis and Terry Taylor as their two-way players last season.

Lewis was a priority undrafted free agent in 2022 while the Bulls picked up Taylor in February after the Indiana Pacers waived him but he only saw action in five contests averaging 4.0 points and 1.6 boards in just over 7.0 minutes per game. It will be interesting to see which – if either – of Lewis or Taylor gets the third two-way contract.

Sanogo in particular could also mean an even tougher path to any minutes for Marko Simonovic who, going into his fourth season since being drafted and two seasons since coming overseas, has appeared in just 16 games.

Bulls Adding Youth to Aging Roster

The Bulls were just outside the top-third in oldest averaged age by a team in the NBA this past season, ranking 12 at 26.7 years old, per RealGM.

A couple of those aging players are at or near the end of their contracts and, even with the likes of Nikola Vucevic being in talks for a new contract, the Bulls have to plan for the future which means stockpiling developmental talent. Without a first-round pick in two of the last three drafts, their work in the undrafted free-agent market could pay dividends down the road.

It is hard to see these players cracking head coach Billy Donovan’s rotation enough to make a significant impact this season. But surprises happen every season and the Bulls’ future could become the focus if next season goes off the rails.

The Brooklyn Nets selected Duke’s Dariq Whitehead with the No. 22 overall pick, the second of their two first-round selections in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-7 former Blue Devil was once thought to be a potential top-10 pick but a leg injury limited him in his lone collegiate season as he averaged a modest 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists this past season.

“I think I can definitely get back to that guy who I was,” said Whitehead, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post on June 23. “I feel like people definitely from last year, they tend to think that I’m not athletic, and that was due to me pretty much playing on one leg. But I feel like I can definitely show the athletic part, and then really my playmaking.”

Whitehead certainly showed more than enough pop in high school.

Even with his perhaps disappointing stats this past season, Whitehead shot 42.9% from beyond the arc and averaged just under 1.0 steals per game.

He is expected to be fully recovered by training camp, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Nets ‘Comfortable’ With Dariq Whitehead’s Medical Outlook

“We felt very comfortable with Dariq,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said, via the Nets’ official YouTube channel on June 24. “If you could sort of rewind a year, there’s a chance that he was probably a lottery pick. So in order to get a guy like that fall to us, fantastic. We’ll take it.”

Even with the foot injury last season – which has him drawing comparisons to former Net and current Cleveland Cavalier, Caris LeVert – Whitehead’s game looked NBA-ready at Duke.

“Gonna come back better than ever,” Whitehead tweeted on June 7.

LeVert has battled injuries in his NBA career but made a career-high 74 appearances this season and has maxed out as a 20-point-per-game scorer in this league.

Nets Rookie ‘Not Gonna Try’ Rockets Big Man

The first of the Nets’ three picks on the night was Alabama big man Noah Clowney, taken right before Whitehead at No. 21 overall. A 6-foot-10 forward, he was half of the Nets’ efforts to double-down on frontcourt talent along with Kansas’ Jalen Wilson (6-foot-8, No. 51 overall).

Unlike Whitehead, Clowney’s athleticism showed often in college where he averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and just under 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks this past season.

But the rookie isn’t going to just challenge any and everyone in the paint.

Asked who he wanted to dunk on most in the league, Clowney responded by asking who the tallest player was – it’s currently Houston Rockets center Boban Marjanovic who is listed at 7-foot-4 but will soon be his fellow rookie, San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama at 7-foot-5.

“Nah, I ain’t getting [Marjanovic],” Clowney said at the draft, via The Score on June 22. “I wouldn’t even try him. That’s a floater. … He’s like 7-5, 7-7, and 8-5 arms, bro. No.”

Clowney did not measure at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago but Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote that it was “something in the ballpark of…7-foot-3” on March 28, which would rival that of starting center Nic Claxton.

Wilson, a former national champion, will be coached by fellow Kansas alum Jacque Vaughn.

The Brooklyn Nets could have a chance to flip one of the worst contracts in the NBA for the self-proclaimed “greatest big man shooter” in Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

“If the Nets are unable to secure some floor spacing from the 4 or 5 in a more economical fashion, they could send Ben Simmons‘ contract (which expires three years earlier than KAT’s) and a pick or two from the Kevin Durant haul for Towns,” wrote Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report on June 23.”

Nets get:

– Karl-Anthony Towns

Timberwolves get:

– Ben Simmons
– 2025 1st Round Pick (via PHX)
– 2027 1st Round Pick (via PHX)

Towns, 27, averaged 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and a career-high 4.8 assists this past season while shooting 49.5% from the floor and 36.6% from deep. The 6-foot-11 skilled center only made 29 appearances this past season as he dealt with a calf injury. But, at his peak, Towns has averaged 26.5 points (2019-20) and 12.4 rebounds (2018-19) in his career.

He has not been shy about claiming his spot in NBA history, either.

“I’m the greatest big man shooter of all time,” Towns told John Krawczynski of The Athletic on June 16. “That’s a fact. You can see the stats.”

Towns is averaging 23.0 points on 62.3% true shooting while canning 39.5% of his threes so far in a career that has seen him earn three trips to the All-Star game and two All-NBA selections after he won Rookie of the Year in 2015-16.

When asked about the trade rumors, Towns has put the ball firmly in the Timbwerwolves’ court.

“All I’m gonna say on it, the rumors are as true or as false as Minnesota makes them to be,” Towns said on the ‘Pat Bev Podcast with Rone’ on June 14.

Nets Could Take Advantage of Timberwolves’ Finances

The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft is heading into the final year of a five-year, $158.2 million contract.

He is starting a four-year, $224 million contract after next season which could reach up to $234 million with incentives which is a big part of why there has been speculation about his future in Minnesota.

“The Timberwolves were paying two centers max money for the foreseeable future,” wrote Krawczynski on June 22. “That has become even more important in recent months when it became clear that the new collective bargaining agreement will make it even harder on teams to sail past the luxury tax.”

Minnesota is currently more than $21 million below the luxury tax threshold, per Spotrac. But, as Krawczynski notes, Anthony Edwards is up for a new contract that will likely put them into the luxury tax. They were the eight-seed this past season losing to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs this season.

Taking on Simmons would add $1.8 million to the Timberwolves’ books for this coming season but would shave in the neighborhood of $190 million from their ledger overall. And, if not this offseason, they can explore this deal next season when Simmons will be on an expiring contract.

Brooklyn is staring down the luxury tax this offseason but has mechanisms to create more space.

Towns can play alongside Nic Claxton — who said he plans to extend his range — or replace him if the Nets move him ahead of unrestricted free agency next summer.

Nets Could Flip Ben Simmons’ Contract

Simmons, 26, was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 by the Philadelphia 76ers where injuries bookended his tenure. He was traded to the Nets for James Harden at the 2021-22 trade deadline but missed the entire campaign with a back injury and mental health issues.

This past season, he suited up for 42 games averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists but was shut down due to a back injury.

But Brooklyn was 24-18 when Simmons played this past season, even in his diminished state.

Most of that success was thanks to Durant and Kyrie Irving – the Nets were 2-3 with Simmons in the lineup after the trade deadline. However, he is still the only player on the Nets’ roster with an All-Star appearance to his credit (three to be exact). He’s also a two-time All-Defensive pick, a former All-NBA selection, and, like Towns, a former Rookie of the Year.

He is heading into Year 4 of a five-year, $177.2 million contract that has long been thought to require payment (i.e. draft compensation) just to move it.

In this potential scenario, the Nets do that and then some.

If the Chicago Bulls aren’t eyeing a complete teardown but still want to shift gears, they may find a suitable trade partner in the Philadelphia 76ers.

“Getting out from under a long-term contract like Zach LaVine‘s (which runs through 2026-27), could kickstart such a reboot,” wrote Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report on June 23. “A trade involving him and Tobias Harris (whose deal ends in 2024) might make some sense.”

Bulls get:

– Tobias Harris

76ers get:

– Zach LaVine
-2029 1st Rd Pick

The draft compensation could be a big sticking point.

Philadelphia won’t have full control of their first-round picks until 2029 at the earliest, though they could add swap options to push this one over the top, assuming the Bulls are so inclined.

Harris, 30, averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and just a hair under 1.0 steals per game this past season. He shot 50.1% from the floor overall and 38.9% from beyond the arc and is heading into the final year of a five-year, $180 million contract that has been difficult for them to maneuver around.

Some rivals believe Philly is “overvaluing” Harris, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“The Sixers will only make a deal that would be hard to pass up,” Pomey wrote on June 21. “Teams around the league believe the Sixers are…asking for ‘outrageous packages in return’.”

The 6-foot-8 Harris showed his value in the Sixers’ opening-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 20.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and shooting 57.1% from long distance.

He also showed why teams have been reluctant to take him off Philly’s hands as he averaged 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds as the Sixers blew a 3-2 lead to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. A trade to the Bulls would be Harris’ sixth in his 13-year career (including draft night) and would mean suiting up for as many teams.

“The Sixers aren’t willing to trade him unless it drastically improves their team,” Pompey added.

Zach LaVine Could Be Upgrade Sixers Seek

LaVine, 28, would certainly be an upgrade from Harris from a production and longevity standpoint. He averaged 26.4 points on 62.7% true shooting and shot 37.0% from deep after the calendar flipped to 2023.

He is heading into the second year of a five-year, $215 million contract.

The Bulls’ current franchise cornerstone, rumblings of the team gauging LaVine’s trade value cropped back up ahead of the draft and have irked the two-time All-Star in the past.

While he is said to have no interest in joining the New York Knicks, perhaps a trade to the Sixers to pair with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and possibly James Harden – who would be the best passer LaVine has ever played with – is more intriguing. LaVine’s feelings on the Knicks are said to be based in part on the influence of the CAA sports agency in the organization.

LaVine’s fellow Klutch Sports client, Maxey, is currently a rising star for Philly. Klutch also represents injured Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball while the Knicks are one of 12 teams that do not currently roster a player on their lengthy list of clients.

Potential Reset After Next Season

“[The Bulls are] 28th in the NBA in winning percentage over the last six seasons, and the more recent additions of Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan only elevated the team from bad to mediocre,” Bailey writes. “And a team like the Philadelphia 76ers, who might convince themselves they’re one piece away, could use LaVine’s explosiveness.

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has made his interest in retaining Vucevic (and the rest of the core) together clear.

They are currently in talks with Vucevic on what rival executives believe will be a three-year pact worth $60-plus million in total, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype which would indicate they truly are ready to double down on this group.

Still, LaVine would represent the Bulls’ best trade asset in any sort of rebuilding effort.

This deal might only make sense if he is demanding a trade to Philadelphia publicly which would drive his trade value down considerably since the Bulls have held a fairly high valuation of the former No. 13 overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.

It does, however, fit with some of the follow-up reporting after word broke that they were gauging his trade value once again.

“One league source said the Bulls would be focused on getting a good young player, multiple first-round picks, and salary filler if they decide to trade LaVine,” wrote NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson on June 19. “Another said one first-round pick and an established, high-end player might be sufficiently intriguing.”

