RealGM Basketball Wiretap

27 July 2024

• Bulls Expect To Keep Zach LaVine Into 24-25 Season

  The Chicago Bulls are anticipating keeping Zach LaVine on their roster to start the season with the hopes of him rebuilding his trade value from where it has been this offseason, sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line. The Bulls are incentivized to have the worst record possible as their first round pick in 2025 will be conveyed to the San Antonio Spurs if it falls out of the top-10.

  LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million contract with the Bulls during his free agency in 2022. LaVine has three seasons at nearly $140 million remaining on his contract. LaVine has a player option for 26-27 worth $49 million that he almost certainly will pick up considering his current value around the league.

  The Bulls also gauged trade interest in LaVine during the 2023 offseason, but maintained a "large asking price."

  LaVine, who is represented by Rich Paul and Lucas Newton, averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 34.9 minutes over 25 games last season with the Bulls. LaVine was most recently an All-Star in 21-22.

• Bulls Waive Andrew Funk

  The Chicago Bulls waived Andrew Funk from his two-way contract. Funk was signed to a two-year two-way deal last season.

  The wing shooter appeared in only five NBA games last season. In 49 G League games between the Windy City Bulls and the Grand Rapids Gold, Funk averaged 13.6 points. He shot 37.7% on 9.1 three-point attempts per game.

• Josh Giddey Had Interest In Trade To Spurs

  Josh Giddey had interest in a trade to the San Antonio Spurs this offseason before he was dealt to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Giddey was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Bulls in June for Alex Caruso.

  Giddey, who is represented by Daniel Moldovan and Alex Saratsis, is eligible for a contract extension this offseason. If Giddey and the Bulls are unable to agree to terms, he will become a restricted free agent in 2025.

  In 80 games last season, Giddey averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 25.1 minutes.

• DJ Steward, Bulls Agree To Two-Way Contract

  The Chicago Bulls and point guard D.J. Steward have agreed to a two-way contract. Steward is coming off a successful Summer League run with the Bulls.

  In five games in Las Vegas, Steward averaged 17.4 points, 6.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 47% from the field, including 40% on three-pointers.

  Steward went undrafted out of Duke at the 2021 NBA Draft. The 22-year-old lead guard attended training camps with the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics in past preseasons, before playing for those teams' G League affiliates in those seasons.

• Bulls Have No Trade Market For Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic

  The Chicago Bulls have seemingly leaned into a rebuild this offseason. The Bulls traded veteran guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey, and then signed-and-traded veteran wing DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings.

  However, trades haven't been found for Zach LaVine or Nikola Vucevic to really push the rebuilding efforts forward. In fact, there seems to be no market available for either player.

  Trade talks for LaVine haven't gone anywhere, and cap space to absorb LaVine's contract has mostly dried up. The market for Vucevic never really developed in the first place, with teams wary of taking on the veteran center's contract.

  LaVine is owed $137.9 million over the next three seasons. Vucevic is on the books for $41.5 million over the next two seasons.

• Bulls Waive RaiQuan Gray From Two-Way Contract

  The Chicago Bulls waived forward RaiQuan Gray from his two-way contract. Gray was acquired from the San Antonio Spurs as a part of the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade to the Sacramento Kings.

  In 43 G League games last season with the Austin Spurs, Gray averaged 15.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

  The Bulls now have one open two-way roster spot.

• Bulls Could Attach Second-Round Picks To Zach LaVine Trade

  The Chicago Bulls could attach both second-round picks the team acquired in the DeMar DeRozan trade to sweeten a Zach LaVine deal, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

  The team has been actively trying to trade LaVine this offseason.

  The Bulls had previously tried trading LaVine by attaching him to Alex Caruso.

• DeMar DeRozan Dealt To Kings On Three-Year, $74M Sign-And-Trade

  The Chicago Bulls traded DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings in a sign-and-trade deal involving the San Antonio Spurs. DeRozan will sign a three-year, $74 million contract with the Kings.

  The Spurs will receive Harrison Barnes in the deal. The Kings will also send the Spurs a 2031 unprotected pick swap. The Bulls receive Chris Duarte, two second-round picks, and cash.

  In 79 games last season, DeRozan averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 37.8 minutes. DeRozan also increased his three-point attempts per game to 2.85 while shooting 33.3 percent. DeRozan had a PER of 19.6, which is above his career average of 19.0.

  DeRozan, who is represented by Aaron Goodwin, is coming off a three-year, $85 million deal with the Bulls via his sign-and-trade with the Spurs in 2021.

• Spurs Could Help Facilitate DeMar DeRozan Sign-And-Trade Between Bulls And Kings

  The San Antonio Spurs have emerged as a potential third team to help the Sacramento Kings acquire DeMar DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls via sign-and-trade.

  The Bulls are willing to trade DeRozan but are looking for a third team to take additional salary.

  The Kings are a "team to watch" to acquire DeRozan this offseason.

• Kings Considered 'The Team To Watch' On Acquisition Of DeMar DeRozan

  The market for DeMar DeRozan has been slow to materialize, but the Sacramento Kings have emerged as the most serious destination for him at this point. DeRozan is definitively heading to an exit from the Chicago Bulls after three seasons with the franchise.

  "Certainly, DeMar DeRozan has played his last game for the Chicago Bulls," said Adrian Wojnarowski on Sports Center on Friday. "The one team that has been dug in with him and trying to find a sign-and-trade scenario are the Sacramento Kings. They've been talking this week. They're going to need a third team involved in a sign-and-trade. Chicago, while they certainly are willing to facilitate to help DeMar DeRozan get more than the midlevel exception on a team that doesn't have space, they don't want to take back contracts, certainly significant contracts. They'll need a third team to route a bigger salary to. Those conversations continue. I think there are some other scenarios for DeMar DeRozan, but I think Sacramento right now is the team to watch between now and when the moratorium ends over the next 24 to 48 hours."

  In 79 games last season, DeRozan averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 37.8 minutes. DeRozan also increased his three-point attempts per game to 2.85 while shooting 33.3 percent. DeRozan had a PER of 19.6, which is above his career average of 19.0.

  DeRozan, who is represented by Aaron Goodwin, is coming off a three-year, $85 million deal with the Bulls via his sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs in 2021.