Presentation by National Insurance Agent Jeff Vuckovich
There's less than a week left until the two-day NBA Draft begins on Wednesday, and you know where the Chicago Bulls are?
A mixed opinion seems to prevail among rival team executives, which may be a good thing for jaded Bulls fans.
This isn't to suggest a lack of focus from management, who first admitted in April that “this team isn't working.” Rather, it's an example of how well-rounded Arturas Karnišovas and his staff are approaching an offseason in which they must make changes to a franchise that has missed the playoffs for two straight seasons.
“All possibilities are on the table,” Karnišovas said in April.
That's why there are rumors the Bulls are looking to move up or down in next week's draft, and they currently own the 11th pick.Number Picks. And, of course, there's the option of sticking with the status quo and taking the top player remaining from a vastly different draft.
That's why Karnišovas has fielded as many as 15 offers to various teams, including the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, centering around two-time All-Star guard Zach LaVine, sources said.
It doesn't take a cap scholar to know the Bulls can't add a first-round pick to re-sign DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams, both of which Karnišovas has said he would like to do, but they would be hit by the luxury tax unless a very favorable salary-cap trade for LaVine is done.
That's why the futures of these two players, as well as Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball, will be a focus of attention this offseason.
If the Bulls don't come to a new contract with DeRozan by 5 p.m. CST on June 30, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Both sides have publicly stated their desire to continue the relationship, but the Bulls are primarily focused on a short-term deal.
There's been speculation that the Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets may be interested in Williams, but the Bulls feel they have the initiative. They have the option to match any offer sheet Williams signs. And while the roughly $6 million salary gap from last season's rookie contract negotiations may seem large, it could be easily filled given the impending salary cap hike from a new TV rights deal.
As for Caruso, he has one of the best deals in the league and is eligible for an extension on July 6. His roughly $9.9 million contract through 2024-2025 becomes fully guaranteed on June 30.
If the Bulls know he'll want more next offseason than the four-year, $78.8 million extension they're willing (but not obligated) to offer him this offseason, would management consider cashing in that asset now? They've turned down significant interest in him at the past two trade deadlines.
Ball's arduous return attempt continues to progress, but until he plays consistent five-on-five contact scrimmages, it's hard to tell how it will end.
Acquiring a first-round pick this year is important, especially since the Bulls are owed a top-10 protected pick to the San Antonio Spurs in 2025. The Bulls still have two former first-round picks in Williams and Darren Terry in the development pipeline, as well as, of course, Julian Phillips, who they took in the second round last season.
This year's draft is difficult to predict because of the wide variety of talent evaluations on prospects who have great potential but are not yet ready to become stars. The Bulls have a long list of names to watch, including Providence guard Devin Carter, Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, G-League Ignite Ron Holland and Duke big man Kyle Filipowski, who have developed a wide range of prospects.
This is a pivotal offseason for the Bulls, at least for DeRozan, who is suspended even before he is suspended again for next week's draft.
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