Could both teams be convinced that this is the deal they need to make?

The above deal would give the Sixers another high-level scorer around reigning the MVP in Embiid while the Bulls get a versatile player in Harris, draft capital, and the chance at much cleaner books next offseason with DeRozan heading into the final year of his contract.

Just when things seemed fairly clear-cut for the Brooklyn Nets, general manager Sean Marks offered up a dose of sobering reality about restricted free agent Cameron Johnson.

“I don’t have a crystal ball. I don’t know,” Marks said in a video shared by Erik Slater of Clutch Points on June 23. “I think it’s one of those things that maybe we should expect the unexpected. Things happen all the time in this. We’ll be prepared for that. Cam knows how we feel about him. We hope he’s a Net.”

This is not a new sentiment from Marks.

He said during his exit interview that Johnson, 27, was a priority for the front office this offseason. But he also noted that Johnson will have a say in what happens as a restricted free agent.

The Nets can match any offer he receives but that has helped further sour relationships around the league in the recent past.

Johnson averaged 16.6 points on 61.0% true shooting after the Phoenix Suns traded him to Brooklyn in a package for Kevin Durant. He also shot 37.2% from deep in the regular season and was even better in the playoffs, knocking down 42.3% of his looks from long distance.

More than that, Johnson showed that he could be more than just a 3-and-D role player.

His points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals as a Net would have all been career-high marks across a full season.

Cameron Johnson Set to Cash In

The former No. 11 overall pick is expected to land a deal with a starting salary worth at least $18 million in free agency, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. And there is some thought that his next deal could even reach or surpass $20 million annually.

“We’ll just have to sort of play it all out,” Marks added. “I think we’ve got a nice young group, and he can see how this group can do something special here.”

Former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks is not convinced that the Nets should go all out to keep Johnson.

Brooklyn is roughly $18.6 million below the luxury tax threshold before making any moves this offseason, per Spotrac; a cushion Johnson’s contract would eliminate.

Johnson was clear that he will make the best decision for himself and his family.

But the Nets do have one trump card that may give them even a slight leg up on the potential competition which is expected to include at least the Detroit Pistons – where Johnson’s former head coach with the Suns, Monty Williams, takes over the same role – and the Houston Rockets who have the most money to spend this offseason.

Mikal Bridges Recruits Cameron Johnson

“I just know a lot of people probably want him on different teams,” Mikal Bridges said, per Lewis in an article from June 22. “I just tell him…‘I know money and this and that, but just know where I want you. And you can’t leave your Twin!’”

Johnson has likewise expressed not wanting to be separated from his friend and teammate.

Asked if Bridges would influence his decision-making this offseason, Johnson was crystal clear that he would.

“Yeah, I’d say so,” Johnson said via the Nets’ YouTube channel on April 23. “That’s my twin. I haven’t played an NBA game without him literally because he’s been in all of them…He is a good teammate to have. He does little things. He plays hard, defends, and can help cover up a lot of stuff. So the continued opportunity to play with him would be very cool to me.”

Everyone involved is saying the right things. We will have to wait and see what happens when it is finally time to put pen to paper sometime after free agency officially opens around the NBA on June 30.

A big part of the Chicago Bulls’ offseason plan will be retaining their own free agents. Two of those free agents, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White, were the franchise’s top picks in their respective draft classes.

Both players are restricted free agents this offseason and there was a notion the generally frugal and cash-strapped Bulls might have to choose between one or the other. But Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is not going to just let either walk away this summer.

“Coby and Ayo I think they are developing young players,” Karnisovas said during his media availability via the Bulls on June 22. “We’re gonna address that in free agency.”

Asked if he will extend qualifying offers to both players, Karnisvoas gave an unequivocal “yes”.

Coby White’s Persistence Paid Off

White, 23, is one of just two players to pre-date Karnisovas’ arrival and takeover of basketball operations. The other is two-time All-Star Zach LaVine whom the Bulls signed to the largest contract in franchise history.

The Bulls had White on the trade block dating back to the 2021 trade deadline. White’s stats this past season – 9.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 37.2% from three – were all down from last season but fail to highlight how much progress he made as a more complete player which head coach Billy Donovan certainly appreciated.

“He’s played well,” Donovan said. “The thing that’s been really impressive to me is the jump he’s made from last year to this year defensively and the amount of time and effort. He had a really, really good summer and I really attribute a lot of his success to that.”

Donovan said White was becoming a “two-way player”, a necessity on a roster headlined by LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic none of whom are plus-defenders.

White drew just two starts this past season but he made a career-high 72 appearances.

With Karnisovas confirming that intended starting point guard Lonzo Ball is not expected to return next season as he continues to rehab, the Bulls have more incentive than not to be “all in” on retaining White. If nothing else he provides some familiarity for the group and knows how he would be needed coming out of the gate.

To that end, Donovan agreed that there could be another opportunity for White to crack the starting lineup – something White has said is a goal of his – should the former North Carolina Tar Heel return next season.

The Bulls will have the right to match any offer White may get since he is a restricted free agent so the final call was always theirs to make.

But it does bring a little more clarity to their offseason.

Ayo Dosunmu’s Sophomore Slump Led to Demotion

Dosunmu, 23, opened last season as the starting point guard but soon found himself demoted to the bench along with former No. 4 overall pick, Patrick Williams. A Chicago native, Dosunmu surprised as a rookie second-round pick in 2021-22 averaging 8.8 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 37.6% from beyond the arc.

This past season, he posted a very similar stat line with 8.6 points and 2.8 rebounds but his assists (2.6) and perimeter efficiency (31.2%) both fell. But he still brought inspired defense even after his demotion.

It really was never really a matter of if the Bulls wanted to keep Dosunmu in the mix.

There has even been word that the team is eyeing a multi-year contract for the former No. 38 overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft

“Dosunmu is a restricted free agent who has limited market value after a backsliding season,” wrote Sam Smith of Bulls.com on June 16. “But he’s well-liked by the coaching staff and management and expected to receive a reasonable contract for two or three seasons.”

The question was always making it work financially but Karnisovas says that’s not an issue.

“I think it all depends on free agency, how that goes,” Karnisovas said. “And Jerry and Michael [Reisndorf] have been always open with me to go into luxury tax if our team is competitive – top four, top six in the East. If there are players in free agency that…we go, ‘Yeah, they can improve our team,’ and we’re competitive, we’ll retain our free agent.”

The latest recruiting pitch by Brooklyn Nets rising star Mikal Bridges may be his most meaningful.

Bridges is doing his part to ensure that Cameron Johnson is a Net next season.

“I just know a lot of people probably want him on different teams,” Bridges told Brian Lewis of the New York Post in an article from June 22. “I just tell him…‘I know money and this and that, but just know where I want you. And you can’t leave your Twin!’”

Bridges’ future in Brooklyn has seemingly long been decided with the organization turning away overtures, including four first-round picks from the Memphis Grizzlies. The 26-year-old swingman averaged a would-be career-best 26.1 points on 60.7% true shooting after the Phoenix Suns traded him to Brooklyn in a package for Kevin Durant.

Johnson, 27, experienced a similar uptick in his production, averaging 16.6 points – which would have been a career-high across a full season – on 61.0% true shooting.

He shot 37.2% from deep with the Nets in the regular season and 42.9% in the postseason.

“That’s my twin,” Johnson said during his exit interview on the Nets’ YouTube channel on April 23. “I haven’t played an NBA game without him literally because he’s been in all of them….The continued opportunity to play with him would be very cool to me.”

Johnson said he did not have a plan for free agency at the time of his exit interview. But comments made on the ‘Ball Magnets Podcast’ on June 20 may have tipped his hand.

“I found this apartment,” Johnson said. “I had it for a certain short-term lease and, at the conclusion of free agency, I’d reevaluate and explore neighborhoods and figure out which area of Brooklyn I’d like to live in. Because there’s a lot of cool little neighborhoods, cool little pockets. That should be a fun experience.”

Nets Could Get Expensive

Brooklyn currently sits roughly $18 million below the luxury tax threshold of $165 million for the 2023-24 season, per Spotrac. Johnson is expected to land a deal that starts at $18 million and could very well exceed that.

That is a lofty proposition for a team that went 13-15 after the trade deadline; something former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks warned about.

However, Bridges’ feelings on the matter could impact the Nets’ thinking just as it does Johnson.

Nets Warned Against Overvaluing Mikal Bridges

“Mikal Bridges…is probably the third-best [player] on a top-four team,” Marks said on April 22. “That’s the reality of it….And he had a great year. He’s not a No. 1 [option]. I think he’s probably a No. 1 on a bad team. He’s probably a No. 2 on a team that’s the fifth seed the fourth seed. He’s not the No. 1 if you’re trying to win a championship.”

Valuing Bridges is one thing.

Potentially overvaluing him to the point where it affects the wiggle room going forward is another entirely. Fortunately for the Nets, they don’t quite have to make that decision – they have other avenues for creating some space if needed.

Still, today’s good contract can look rather onerous if things don’t go well for that player or the teams that gave it to them. Bridges is under contract through the 2026 season on a four-year, $90.9 million contract and it could cost as much if not more to keep Johnson in the mix. Whether or not the Nets are up for that will soon be put to the test.

If the Chicago Bulls do trade two-time All-Star and current franchise cornerstone Zach LaVine, it probably won’t be to the New York Knicks.

“Zach LaVine’s representatives would be against a deal to the Knicks,” wrote Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News on June 23. “A source said the LaVine camp isn’t interested in dealing with the Knicks, who have a reputation around the league of favoring clients of CAA, the agency that employed Leon Rose before his move to the Knicks front office.”

There are multiple parts of this that bear monitoring.

This is further confirmation that the Bulls are indeed shopping LaVine, as first reported by Yahoo Sports NBA insider Jake Fischer. It could also suggest that the Bulls aren’t simply gauging LaVine’s trade value for exploratory purposes.

If not for LaVine’s sentiments, the Knicks – with whom the Bulls held trade talks regarding LaVine at the trade deadline – would make for an intriguing trade partner.

“One league source said the Bulls would be focused on getting a good young player, multiple first-round picks and salary filler if they decide to trade LaVine,” wrote NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson on June 19. “Another said one first-round pick and an established, high-end player might be sufficiently intriguing.”

As Bondy notes, the Knicks are “strapped” with future draft picks.

The Knicks also have several younger players that could help facilitate a rebuild if the Bulls pivoted away from their veteran core as some around the league still believe is possible.

“I…heard from an insider that he believes the Bulls are done with this Big Three,” reported Sam Smith of Bulls.com on May 19. “Sources who may or may not know agreed. Of course, such an observation doesn’t need Sherlock Holmes.”

While that initially was taken to mean a full teardown, it could just mean the Bulls’ front office is ready to move on from this particular grouping. And, being roughly five years younger than their next best potential trade chip in DeMar DeRozan, it makes sense that LaVine’s name has been more prominently discussed, though the Bulls have gauged the value of both.

