Complete 2018 NBA Free Agency primer for OKC Thunder and all 30 teams
Chicago Bulls:
Free Agents:
- Zach LaVine (RFA)
- David Nwaba (RFA)
- Noah Vonleh (RFA)
- Ryan Arcidiacono (RFA – 2-way FA)
Sources: Chicago has extended the qualifying offer to guard David Nwaba, making him a restricted free agent.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2018
Team Profile and Ranking:
Key Ranking Stats to end season:
- Offense: 28th (101.4)
- Defense: 26th (108.9)
- Net: 28th (minus -7.4)
NBA Power Ranking at 2017-18 season end: 27th
ESPN Power Ranking post playoffs: 22nd
Vegas odds to win 2018-19 title as of June 26: 500 to 1
Committed Salary: $61,024,439.00 as of June 30th
Average attendance: 20 776
Attendance rank: 1st
Arena: United Center
Management:
General Manager: Gar Forman – 2009
Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg – 2015
Salary Profile:
The Bulls have two non-guaranteed contract salaries: Sean Kilpatrick ($2,054,8560 and Paul Zipser ($1,544,951).
Like many of the lottery teams, the Bulls have ample exceptions at their disposal. Chicago possesses two trade exceptions of $8,.9, and $1.4 million. Additionally, the Bulls own a bi-annual exception of $3.4 million and a non-tax midlevel exception of $7.6 million. Eleven players are locked in with two incoming rookies.
| Sala | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Age | 2018-19 | Signed Using | Guaranteed |
| Robin Lopez | 30 | $14,357,750 | Cap Space | $28,146,250 |
| Omer Asik | 31 | $11,286,516 | Bird Rights | $24,882,021 |
| Cristiano Felicio | 25 | $8,470,980 | Cap space | $32,000,000 |
| Justin Holiday | 29 | $4,384,616 | MLE | $9,000,001 |
| Kris Dunn | 24 | $4,221,000 | 1st Round pick | $8,267,760 |
| Lauri Markkanen | 21 | $4,536,120 | 1st Round Pick | $8,357,760 |
| Cameron Payne | 23 | $3,263,295 | 1st round pick | $5,466,735 |
| Denzel Valentine | 24 | $2,280,600 | 1st Round pick | $4,467,000 |
| Jerian Grant | 25 | $2,639,314 | 1st Round pick | $4,353,154 |
| Bobby Portis | 23 | $2,494,346 | 1st Round pick | $4,010,666 |
| Paul Zipser | 24 | $1,544,951 | Cap Space | $1,312,611 |
| Kay Felder | 23 | $1,544,951 | $456,529 | |
| Team Totals | $61,024,439 | $165,205,888 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/26/2018.
Draft 2018:
Round 1:
With the seventh pick, the Bulls selected Duke center Wendell Carter
Rookie Profile: Wendell Carter Jr. could be next Nikola Jokic
With the 22nd pick (from Pelicans) the Bulls selected Boise State guard/forward Chandler Hutchison
Rookie Profile: Chandler Hutchison’s hard work equals metamorphic rise
Bulls planning wait-and-see approach to Zach Lavine's restricted free agency after organization's “near universal support” just isn’t there anymore, per @NickFriedell https://t.co/Rnejm5WTno pic.twitter.com/KVewtzkchA
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) June 22, 2018
Free Agency – Offseason Mandate:
The Bulls have some quality pieces in house and if Wendell Carter proves to be as productive at the pro level could be the perfect complement to Lauri Markkanen. What is missing is depth and the uncertainty of the ceilings for players like Kris Dunn and Denzel Valentine.
Surely the priority this summer should be to retain Zach LaVine. That said Gar Forman hasn’t demonstrated a desire to spend large. LaVine is one of the few free agents who’ll get looks from multiple teams. Hints to the direction the franchise is taking and the timelines will be on display via how they handle LaVine’s free agency.
At this stage, it still feels like the Bulls are building and therefore will choose to build the youthful talent, stockpile draft picks, and to aim for at least one more season of futility.