After doing a bare minimum of moves for the second summer in a row, the middling Bulls may be best served by fully embracing a tank, opines Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
Cowley wrote that team president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have to agree that their significant roster rebuild in 2021 was ultimately unsuccessful, and the club must now pivot to offloading major veterans in exchange for future draft equity. Cowley believes Chicago’s top priority is finding a young point guard it can build around.
With the wings of a star DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine Leading the way, the Bulls went a cumulative 86-78 over the past two regular seasons, with just one playoff game win to their credit.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- However Bucks All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo Eligible to sign a three-year, $169MM contract extension, he may have to wait until next summer, when he can agree to a four-year deal worth a projected $234MM, or maybe more depending on the NBA salary cap. He has a $51.9MM player option for the 2025/26 season. If Antetokounmpo asks for a trade, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Link to YouTube video) believes he can impress the entire league. “Listen, the possibility of using a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, it creates an uproar around the league behind closed doors,” Woj said.
- Second year Pistons shooting guard Jaden Ivey hopes to make a defensive move in 2023/24, writes Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press. The 6’4″ swingman showed improvement as a shooter and passer throughout his rookie season last year, and is now looking to improve on the other side of the ball. “Just being able to play better defense, I think that’s what I’m trying to lock down more [over the summer],” Sankofa thought. “Using my speed to get through ball screens and never stop reading the ball screen. Always staying in the game, always involved on defense. I feel like I’m better in that aspect.”
- In a new reader mailbagSankofa responds to various Pistons topics, including whether he thinks Detroit might try to trade Pacers sharpshooter Buddy Hieldforward combo or not Isaiah Atay will still earn rotation minutes among the deeper frontcourt, etc.