As Bondy also notes, neither the Bulls nor the Knicks are beholden to LaVine’s wishes but that could make things messy for New York down the road.

The Klutch Sports Factor

Another, perhaps even more telling aspect of Bondy’s report is that LaVine’s unwillingness to play for the Knicks is related to CAA’s influence and not his previous relationships with some in the organization.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was running the Minnesota Timberwolves when LaVine was traded to the Bulls in 2017.

LaVine, 28, is a Klutch Sports client.

This naturally begs the question of whether he would be more amenable to a trade to a destination like the Los Angeles Lakers where Klutch has greater pull thanks in no small part to LeBron James. The Lakers were among the many teams interested in LaVine during his brief foray into free agency last summer and could still hold an interest amid these new reports.

Bulls Actions Track With Arturas Karnisovas’ Plans

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has pushed the idea that he wants to give this group as much time as he can to prove their worth despite heading into the third full season of the experiment.

Karnisovas has also said that he would “look at everything” in trying to improve the team and confirmed after the draft that he does indeed have the “green light” to go into the luxury tax.

The caveat is that he suggested the Bulls needed to be a top-six seed or higher to follow through on that notion. Chicago was the six-seed in the 2021-22 season but Karnisovas’ logic at that time was that the group needed more time to jell only to see the team limp to the finish line, a trend that continued through the bulk of this past season.

A surprise trade by the Chicago Bulls, moving up to the No. 35 overall pick to select Tennessee wing, Julian Phillips, was potentially overshadowed by rather dour news.

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas confirmed the reports that intended starting point guard Lonzo Ball is expected to miss the entire 2023-24 campaign as he continues to work his way back from a knee injury.

“Going into the offseason, I think our expectation is that he’s not coming back next season, and he’s gonna continue on his recovery,” Karnisovas said via the team’s YouTube channel on June 22. “If he comes back, it would be great. But we’re just going to treat this offseason and getting ready for the season that he’s he’s not going to be back next season.”

Ball has undergone three surgeries since being sign-and-traded to the Bulls in 2021.

The latest procedure, a ligament replacement surgery, is a rarity in the sports world and is aimed at improving his quality of life more so than getting him back on the basketball court.

Bulls Waiting Out Lonzo Ball’s Recovery

Karnisovas’ note about Ball being off crutches is a positive takeaway. Ball’s early recovery was marred by frequent stops whenever he tried to ramp up his intensity and, while this may be a long way from any type of progress beyond that point, he is progressing.

“He’s recovering nicely,” Karnisova said. “I think last month he got off the crutches, and he’s recovering, doing his rehab. Everything is going well.”

Still, as of Karnisovas’ appearance, it had been 525 days since Ball was healthy enough to play.

Asked if he had any “confidence” Karnisovas, said “no”.

“No, I hope eventually that you’re going to see him on a basketball court again,” said Karnisovas. “But I don’t expect him back next season.”

He also said that the team is not considering applying for the disabled player exception which would allow the Bulls to clear half of Ball’s salary off their books for this season, perhaps providing some wiggle room to further improve the team in his absence. Karnisovas’ answer still establishes the Bulls’ belief that Ball will miss the upcoming season.

An independent panel would still have to concur for the Bulls to receive relief, however. Ball is heading into the third year of a four-year, $80 million contract and has a $21.4 million player option for next season.

Rival GM Warned of Bulls’ Offseason Plans

All of this falls right in line with what a rival executive told Heavy Sports NBA insider Sean Deveney about the Bulls’ plans for this coming offseason. Karnisovas spoke of bringing back who they could and adding to improve the roster.

“They are not going to make a move for a point guard, that has not been in the pipeline for them at all,” the GM told Heavy Sports in April. “They have pretty much put everything into the idea that Lonzo is coming back and if he doesn’t, then maybe…the front office can take cover in the fact that, ‘Hey we signed a guy who got injured and that’s that’.

What that means for the rest of the offseason remains to be seen, literally as Karnisovas was posed with giving a message to potentially disappointed fans.

“I think we made a move in the draft,” he said. “I know it’s a disappointment it’s not in first round but we did. But they will have to wait I think until the free agency to see what we look like after that.”

He certainly has put the onus on himself and his staff to deliver.

The Chicago Bulls have still gone with a pick in the NBA Draft once in franchise history.

That came all the way back in 2005 and almost happened again with the franchise owning zero picks coming into the 2023 NBA Draft after previous trades and tampering violations. They did not end the night that way, however, as executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas swung a trade with the Washington Wizards.

“The Bulls are acquiring the No. 35 pick from Wizards and selecting Julian Phillips,” tweeted The Athletic and Stadium NBA insider Shams Charania on June 22. “Bulls sent a couple of second-rounders to Washington to enter the draft and pick Julian Phillips.”

Phillips is a 6-foot-7 forward out of Tennessee who averaged just 8.3 points per game this past season but is a multi-positional defender and top-tier athlete.

“Our group liked him,” Karnisovas said in his post-draft press conference via the Bulls’ Twitter feed. “He’s an ex-McDonald’s All-American, freshman – 19 years old. Multi-positional defender, one of the best athletes in the draft: 43-inch vertical. He can step in right now, probably, can defend on our level.”

The defensive aspect of Phillips’ game has not been in question. But, after he shot just 23.9% from beyond the arc this past season, there is some question about whether his jump shot will come around enough.

“He has a lot of things obviously to improve,” Karnisovas said. “But we’re looking forward to he’s very young, and he’s very talented.

It’s a very similar assessment to Dalen Terry who logged 214 total minutes as a rookie.

Derrick Jones Jr Impacted Bulls’ Draft Plans

While they might have always wanted to move into the draft at some point as was reported leading up to the event, forward Derrick Jones Jr.’s sudden change of heart impacted the Bulls’ thought process.

Jones Jr. initially told NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson that he couldn’t see any reason why he wouldn’t pick up his $3.4 million player option for next season.

Two months later, Jones changed his mind, per Charania.

“It played a bit of a factor, no doubt,” Bulls general manager Marc Eversley said. “DJ, for everything he brought to the floor – the athleticism, the length, his ability to get out and defend multiple positions. Julian fits a lot of those same attributes…they’re both very similar in terms of the way they play and style of play, and we’re excited about bringing him into the fold.”

Karnisovas did say that there is still a chance that Jones returns in free agency and also confirmed that he has the green light to push the payroll into luxury tax territory if he deems it necessary.

For anyone disappointed that they haven’t done much yet, Karnisovas says “wait and see” what they do in free agency, further putting the onus on himself to get this team back on track.

But is Phillips the kind of pick that can help them do that?

Bulls Roasted for Julian Phillips Pick

“Julian Phillips — another toolsy wing who can’t shoot. Just what the Bulls need,” tweeted Mark Karantzoulis of CHGO Bulls. “I don’t mean to complain. And I certainly don’t want to trash Phillips. But if you’re going to trade into the second round and make a move — which is good — can you do so for someone that makes sense and can actually influence the rotation?”

That was a common complaint of last season as Terry was relegated to supporting his team from the bench if he was not getting reps in the G League. He admitted that he was not prepared to have such a small role.

Phillips could follow a similar path despite both coming into the league with traits the Bulls seemingly need.

But they self-identified three-point shooting as a need and Phillips will not help with that.

While it might seem like Phillips isn’t needed, the Bulls had reason to feel otherwise.

And, while he did not shoot the ball well from long distance, he did shoot over 82% at the free throw line, offering some hope for his shot long term.

The Chicago Bulls entered the day of the 2023 NBA Draft without any draft picks; 18 years since they last went without a draft pick and just the second time in franchise history.

But rumblings of looming potential changes are on the rise.

First came word that Bulls executive vice president of basketball operation Arturas Karnisovas and Co. were checking rival teams’ temperature on a Zach LaVine trade – the asking price of which was revealed by NBA Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson – as well as that of DeMar DeRozan and it appears that those calls may have been more than exploratory.

“According to team sources, Karnišovas has the green light from ownership to steer the franchise how he sees fit,” wrote Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic on June 22. “Whichever direction he chooses is said to be his call, free of interference or influence from his bosses.”

After an aggressive start to his tenure, swapping out all but two players pre-existing his takeover in 2020 – LaVine and Coby White – Karnisovas has preached and practiced patience.

The Bulls have made only marginal additions for two trade deadlines and one full offseason.

Of their four established acquisitions in that span, only Andre Drummond is set to be on the roster next season. But, despite the apparent autonomy that Karnisovas has been granted, a rival executive told to Heavy Sports NBA insider Sean Deveney that they believe the Bulls are ultimately held back by an ownership group notorious for being thrifty.

“They can’t add salary, they can’t go over the tax,” the exec told Heavy Sports in January. “Ownership will not let them do that. That leaves them two choices – play it out with what you have this year or tear it all down completely.”

The Bulls decided to play out the season, finishing 14-9 and even winning a Play-In Tournament game but more changes have already taken place in the Eastern Conference.

As teams like the Boston Celtics continue to add to their ranks, and the Miami Heat keeps their name in the running for the next star that comes available – namely Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers – the Bulls the risk of falling even further behind the pack than they did this past season when they banked on continuity which was already a risky proposition.

Bulls Doubled-Down on Last Season

The Bulls won six fewer games and missed the playoffs entirely one season after snapping their five-year postseason drought.

Banking on continuity last offseason included quietly giving contract extensions to Karnisovas, head coach Billy Donovan, and many others in the front office on top of holding onto their top three players, DeRozan, LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic.

Karnisovas has not said who he was looking to trade away or for. But he has said that there were no deals to his liking when previously asked.

And, for the second exit interview in a row, he vowed to continue to “look at everything”.

This has seemingly included gauging the trade value of DeRozan and LaVine, even amid reports they are working with Vucevic on a new contract that could come in around $65 million over three years.

But Karnisovas has maintained a high asking price on pieces like LaVine, 28, who just signed a five-year, $215 million contract last offseason.

“One league source said the Bulls would be focused on getting a good young player, multiple first-round picks and salary filler if they decide to trade LaVine,” wrote Johnson in an article from June 19. “Another said one first-round pick and an established, high-end player might be sufficiently intriguing.”

Per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the expected return on a trade for DeRozan, 33, would be lower as he heads into the final year of his contract and the twilight of his career.

Bulls Staring Down Luxury Tax

The Bulls currently sit roughly $18.6 million below the salary cap and $47 million below the luxury tax line, per Spotrac. A new deal for Vucevic would eat up the cap space rather quickly, and then some if he does not give them a team-friendly discount.

They still need to add three-point shooting, a playmaking point guard, and frontcourt depth.

With the full nontaxpayers midlevel exception ($12.4 million) potentially at their disposal, and the bi-annual exception ($4.5 million), they have options. But the final say ultimately lies with ownership and, despite a reputation that suggests they let the front office do its job, skepticism remains about just how aggressive Karnisovas can be in addressing this team’s flaws.

The Chicago Bulls’ second attempt at continuity could be in jeopardy.

“Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. is declining his $3.3 million player option for the 2023-24 season and entering unrestricted free agency,” tweeted NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium on June 21 citing sources with knowledge of the developing situation.

Jones did leave the slightest crack that he could choose not to pick up his options during an interview with NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson from April 18.

“I’m locked in for two years. I didn’t sign for two years for no reason. So I’m here for two years,” Jones told Johnson. “I just gotta sit down with my agent and talk to him, figure things out. But I don’t see why not. I got no other plans, yet.”

Jones, 26, averaged 5.0 points and 2.4 rebounds this past season, his second with the Bulls.

He made a career-high 64 appearances while shooting 33.8% from deep – also a career-high – this past season. But Jones also saw about three fewer minutes per game compared to last season as Bulls head coach Billy Donovan often chose between him and Andre Drummond at center behind starter Nikola Vucevic depending on the matchup.

Drummond has also said that he would be picking up his option – also worth $3-plus million – but nothing has been made official just yet.

Derrick Jones Jr.’s Decision Helps Bulls’ Books

The day also brought with it news that the salary cap and luxury tax threshold for the 2023-24 season would both be higher than previously estimated with bumps of $2 million and $3 million, respectively. Even with that, the Bulls would have had to thread the needle of bringing back all of their key contributors and avoiding the luxury tax.

This does give them a little more wiggle room to work with.

Chicago currently has roughly $118 million in active payroll on the books for next season after Jones’ decision which could allow them to bring back most if not all of their remaining free agents while still ducking the luxury tax.

The one potential downside is Jones’ was one of the few contracts on the Bulls’ payroll that could be included in a trade to close any potential small salary-matching gap.

Chicago’s payroll is top-heavy which is why they have considered drastic measures.

Bulls Gauging Value of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine

While the Bulls have begun contract negotiations with Vucevic, they have been gauging the value of their two other All-Star players in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine whose on-court fit has belied what both insist is a tight friendship off the court. The Bulls previously held trade talks with the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks regarding LaVine, 28, at this year’s trade deadline.

Nothing came to fruition but Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times notes that those talks were more so “tabled” rather than there being a concrete conclusion.

DeRozan, 33, has not been mentioned as much but is heading into the final year of his contract.

Chicago is more committed to LaVine financially, and their valuation of him has reflected that. DeRozan’s value on and off the court could make him more of an asset to the Bulls than in a trade putting the Bulls’ ability to keep both, add what’s needed, and avoid the tax in focus.

The Brooklyn Nets may have just gotten some clarity on how their offseason will unfold.

Among their priorities, per general manager Sean Marks, is restricted free agent Cameron Johnson who is expected to draw plenty of interest this summer. But Johnson may have just tipped his hand on which direction he is leaning.

During an appearance on the ‘Ball Magnets Podcast’ on June 20, Johnson was asked if Brooklyn was a city to rent or buy a home in when he made the telling comments.

“I found this apartment,” Johnson said. “I had it for a certain short-term lease and, at the conclusion of free agency, I’d reevaluate and explore neighborhoods and figure out which area of Brooklyn I’d like to live in. Because there’s a lot of cool little neighborhoods, cool little pockets. That should be a fun experience.”

That is far from an official announcement but could suggest Johnson still plans on being a Net.

Brooklyn received Johnson a part of a package along with Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder – whom they immediately flipped to the Milwaukee Bucks – and a handful of draft picks from the Phoenix Suns at this year’s trade deadline for Kevin Durant.

The 27-year-old forward put up numbers – 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals in 25 regular-season appearances – that would have been career highs across a full season.

Cameron Johnson, Nets Have Mututal Interest in New Deal

Johnson, who is extremely close with the Nets’ new cornerstone in Bridges, has also made it clear that his former Suns teammate would weigh on his decision-making summer. At the same time, he also said that he did not yet have a plan for how he would approach free agency during his exit interview on April 23.

“Cam knows how we feel,” Marks said via the Nets’ YouTube channel during his end-of-season presser on April 23. “We hope he’s back…But he’s going to have decisions to make. So, at the right time, we will certainly be having those discussions with him and his agent, and we hope that Cam will be back.”

Johnson said his lease ends at the end of June which could mean a swift official resolution.

Especially if the Nets are as committed to Bridges – who has said he wants Johnson back – as league sources believe they are.

Nets Committed to Mikal Bridges

“Mikal Bridges is a player that they have that they’re going to build around,” insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on the ESPN NBA Mock Draft Special on June 20. “The kind of offers the Nets have gotten for him, I think, speaks to how valuable he is. And [he is] a player I think for Brooklyn, they keep in place when the next big star is available in a trade.”

The Nets have been linked to Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard.

Bridges and Lillard are also friends but the Blazers had the 26-year-old swingman atop their wishlist at one point. However, Brooklyn brass has made it clear they aren’t interested in parting with him leaving this potential traded stuck in the ether.

This is not the first we’ve heard about the Nets looking to build around Bridges, and their initial rejection of four first-round picks from the Memphis Grizzles at the deadline was the first sign.

“We’re talking about a young man that’s growing in front of our eyes,” Vaughn said via YES Network on YouTube on April 22. “A great learning experience that we can’t replicate unless he goes through it…I’m going to be able to look back on this and talk to him about this summer what this felt like, what it looks like going forward because he’s a part of it.”

The Chicago Bulls have not stopped at simply gauging the trade value for two-time All-Star Zach LaVine, perhaps signaling that their conversations have truly been exploratory.

“There has been growing momentum that [Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas] Karnisovas has been continuing to gauge the value a LaVine or [DeMar] DeRozan would get on the market,” wrote Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times on June 21.

This matches reports from NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson regarding LaVine.

“One league source said the Bulls would be focused on getting a good young player, multiple first-round picks and salary filler if they decide to trade LaVine,” wrote Johnson on June 19. “Another said one first-round pick and an established, high-end player might be sufficiently intriguing.”

There has not been as much rumbling about DeRozan, 33, as he heads into the final year of his three-year, $81.9 million contract. DeRozan has been consistent on the floor and a helpful guide for the younger players but the Bulls’ situation and price tag on LaVine could force their hand on the six-time All-Star.

Per Cowley, the Bulls are trying to get into the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft with their first-round pick (No. 11 overall) going to the Orlando Magic to finalize previous debts.

Karnisovas, coming off a 40-42 season, has suggested he wants to run back the same group.

But the Bulls would surpass the luxury tax if they follow through on that plan and they have only paid the tax once before. Their activity in recent days has suggested that an insider’s inkling as relayed by Sam Smith of Bulls.com may be spot on.

Bulls Might Be Ready to Change Directions

“I…heard from an insider that he believes the Bulls are done with this Big Three,” Smith wrote in the May 19 edition of his mailbag.

LaVine, 28, is signed through the 2025-26 season on a five-year, $215 million contract he signed just last offseason after his highly-anticipated venture into unrestricted free agency resulted in a swift resolution. The former Minnesota Timberwolves star took zero visits to other cities to hear pitches.

Johnson previously reported that the trade rumors have irritated LaVine.

The Bulls held talks with the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks at this year’s trade deadline and Cowley suggests the Bulls could get at least one of those teams back on the phone this summer.

“When the [New York] Knicks and Bulls did have those discussions in February, they didn’t officially conclude as much as they were tabled,” Cowley writes.

Bulls Books Blocking Further Buildout

The NBA’s salary cap will be $136 million with the luxury tax line set at $165 million. Chicago currently sits less than $14 million below the 2023-24 salary cap and $43 million below the luxury tax threshold, per Spotrac.

A new deal contract for Nikola Vucevic could come in somewhere around $65 million over three years, as Cowley reported rival executives believe.

That would eat up their cap space and leave precious little wiggle room under the tax.

Three-point shooting and a point guard are atop the list of needs, both of which are heavily impacted by the absence of Lonzo Ball for what will be the second consecutive season as he continues to recover from knee surgery. And, with his NBA future very much up in the air, the Bulls could be operating as a team with $20.4 million in dead salary cap this season.

That is Ball’s 2023-24 salary in the third year of a four-year, $80 million contract, and the injured point guard has a $21.4 million player option for next season.

The Chicago Bulls could be in need of a new starting center and their timing might be just right to land one for now and the foreseeable future.

“Deandre Ayton and the [Phoenix] Suns are no longer a good fit,” wrote Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report on June 19 in an article identifying the ‘best’ landing spots for potential trade candidates around the league. “Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers could use an upgrade at center. Add the Chicago Bulls to this list if Nikola Vučević leaves in free agency.”

Vucevic is expected to return next season with the two sides negotiating terms on a new deal.

Chicago is aiming for a three-year pact, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, while rival executives expect the deal to come in around $65 million, per a report from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Vucevic has said the Bulls will have priority in contract negotiations but has also said that he would explore his options as an unrestricted free agent.

Ayton offers a more-than-intriguing potential option if the negotiations stall.

Ayton, 24, could offer the Bulls a chance to land their next building block at best or a more suitable running mate for Zach LaVine long-term.

He averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists this past season and has averaged a double-double every year he’s been in the NBA. When he’s locked in, Ayton can look like one of the best young players in the league but his focus and effort have been issues in Phoenix.

Deandre Ayton’s Reputation Precedes Him

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton was selected ahead of Mavericks star Luka Docic and Blazers’ youngster Anfernee Simons but could soon be partnered with the former or traded for the latter. That is unless the Bulls decide to change directions amid an opportunity that might not have been available before Phoenix landed Beal.

Ayton and former Suns head coach Monty Williams did not see eye-to-eye.

“Monty didn’t want him,” reported Arizona Sports 97.8 FM’s John Gambadoro on the ‘HoopsHype Podcast’ on June 19. “He wanted them to trade him to Indiana for Myles Turner. He didn’t like coaching Ayton.”

Like Williams, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is known to be a “player’s coach”. Also like Williams, however, Donovan’s rotations have been the subject of some scrutiny. And, while Ayton would be the most talented big the Bulls have had in quite some time, his inconsistent effort might not sit well with Donovan.

Donovan benched LaVine from a game against the Orlando Magic in November and stood by his decision even amid some public disagreement from the Bulls’ franchise cornerstone.

Billy Donovan Holds Stars Accountable

“I’m one of the best players on the court regardless of who’s playing,” LaVine said after the game, via Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “I think that I should be on the court in crunch time, and that’s just the mentality I have.”

The two sides appeared to have patched things up shortly thereafter, and certainly by season’s end amid LaVine and the Bulls’ respective late-season surges.

But the situation could have devolved quickly just as Ayton’s seemingly has.

It’s fair to wonder if investing in a player who has already shown a tendency to check out of possessions mentally is worth bringing into a situation where more will be expected of him and the scrutiny will be much more intense. Knowing how Vucevic fits in alongside LaVine and DeMar DeRozan – even if it has been less than stellar – likely goes far with this front office.

The Chicago Bulls have moved very much like a team pushing continuity again but that may just be their message to the public.

“One league source said the Bulls would be focused on getting a good young player, multiple first-round picks and salary filler if they decide to trade LaVine,” wrote NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson on June 19. “Another said one first-round pick and an established, high-end player might be sufficiently intriguing.”

First got word that the Bulls were “quietly gauging” the interest in LaVine came from Yahoo Sports NBA insider Jake Fischer who added that they were likely looking for a package that exceeded what the Washington Wizards got from the Phoenix Suns for Bradley Beal.

Johnson’s report certainly tracks with that, though he notes this could all be exploratory.

The Suns sent Chris Paul and Landry Shamet to the Wizards along with multiple second-round picks and pick swaps for Beal.

LaVine, 28, is nearly two years younger and will cost nearly $30 million less over the next four years. He is also the last remaining piece from the Bulls’ trade sending out Jimmy Butler, now of the Miami Heat, a distinction that can only carry so far for the organization given a new front office is in charge than the one that acquired him.

He is one of just two players on the roster from the previous group.

Zach LaVine a Rarity on the Bulls’ Roster

The other is former No. 7 overall pick Coby White, a restricted free agent who has gone from on the trading block to potentially being the Bulls’ starting point guard going into next season. His connection with LaVine could even be a reason to keep him in the building.

Chicago posted a plus-1.2 net rating with White on the floor this past season, ranking in the 60th percentile, per Cleaning The Glass.

They had a plus-24.2 net rating when he was slotted in alongside LaVine, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic which was good enough to rank in the 94th percentile. The only qualifying lineup (minimum of 100 non-garbage time possessions) including White that had a better net rating had Patrick Beverley in Caruso’s place.

Beverley has said that it is “likely” he plays elsewhere next season, and Lonzo Ball is set to miss his second consecutive season due to a knee injury. A LaVine trade could have a ripple effect on White’s future.

Bulls Possibly Picking a Timeline

Trading LaVine would seem to indicate the Bulls are considering blowing up the roster or even taking given they will have full control of their first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. But, rather than a complete teardown, they could be looking to replenish their assets while keeping the younger players in a competitive environment.

Players like White, fellow guard Ayo Dosunu, and even Patrick Williams figure to see an uptick in opportunity without LaVine in the lineup.

The Bulls did post a better rating with the LaVine off the floor (plus-2.5) than on (plus-0.8).

LaVine is an elite scorer on a roster that also features two other high-level scorers, and none of them are particularly adept defensively. Chicago is going to be flirting with paying into the luxury tax, which owner Jerry Reinsdorf has never done so changes could be looming.

The Brooklyn Nets caught a stray following the Phoenix Suns’ latest blockbuster trade for a star.

Just four months after swinging a trade with the Nets for Kevin Durant, the Suns have unloaded virtually all of their remaining draft assets, sending them to the Washington Wizards along with Chris Paul and Landry Shamet for Bradley Beal, guard Jordan Goodwin, G Leaguer Isaiah Todd, a handful of second-round picks, and pick swaps.

Despite not being involved, Portland Trail Blazers star big man Jusuf Nurkic called them out.

“Brooklyn situation all over again,” Nurkic tweeted on June 18, also retweeting an image mocking the Suns’ new top-heavy lineup that was also shared by teammate Damian Lillard’s trainer Phil Beckner.

The Nets, of course, only traded Durant after he forced their hand following Kyrie Irving’s trade demand which Brooklyn granted. A big three that was supposed to be Durant, Irving, and James Harden only saw the floor together for 17 games and has seemingly made the Nets at least slightly more cautious about jumping right back into the star chase.

Brooklyn traded rights to its first-round picks through 2027 to the Houston Rockets for Harden.

They also broke up a playoff team to get Durant and Irving in 2019. But, even before Durant, the Nets were on the wrong side of a trade with the Boston Celtics that is regarded as one of the worst roster-building experiments in recent memory.

They tried to pair Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Piere alongside Deron Williams and Brook Lopez but that only lasted one season before they pivoted away from Pierce.

Garnett lasted 42 games into the following season before getting traded.

The Nets lost in the Easter Conference Finals that first season and were bounced in the first round the following year They proceeded to endure a three-year postseason drought but are now riding a streak of five consecutive postseason appearances including holding onto the six-seed even after the drain of losing Durant and Irving at the deadline.

Three of the picks they traded for the Celtics’ vets were turned into Jaylen Brown, Markelle Fultz, and Colin Sexton, each of whom would be solid fits with this current group.

Nets ‘Probably Very Happy’ at Suns’ Trade for Bradley Beal

The Nets were among nearly a dozen teams who were believed to be acceptable trade destination

“Ironically, I think the Nets are probably a team that was very happy about today’s trade,” said ESPN NBA insider Tim MacMahon on the ‘Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective’ podcast on June 18. “Because what you have now…[it’s] all-in on a very short window. And those picks that [the Suns] gave up to get KD extend beyond that very short window.”

Phoenix traded its first-round picks in 2023 (No. 21 overall), 2025, 2027, and 2029, as well as the option to swap first-rounders in 2028, a pair of second-rounders (2028 and 2029), Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cameron Johnson to the Nets for Durant.

Durant, 34, was injured at the time and hurt himself again after the trade. He has made no more than 55 appearances during the regular season since 2018-19.

He has suffered a series of lower body injuries in that span.

Beal, 29, has not made more than 60 appearances in that span while Devin Booker, 26, made a career-low 53 appearances this past season. The significance of the regular season has been de-emphasized in recent years but they were just two losses from being in the Play-In Tournament where the Miami Heat proved anything can happen.

Nets Potentially ‘More Appealing’ Trade Partner for Blazers

Beal isn’t the only star the Nets have been linked to with Lillard also being on their radar. Lillard has also named Brooklyn as one of the destinations he would prefer if he were to request one which he has not at this time.

The other top team on his list, the Heat, could be at a disadvantage since Lillard does not have the no-trade clause that allowed Beal to force Washington’s hand.

“The Nets…could offer as many as 11 first-round picks, including nine unprotected,” wrote Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald on June 19. “If the Nets offer five or more first-round picks, the Heat’s chances could hinge on Lillard specifically asking the Blazers to send him only to Miami. And it’s unclear if Lillard would do that.”

If stars on exorbitant contracts are going for discounts, the Nets may still be in luck.

The Chicago Bulls are set to keep one of their own, according to sources around the league.

“The belief among various NBA executives…is that Nikola Vucevic, one of the top free agents on the market, will re-sign with the Chicago Bulls,” wrote Michael Scotto of HoopsHype on June 18. “Vucevic’s projected free agency value, according to those executives, is three years in the $65 million range.”

Vucevic and Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas have both expressed a desire to strike a new deal and recently began holding discussions.

The Bulls want to ink the former two-time All-Star (2018-19, 2020-21) to a three-year pact, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. And NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson speculated that “three years, $66 to 72 million” would be within the range of a “reasonable” deal.

Vucevic, Scotto notes, cost plenty to acquire including Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner (as the No. 8 overall pick in 2021), and the No. 11 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft (as a future pick).

“Letting Vucevic walk in free agency would be tough from an optics perspective,” Scotto adds.

Karnisovas has practiced patience since sending out the assets for Vucevic and more to bring in DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball, the latter of whom is on pace to miss his second consecutive full season with a knee injury. The Bulls have only added Patrick Beverley, Goran Dragic, Andre Drummond, and Tristan Thompson as proven additions in the last two transaction windows.

But it’s not just optics driving Karnisovas’ decision-making.

Nikola Vucevic’s Value is in His Durability and Versatility

“One of the more durable centers… he has played three straight seasons of 70-plus games, including 82 this year,” wrote ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks. “His 225 games played ranks eighth among all centers. Vucevic had a career-high 57.6% effective field goal percentage and averaged at least 10 rebounds for a fifth straight season.”

He has also been productive ranking third in double-doubles this past season, averaging 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 2022-23.

The polarizing big man also shot 52% from the floor and a hair under 35% from beyond the arc.

“He’ll be one of the top centers on the marketplace,” reported The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania on ‘Around the Association’ on May 30. “He’s had to adjust his role a little bit…He’s obviously going to be pretty sought after on the open marketplace.”

That value is certainly not lost on the Bulls who would be left with few avenues toward improvement should he walk.

“We’ll see what happens when the time comes to discuss a new contract,” Vucevic told Scotto on February 9. “I feel good here. I’m in a good place. If they want to continue, we can come to an agreement. I’d consider it for sure, but also, being a free agent, I’ll have opportunities to look at other stuff.”

Bulls Center Rotation Potentially Locked In

If things continue to progress with Vucevic at this current rate, the Bulls could have their starting center and his top backup locked in for the 2023-24 season after Drummond said he plans on picking up his $3.4 million player option.

“That’s what my plan is,” Drummond said on the ‘Paper Route’ podcast on June 6. “I think, where I’m at now today and how I feel, I really love being in Chicago.”

This frees Karnsiovas up to focus on other needs like a point guard and three-point shooting.

The Brooklyn Nets are in no hurry to get back into the star-chasing game but they could still get involved in one of the potential trades involving a star this offseason.

The New Orleans Pelicans have shown an interest in acquiring a top-three pick in the 2023 NBA Draft to land Overtime Elite point guard Scoot Henderson, per Shams Charania of The Athletics and Stadium. And Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin says they are looking to acquire some win-now help around Damian Lillard rather than trade him away.

That could create an opportunity for the Nets to benefit.

Nets get:

– Anfernee Simons
– Keon Johnson

Pelicans get:

– Dorian Finney-Smith
– Patty Mills
– Royce O’Neale
– 2023 1st Rd Pick (No. 3 overall via POR)

Trail Blazers get:

– Zion Williamson

“The Blazers face a dilemma with the No. 3 pick: trade it for veteran help…or pick somebody who can lead the franchise in the post-Dame era,” writes Kevin Pelton of ESPN, who proposed the deal on June 16. “Simons doesn’t make much sense for the Pelicans…so this construction flips him to Brooklyn as a lead playmaker in exchange for 3-and-D wings.”

Portland was rumored to have Nets swingman Mikal Bridges atop their wishlist, per Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report on May 29. But Brooklyn brass has made it clear they are not interested in dealing him away, per Alex Schiffer of The Athletic.

This gets the ultra-talented but oft-injured Williamson while the Nets build out a new core.

The Blazers have to add money – like sending Nassir Little’s $6.2 million salary to New Orleans – for this to work, per Spotrac’s Roster Manager tool.

Breaking Down The Potential Return

Simons, 24, averaged a career-high 21.1 points on 58.1% true shooting and hit 37.7% of his triples with 4.1 rebounds – also a career-high – and 2.6 assists. He is heading into the second year of a four-year, $100 million contract and has shown some of the same explosive scoring traits Lillard has.

But he is also showing budding chops as an on-ball defender.

Brooklyn would benefit greatly with Simons playing that kind of defense with Bridges and Cameron Johnson – assuming he re-signs this offseason – on the wings and then adding his scoring punch to the group.

Johnson, 21, was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft whom the Blazers acquired in the trade that sent Robert Covington and Norman Powell to the Los Angeles Clippers.

He is heading into the third year of his rookie deal after averaging 4.7/1.5/1.1 in 2022-23.

Simons in particular could fit what Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn already identified as a need for this offseason.

Nets Seeking Downhill Threat

During his postgame press conference after Game 4 of their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 22, Vaughn listed a few things he will be looking to add this offseason.

Among them was a true downhill threat with Brooklyn’s roster currently featuring plenty of play finishers but few creators.

Simons could be that.

And, at the price of three players the Nets could be looking to move anyway, this be an even easier deal to agree to for them.

Finney-Smith, 30, has openly talked about possibly being traded this offseason while the Nets have already rejected multiple offers for both him and O’Neale, 30, perhaps for an opportunity such as this. Mills, 34, found himself only getting spot minutes this past season and has long been considered a potential trade candidate.

The Chicago Bulls’ offseason plans may be taking shape.

With limited funds, the Bulls are fortunate they don’t have too many decisions to make on free agents, though the ones they do have to make are critical. One of those questions is at point guard where, for the second offseason in a row, the Bulls have questions with Lonzo Ball shelved for the foreseeable future.

Guard Ayo Dosunmu opened last season as the starter and was working off the bench by the end of the season but could get another shot to prove himself.

“Dosunmu is a restricted free agent who has limited market value after a backsliding season,” wrote Sam Smith of Bulls.com on June 16. “But he’s well-liked by the coaching staff and management and expected to receive a reasonable contract for two or three seasons.”

The Bulls selected Dosunmu No. 38 overall with their only selection of the 2021 NBA Draft.

Dosunmu impressed as a rookie with his hardnosed defense, ability to get to the rim, and run an NBA offense – he averaged 3.3 assists to 1.4 turnovers with 8.8 points and 2.8 rebounds. He was also durable on a team that dealt with myriad injuries, leading the team with 77 appearances and starting 40 games mostly in place of Ball.

Ayo Dosunmu Working Toward Bounceback Season

This past season was a different story as Dosunmu averaged a similar 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists to 1.2 turnovers.

But his three-point efficiency fell with Dosunmu connecting on just 31.2% of his deep looks after knocking down 37.6% of his threes as his rookie. He shot 30.4% from outside as a starter and 33.3% when coming off the bench this past season.

He has also shared video clips of himself working on various shooting drills this offseason.

One anonymous executive told Heavy Sports NBA insider Sean Deveney the Bulls could wait it out with Dosunmu and White in restricted free agency.

“A lot of their situation depends on what happens with Nikola Vucevic and then Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White,” the exec told Heavy Sports. “Those (last) two guys are restricted, and maybe Chicago plays hardball with them.”

The cash-strapped Bulls have already begun contract talks with Vucevic and are said to be “all in” on bringing back White which would seemingly leave Dosunmu on the outside looking in; a drastic change to his stock from last offseason. But, if Smith’s speculation tracks, the Bulls could be looking at bringing all of the major contributors from this past season into next season.

Bulls Finances Come Into Focus

The Bulls are $39.7 million below the luxury tax line but deals for Vucevic – which NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson speculated could be worth $22 to $25 million annually would take them right past that.

Chicago has only paid the luxury tax once in franchise history.

That has long been viewed as the thing holding them back the most, though ESPN 1000’s David Kaplan reports that they are willing to go into the tax for the “right opportunity”.

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has said for two years running that he will explore all options to improve the team over the offseason. It will be hard to do that and avoid the luxury tax so the Bulls’ bluff could be called either way.

The Brooklyn Nets’ interest in the latest star seeking a new home could be for naught.

“Developing: Washington is in serious talks with two finalists – Miami [Heat] and Phoenix [Suns] – on a Bradley Beal trade,” tweeted Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium on June 17. “The Suns have emerged as a serious threat for Beal, who holds a no-trade clause.”

Brooklyn’s interest in Beal came to light just one day before Charania’s update on the situation via Bleacher Report NBA insider Chris Haynes on the ‘#thisleague UNCUT’ podcast. And there was some speculation that the Nets could be a team Beal would waive his no-trade clause for to facilitate a deal.

Now, in light of Charania’s new report, Haynes is noting that the outlines of a package to send Beal to the Suns could be in place.

“Phoenix can offer trade package of Deandre Ayton and Landry Shamet to Washington for Bradley Beal,” Haynes tweeted. “But it’s believed a Chris Paul, Shamet deal is what it would take if Beal chose to force his way to Suns via his no-trade clause.”

Haynes’ co-host, Marc Stein of The Stein Line, said Miami was Beal’s preferred destination.

But the bottom line appears to be that the Nets are on the outside looking in with Beal wielding more power than other players thanks to the no-trade clause. This new update further hinders what Washington can get back with Beal’s five-year, $251 million contract already limiting the list of potentially interested teams even without him having the final say.

Nets Content With Continuity

As tough as it may be for Brooklyn to potentially be out of the running so soon, Nets general manager Sean Marks has already made it clear that he is in no rush to make another blockbuster trade. Brooklyn is less than $16 million below the luxury tax, per Spotrac, and has to make a decision on Camron Johnson that could cost them upwards of $18 million annually.

“Continuity is big. It’s something that’s not lost on us, for sure,” Marks said during his exit interview in April. “I don’t think we’re in any hurry. We’re not going to be pushed to make changes just for the sake of making changes.”

The Nets avoided trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last offseason, working themselves into the Eastern Conference title contenders they were billed to be.

That they ended up having to dismantle those title hopes mid-season is likely not lost on Marks.

Brooklyn’s Last Superstar Experiment Took a Toll

New Nets cornerstone Mikal Bridges might have hit the nail on the head in explaining how he is different from the previous Nets stars because he mostly stays out of the spotlight. He also noted that the city needed a refresh after a tumultuous four-year span that also briefly included Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden.

“I think Brooklyn itself had a lot going on,” Bridges said on ‘The Pivot Podcast’ on May 20. “They had Kyrie, Harden, and KD and then all that happening, and Kyrie[‘s suspension], and all that stuff. I think they were just ready for refreshing.”

Beal has been a low-maintenance star in Washington, not making much of a fuss.

But, despite that and the Nets’ need for a No. 1 scoring option, the Nets still appear to be on the outside looking in on this one.

The speculation around Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine has reached a fever pitch.

“Zach LaVine for Kawhi Leonard,” proposed The Ringer’s Bill Simmons on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’ on June 15. “I have them right next to each other in trade value. Kawhi to Chicago? [He] doesn’t like cold weather.”

Bulls get:

– Kawhi Leonard

Clippers get:

– Zach LaVine

“I think the [Los Angeles] Clippers are good,” Simmons said. “I think they’re f****** done with the Kawhi roller coaster and just not knowing stuff and being in the dark.”

Leonard, 31 averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists this past season while shooting 51.2% from the floor, 41.6% from beyond the arc, and 87.1% from the free throw line – a line which has only been replicated five other times in NBA history, per Stathead. A noted defensive ace, Leonard also averaged 1.4 steals per game.

He averaged 31 points on nearly 52% shooting from the floor over his final six games.

One of the best players in the league when he’s healthy, is one of the rare players whose playoff scoring stats are higher than his numbers in the regular season where he has become the poster child for load management.

Kawhi Leonard’s Injury History Has Hindered Clippers

Leonard has made no more than 57 appearances in any season since 2018-19 when he led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA title in franchise history. That includes just 52 appearances this past regular season and a torn meniscus suffered in the Clippers’ first-round series against the Phoenix Suns that caused him to miss their final three games of the series.

Los Angeles is set to foot the second-largest luxury tax bill in the league, per Spotrac, right behind the Golden State Warriors, with over $174 million due in additional payments on top of the second-highest payroll in the league.

The difference between the two rosters is an obvious and critical one: Golden State was able to justify such an exorbitant bill because that lofty spending has yielded four titles.

L.A. has made the Western Conference Finals once in Leonard’s tenure and missed the postseason entirely in 2021-22 when he missed the entire season with a torn ACL. And, as Simmons’ co-host Joe House noted, he also pushed for them to trade Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a handful of draft picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Paul George in 2019-20.

George, 33, has made no more than the 56 appearances he did this past season since arriving.

Los Angeles is 110-51 when Leonard plays (33-19 in 2023-23), per Statmuse. That is a .683 winning percentage, and it could be the biggest driving factor if the Bulls truly wanted to overlook such an extended track record of availability.

He is heading into the third year of a four-year, $176.2 million contract and has a $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 campaign.

As of last season, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was America’s richest sports owner, per Axios.

Paying Leonard, an L.A. native, might not be as much of an issue as the new CBA‘s looming punitive measures against those teams who do spend.

Zach LaVine’s Injury History Overblown

LaVine, 28, missed four of the Bulls’ first 11 contests this past season following an arthroscopic procedure during the offseason. He missed just one more contest the rest of the way – the Bulls’ penultimate game of the regular season, a win over the Dallas Mavericks on April 7.

He was solid after that – 25.3 points, 37% 3P – but struggled in his final two regular-season appearances and in the Bulls’ Play-In Tournament loss to the Miami Heat. LaVine has made no fewer than 58 appearances since that injury-shorted 2017-18 season including setting a new high for his Bulls career with 77 appearances in 2022-23 and is three years younger than Leonard.

The issue for Simmons and House was Lavine’s record with the Bulls.

LaVine — who lives in L.A. in the offseason — is 146-203 (.418) in six seasons with the Bulls and has only played in four playoff games in his nine-year career. He was injured to begin his career in Chicago, missing the first 42 games of the 2017-18 season.

They are still just 137-188 (.421) with him since his first fully healthy season with some rebuilding teams along the way. The Bulls are 101-101 (.500) with LaVine – who signed a five-year, $215 million contract last offseason – since 2020-21. That has not stopped the Bulls from gauging his trade value which they also did at the trade deadline.

Are the Bulls willing to trade the few additional years of LaVine and risk another star with knee issues for the chance at a higher ceiling now and, perhaps, a salary cap reset after 2024-25?

The Brooklyn Nets could be prepared to bid on Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal. During the ‘#thisleague UNCUT’ podcast on June 15, host Marc Stein of the Stein Line presented a list of teams he expects to get into the running for the three-time All-Star.

Washington would work with Beal on a trade if they rebuild, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Stein notes that the Miami Heat are the “most intriguing” to Beal while going on to eliminate the New York Knicks. He added that he does not believe the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers would even get into the running for Beal who is owed over $200 million over the next four seasons and has a no-trade clause limiting where Washington can send him.

“I would throw Brooklyn in there as well as a team that could potentially get in the mix,” Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports said adding the all-important caveat, “if Beal approved it.”

The no-trade clause in Beal’s contract not only limits where Washington can send him. It also effectively limits what they can get back and, if he makes his perceived feelings about Miami public, it could further diminish the Wizards’ negotiating power.

Beal was not the only player able to veto a trade this past season. But he is just the 10th in NBA history to receive one, signing a five-year, $251 million contract last summer under former Wizards team president and general manager Tommy Sheppard and now finds himself faced with the possibility of relocation.

“Ignoring asset packages and their own needs, what teams do we think Bradley Beal would waive his no-trade clause for,” tweeted Sam Quinn of CBS Sports on June 14. “I think there are 11 definite ‘yes’ votes.”

While Sacramento did not make Quin’s speculatory list, the Nets did.

Haynes also reported that Beal was granted permission to speak with interested teams noting the Heat and Milwaukee Bucks are set to meet with Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein.

Why Brooklyn Would Buy Into Bradley Beal

The Nets don’t have control of their first-round picks until 2028 so going into tank mode is not a feasible option. The best player on their roster, Mikal Bridges, is also young enough to build around at 26 years old but not young enough to go into a rebuild either, and the Nets are looking to retain his friend, forward Cameron Johnson.

“You’ve got some interesting pieces…Why not if you think you can get him,” said Spotrac contributor Keith Smith on ‘The NBA Front Office Show’ on June 16. “My question is: How are you gonna get him?”

The answer to that could depend on where he lands in the pecking order on his next team.

Brooklyn could offer up any number of packages that fill the salary requirements of a trade for Beal but they might fall short in terms of quality.

The first-round picks the Nets do have come from perennial playoff teams, Smith notes.

Sean Marks Could Opt for Patience

The Nets also wouldn’t be looking to trade away pieces such as Bridges or Johnson, in Smith’s estimation, instead looking to add him into what they are building. General manager Sean Marks spoke about not chasing a star just because and possibly letting the group jell next season during his exit interview on April 23.

There is interest around the league in veteran forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale. But the Nets don’t have to make a decision on them – or anyone else of consequence other than Johnson until the trade deadline next season at the earliest.

The Nets could very well pick a direction this offseason. But which direction they will choose still seems very much up in the air.

News of the Chicago Bulls actively shopping Zach LaVine caused quite a stir but one insider believes they may be getting back less-than-tantalizing responses.

“I don’t know who’s trading for that contract,” said The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor on ‘The Mismatch’ podcast on June 16. “He’s making $40 million coming season. He’ll be making $49 million ‘26-’27 when he’s 31 years old.”

LaVine, 28, admittedly started the season slow after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his knee that prevented him from doing his usual offseason routine. But he ranked 17th in the NBA after the calendar tuned to 2023, per NBA.com, averaging 26.4 points on 62.7% true shooting while knocking down 37.0% of his looks from beyond the arc.

He also averaged 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists (to 2.6 turnovers) in that span.

“Until training camp, I didn’t pick up a basketball,” LaVine said, per NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson in December.

“By the way, he’s also got a 15% trade kicker in the deal too,” O’Connor noted. “I just don’t know who’s going to make a move for that deal.”

The Bulls won six fewer games this past season than in 2021-22 as they dealt with inconsistency and an unconventional dynamic on the floor between LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, both of whom insist they are still good and committed to making the partnership work.

“I think everybody goes through ups and downs, just like every team does,” LaVine said of the reported friction in the locker room in December. “Obviously if we’re not winning games, not everybody’s going to be happy. It’s not going to look as good as it was before. It’s all glitter and show when you’re winning games.”

If the interest in LaVine is anything like the rumor mill, there will be plenty of suitors.

Bulls Shopped Zach LaVine at Trade Deadline

After an offseason of speculation regarding LaVine’s free agency, he re-signed on a five-year, $215 million contract without taking another visit. The Bulls were said to have taken calls on the two-time All-Star at the deadline with at least the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

Those constant rumors are said to have gotten under the supremely confident LaVine’s skin which could be an impetus behind trying to find him a new home.

“Several rival executives…at the combine are skeptical about the long-term marriage between Zach LaVine and the Bulls,” Johnson wrote on May 25 from the 2023 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. “LaVine, who has been loyal to the Bulls, has grown tired of consistently landing in trade rumors.”

Johnson noted that the rumors about the Knicks were “overblown” but did not mention the Nets.

LaVine’s contract is the richest in Bulls franchise history. Any shift away from him will be a massive change in direction regardless of what happens with the rest of the pieces on the roster where there remains just as much uncertainty.

Zach LaVine’s Prime Working Against Bulls

LaVine is ready to win now but the Bulls are not, and the gap between them and a title contender like the Miami Heat could be much further than their 14-9 finish to the regular season or their close Play-In Tournament loss to the Heat may have led them to believe. That’s why LaVine may be their best path toward building up to that contender’s status.

DeRozan, 33, is heading into the final year of a three-year, $81.9 million contract. Teams aren’t typically chomping at the bit to trade for an aging star they will have to pay after one year.

Center Nikola Vucevic, 32, is an unrestricted free agent, though talks for a new deal have begun.

If the two sides strike a new deal, the only way the Bulls could trade him before next season would be to pull off a sign-and-trade. But the market for aging, offense-only big men is also not as lustrous as it would be for an uber-athletic, elite-level scorer like LaVine.

Meanwhile, DeRozan and Vucevic might be more valuable as stewards for the next generation of Bulls players than co-stars alongside LaVine.

The Bulls’ trio played together more than any other trio and had a net rating of minus-0.4.

Could this be the start of a heel turn for Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges?

The former Villanova and Phoenix Suns swingman has done nothing but show his affable side to fans even amid a world-changing trade that shipped him across the country. But everybody has their breaking point.

“Yall cry and whine too much @ all nba twitter fans,” Bridges tweeted on June 15. “Happy Thursday.”

To Bridges’ point, Twitter and social media, in general, have often been a great place to express one’s ideas but not a great forum for civilized discourse. Bridges has generally kept his social vitriol to his former teammates or rival baseball teams (he’s a Philadelphia Phillies fan) and has touted being different from former Nets stars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.

Well, this latest display was right out of Durant’s playbook according to one fan.

“I’m the total opposite of all them dudes,” Bridges said on ‘The Pivot Podcast’ on May 20. “You’re never gonna catch me off-camera doing some crazy s***.”

Bridges has been appreciative of the love he’s been shown since coming to Brooklyn so this message would seem to be solely for the NBA Twitter crowd. Still, it is a bit of a different look for Bridges in the short time he’s been a Net.

Mikal Bridges Declines Invite From Knicks’ Josh Hart

Bridges was up to his usual activity earlier with former Villanova teammate Josh Hart, now of the New York Knicks, trying to put him onto some country music via a playlist on a streaming service on June 15. Just one day prior, Hart tweeted out that country music “isn’t that bad” which Bridges quote tweeted with a message for Hart to “lose his number”.

This time, Bridges’ message was much shorter.

Bridges also reached out to former Suns teammate, Cameron Payne, with whom he apparently had a friend wager. The Phillies took the final game of a four-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 15, their third straight win of the series.

“Can I get my money,” Bridges tweeted, tagging Payne in the post. “Go fightins.”

An earlier tweet celebrating the game’s 5-4 final score from Bridges even drew the attention of the Phillies’ social media team who had a response.

These are much more in line with what we’ve seen from Bridges online. Even his message for Payne was tamer than some of the other stuff he has said to Suns big man Jock Landale and Hart.

Mikal Bridges’ ‘Twin’ Joining Him on Team USA

“Brooklyn Nets F Cam Johnson has committed to play for Team USA’s FIBA World Cup team this summer in the Philippines, reported ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski on June 15. “He’ll join Nets teammate Mikal Bridges on USA Basketball’s developing plans for a 12-man roster.”

Johnson joked that Bridges – who has not missed a game he was eligible to play in since high school – has been in every NBA game he’s played in during his exit interview on April 23.

He was talking about NBA but he will now be able to include international tilts in the ledger.

The Chicago Bulls could be looking to make a significant pivot.

Their messaging this offseason has been about trying to bring everyone back but Yahoo Sports NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that they are looking into moving one of their stars.

“The Chicago Bulls…have started contacting teams, quietly gauging the trade interest in Zach LaVine,” Fischer wrote on June 15. “It remains to be seen just how willing Chicago is to part ways with LaVine, or if it receives a commensurate offer for his services.”

LaVine, a back-to-back All-Star the previous two seasons, started the 2022-23 campaign slowly coming off of an arthroscopic procedure last offseason. But he finished the year putting up his typical All-Star-caliber numbers averaging 26.3 points on 50.5% shooting overall and 38.3 % of his looks from beyond the arc over his final 53 regular season appearances.

He is heading into the second year of a five-year, $215 million max contract.

“Multiple teams have indicated the Bulls are holding a steep valuation for LaVine,” added Fischer. “One that’s likely to exceed what Washington can ultimately net for [Bradley] Beal.”

This marks the second consecutive transaction window that LaVine had been rumored on the trading block. Chicago was said to have held at least cursory discussions with both the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks.

The Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers have all also been linked to LaVine in previous trade rumors.

New Rumors Might Not Sit Well With Zach LaVine

LaVine has grown “tired” of the constant trade rumors, per NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson on May 25, perhaps because he did not so much as take a visit with another team as one of the top free agents on the market last offseason. He’s also clashed with head coach Billy Donovan who benched LaVine after the latter’s poor performance in a loss to the Orlando Magic.

The on-cour fit between LaVine and teammate DeMar DeRozan has also come with turbulence.

But he and DeRozan have remained friends and insist their on-court partnership can be a winning one.

Still, the Bulls could view LaVine as being in between their two timelines with their roster currently constructed as it is.

DeRozan, 33, is heading into the final year of a three-year, $81.9 million contract while center Nikola Vucevic is an unrestricted free agent, though talks on a new deal have already begun with the 32-year-old pivot.

Those two are likely to bring back the kind of value LaVine could in a trade with the rest of the Bulls’ roster either unproven or possessing a limited ceiling. Trading LaVine could be the Bulls’ best path toward replenishing their young talent and war chest of draft picks that were depleted putting this roster together.

Fischer’s notes on Beal and the Bulls’ valuation of LaVine could be the keys, however.

Beal is going into the second year of a five-year, $251 million contract with a $57.1 million player option in the final season.

The Bulls could be assessing LaVine’s value amid news that Beal and the Washington Wizards could work together on a trade if they rebuild, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. LaVine, 28, is nearly two full years younger and will cost nearly $30 million less over the next four years.

Patrick Beverley: Zach LaVine is an ‘NBA 2K Created Player’

During an interview with Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns on the ‘Pat Bev Podcast with Rone’ on June 14, Bulls’ free agent Patrick Beverley compared LaVine to the popular ‘NBA 2K’ video game.

“That m***********’s cold.,” Beverley said. “He’s a real NBA 2K created player,” Beverley told Towns.

Towns called LaVine “one of the best scorers” he’s “ever seen”.

Beverley has been a big proponent of LaVine’s since arriving and even pointed to his arrival for a post-All-Star break surge for the former No. 13 overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. Trading LaVine would be a massive change of direction for the franchise even if they hold onto DeRozan – who has been great with the younger players – and Vucevic.

It did not take much prompting from Chicago Bulls free agent Patrick Beverley to get Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns talking about Zach LaVine. And the three-time All-Star was effusive in his praise.

“I played with Zach LaVine,” Beverley told Towns on the ‘Pat Bev Podcast with Rone’ on June 14. “You played with Zach LaVine. That m***********’s cold.”

From there, it was a lot of Towns sounding like Beverley when he first signed with the Bulls.

“What? He’s one of the best scorers I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’m a scorer,” an animated Towns said. “I’m a scorer and I’ve never seen some of the s*** that he do. And he got no feelings for pressure or nothing. It’s just straight bucket work…His three ball’s so pure. He worked so hard on his game.”

A December 18 blowout loss for the Bulls against the Timberwolves serves as a good split for the two-time All-Star, LaVine.

LaVine averaged 21.8 points while shooting 44.1% overall and 36.0% from deep over his first 24 appearances of the season, missing four games as he worked his way back into shape from arthroscopic surgery over the offseason.

He averaged 26.2 points, shot 50.5% from the floor, and hit 38.3% of his threes from then on.

“He’s a real NBA 2K created player,” Beverley said.

“You be forgetting he tore his ACL,” said Towns. “The way he be moving, and the way he be working out, you don’t be thinking he needs to take it easy. And he grinds – I worked out with him in Seattle with his pops. Man, that man was running football fields. I was like, ‘No’. He was doing the Tim Hardaway joints. He cold.”

Asked what the “Tim Hardaway” joints were, Towns explained the cardio workout familiar to all athletes across all sports.

Beverley said the same things when he first arrived and urged LaVine to focus on scoring.

“I seen today a couple shots where he kind of hesitated,” Beverley said after joining the team in February via the Bulls YouTube channel. “I told him, your job here is not to pass at all. We don’t need you to pass, we need you to put the ball in the hole at an elite level.”

LaVine has often touted the work he puts in during the offseason as the reason he has so much confidence in his game, even in the face of added scrutiny after signing a five-year, $215 million max contract last offseason. He even signed the deal without taking any other visits in free agency.

The Bulls acquired LaVine from Minnesota in a package for now-Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler on draft night in 2017.

Towns also got into his future in Minnesota.

Proposed Trade Lands Karl-Anthony Towns on Bulls

“I’m gonna keep it simple like this: The rumors are as true or as false as Minnesota makes them to be,” Towns said.

There are conflicting reports about Towns’ future in Minnesota as his cryptic response to the rumors may have led on. If he does come available, the Bulls’ best trade package figures to look something like this:

Bulls get:

– Karl-Anthony Towns

Timberwolves get:

– DeMar DeRozan
– Alex Caruso
– 2024 1st Rd Pick (Lottery protected, via POR)
– 2028 1st Rd Pick
– 2030 1st Rd Pick

Towns, 27, averaged 20.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this past season, shooting 49.5% from the floor and 36.6% from beyond the arc. It was just the 19th time a player has averaged at least 20.0 points, 8.0 boards, and 4.0 assists while shooting 49% from the floor and 36% from three or better in NBA history, per Stathead.

It also came in just 29 games with Towns suffering a calf injury that cost him most of the season.

He is going into the final year of a five-year, $158 million contract but will begin a four-year, $224 million supermax contract after next season.

The Bulls Should Make Another Call to Minnesota

The deal above likely gets outbid by a team with control of their draft picks sooner, though the Bulls could add some swap options. But it would give Minnesota win-now pieces and draft picks for the future, the Bulls a proper co-star for LaVine, and keeps Patrick Williams in town.

DeRozan, 33, is heading into the final year of his contract while Caruso, 29 – who earned his first All-Defensive Team selection this season – will be a free agent after the 2024-25 season.

If Minnesota insists on Williams, Chicago could try to keep Caruso out, and the Bulls are limited in what other contracts they have to make the deal work. But they wouldn’t have to worry about letting Nikola Vucevic walk in free agency if this was agreed to, and it would prolong their window to contend in the Eastern Conference by several years.

If the Brooklyn Nets can’t come to terms with the Portland Trail Blazers on a trade for Damian Lillard, perhaps they can trade for one of his good friends in Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal who will work with the team on a trade if the franchise moves into a rebuild, per Joshua B. Robbins and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Washington finished five games out of the Play-In Tournament this past season and has not won more than 49 games since the 1978-79 season and went 35-47 in 2022-23.

That is a large part of why many believe it is a matter of when and not if Beal gets traded.

“Ignoring asset packages and their own needs, what teams do we think Bradley Beal would waive his no-trade clause for,” tweeted Sam Quinn of CBS Sports on June 14. “I think there are 11 definite “yes” votes.”

Quinn listed the Nets as well as the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference alone.

The list of Western Conference suitors was just as stacked with perennial playoff teams.

Beal, 29, averaged 23.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds this past season. The points are identical to his output from the 2021-22 campaign, though he did shoot the three-ball better, knocking them down at a 36.5% clip.

Still, Beal’s availability has dropped just as his scoring has with the three-time All-Star suiting up for just 90 games over the past two seasons including 50 this past season.

He is heading into the second year of a five-year, $251 million supermax contract.

Brooklyn’s Best Package for Bradley Beal

The tricky part about trading Beal lies within that no-trade clause: He can veto any destination he doesn’t like but also any package that would strip a preferred destination of the assets needed to remain competitive. This is where the Nets could be uniquely positioned to strike and land one of the game’s premier scorers still in his athletic prime.

Nets get:

– Bradley Beal

Wizards get:

– Spencer Dinwiddie (or Joe Harris)
– Dorian Finney-Smith
– Cam Thomas
– 2023 1st Rd Pick (No. 21 overall via PHX)
– 2023 1st Rd Pick (No. 22 overall)
– 2028 1st Rd Pick

Is this an overpay? Maybe but only slightly since Beal is a) more than two years younger than Kyrie Irving and b) has proven to be more loyal than either Irving or his fellow former Net, Kevin Durant. The Nets are also not dealing with lottery picks now or, if Mikal Bridges is what they think he can be, by the time that final pick conveys in 2028.

Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith are both 30 years old. The former is heading into the final year of his three-year, $54 million contract and comes with a warning about re-investing in him from former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks.

Finney-Smith has been open about the possibility that he could be shipped out this offseason.

“We got to see what’s gonna happen too this offseason,” he said during his exit interview via the Nets’ YouTube channel on April 23, one day after the Nets were swept out of the postseason for the second year in a row. “I mean if we’re going to be honest, everybody hears what’s going on.”

Thomas, 22, has proven to be a dynamite scorer but little else which has not been enough to earn steady minutes under head coach Jacque Vaughn.

Thomas’ inclusion is what the Nets would be hoping pushes the deal over the top and could be the final piece they add or one they include instead of offering one of the picks. Harris can be swapped in for Dinwiddie – who might take issue with teaming back up with Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma.

Brooklyn could also try to include Patty Mills to further reduce the damage of taking on roughly $5.5 million in additional salary with Beal’s contract. And it might not take as much to pry Beal loose due to that exorbitant contract meaning the Nets could start from a far lower place.

Ben Simmons Still a Sunk Cost

Perhaps the Nets can convince Washington to take on Ben Simmons’ remaining $78-plus million over the next two seasons. But his contract has been described as one of if not the worst in the league coming off of back-to-back injury-plagued campaigns including missing the entire 2021-22 season.

Simmons’ recovery from back surgery last May is said to be coming along well with the three-time All-Star posting pictures of himself working out on social media.

It will likely take more than that to convince the Wizards’ new front office he is an asset.

Otherwise, they are sure to have more palatable offers for Beal which is why the above package may be their best shot and getting a deal done. They get Beal while keeping enough of their 3-and-D wings to support him including their breakout star in Bridges.

Meanwhile, the Wizards get a pure bucket-getter in Thomas, several draft picks, and a couple of veterans they can look to flip in subsequent deals to further their rebuilding efforts. All of that is a ways off, though, with Washington not yet fully picking a direction and Nets general manager Sean Marks seemingly in no hurry to dive headfirst back into the superstar game.

If the Chicago Bulls are as unsure about Lonzo Ball’s future as reports have indicated, they need to keep the other half of a once-potent defensive backcourt in the mix.

And while that other half, Alex Caruso, is still under contract, an extension may be in order.

“With the uncertainty surrounding Ball’s health, having Caruso around for a few more years feels crucial,” posed Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report in an article from June 13 outlining a ‘to-do’ list for every team.

Caruso, 29, is coming off his first All-Defensive Team selection, serving as a bright spot for the 40-42 Bulls. A former championship Los Angeles Laker, Caruso is one of the Bulls’ few consistent performers this season and, while he averaged just 5.6 points per game, he posted a career-best 58.8% true shooting.

The 6-foot-5 veteran also had a bounceback season from beyond the arc, knocking down 36.4% of his threes in 2022-23 after shooting just 33.3% in 2021-22.

And his reputation on defense precedes him.

“Given the way he can defend either guard position, Alex Caruso’s sub-$10 million salary is definitely below market,” writes Bailey. “But he still has a small enough offensive role that Chicago might be able to extend him for less than the three years and $53.2 million for which he’s eligible.”

Caruso is heading into the third year of a four-year, $36.9 million contract. He has dealt with injuries including a foot injury this past season. But he also made a career-high 67 appearances in 2022-23.

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas put a high price tag on Caruso at the trade deadline, perhaps an extension is already something he’s imagined.

Bulls Backcourt Outlook

The Bulls head into this offseason needing to decide on unrestricted free agent Nikola Vucevic and restricted free agent guards Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White, the latter of whom they are said to be “all in” on keeping.

There is some belief the Bulls will have to choose between one of those two guards while talks have already begun with Vucevic regarding a new contract.

If that is how it all plays out, Caruso would complement White’s style well.

The fit next to Dosunmu is a little more clunky as neither would be considered a marksman by any stretch but they would be the defensive element that Caruso and Ball had during the 2020-21 season. Chicago’s issue there is that, even if they bring Dosunmu back, he did not show enough to warrant a starting spot which has to be atop the Bulls’ wishlist this summer.

They can go over the cap to reign their free agents but it is a question of how far they want to go with the luxury tax looming as a boogeyman (when factoring in a new deal for Vucevic and one of Dosunmu and White) over this organization that has only paid into it once in franchise history.

Alex Caruso’ Fit Next to Coby White

The Bulls are expected to bring most if not all of the same group back next season. Patrick Beverley, who signed after the All-Star break, could be among them. But White has already made it known that he still wants to be a starting point guard.

Asked if White had shown enough to earn another shot at winning the job next season, head coach Billy Donovan agreed White is more equipped now than before.

There is reason to believe a Caruso-White backcourt can work.

The Bulls posted a plus-11.7 net rating with those two in the backcourt, ranking in the 97th percentile, and a plus-24.2 net rating (94th percentile) when paired with Chicago’s big three, albeit in just over 100 possessions.

White made tremendous strides in the non-shooting aspects of his game even if that, which was once a strength, became a bit of a liability at times. He still knocked down 37.2% of his threes and also shot a career-best mark from the floor, connecting on 44.3% of his overall looks which were down this season compared to last.