Mike Sutera: What a meltdown by the Magic. They need Zach. I wrote you about a month ago speculating about a trade of Zach for Anthony Black and maybe Moritz Wagner. I'd love Black. But I can see the Magic going with a guy like Monk and a vet PG.
Sam: We were waiting to see who lost that series for the first of many speculated Zach destinations. I’d ruminated a few weeks back about maybe Mitchell because he has just one year left and then an opt out and that Cleveland isn’t exactly a free agent destination if you are not named LeBron or have him there already. Now that the Cavs if not for long have moved on—after a first round loss is when teams first panic because it’s usually an unsuccessful season—you assume they ride it out with Mitchell, or at least try. Especially since he basically was their entire offense. Which exposed the Magic even if they are following the model of the modern NBA with size, athleticism, though not quite enough shooting yet. Which they need. Zach could provide that, and Orlando showed they need a third scoring option. But also like with the Phoenix Suns they most need a point/facilitating guard. The Magic has a cart load of cap space and could absorb a lot of Zach’s contract, which I assume would be the Bulls dream scenario assuming moving Zach is the offseason priority, which is the common wisdom in most media reports. The issue the Bulls face, obviously, is it’s a risk at least for now for a team to take on three years of LaVine’s contract without having seen him play coming off surgery. I think Zach with his shooting and athletic style would fit with them and greatly elevate a team like Orlando, and I think they’d still have a chance to add that veteran point guard to run things a bit, a Mike Conley-lite type. But with finally making the playoffs, they’ve been deliberate and don’t face much pressure to improve dramatically next season and probably will try to wait for Anthony Black and add like you speculate around the edges of Banchero and Wagner.
Mitchell Metz: The Cavs survived but Mitchell and Garland are a bad fit together. Either you keep Garland or you keep Mitchell and have him be the PG.
Sam: That’s why they’re done in this round. As that series went on I expected Orlando to win. Not that missing Allen was that big an issue as the Cavs probably matched better going smaller with Mobley at center. The Cavs’ issue is Mitchell is so ball dominant that he does often take Garland out of the game, and Mitchell is a volume scorer needing a lot of shots. But the Cavs’ truth is they just didn’t have enough scoring otherwise, or enough that they had to revert to a buyout Morris to help save them. The insider conventional wisdom is that Mitchell wants to opt out after next season and Brooklyn is holding space once Ben Simmons comes off after this season. So big decision for the Cavs, obviously. I assume they’d like to try to extend Mitchell, but if he signals he’s gone then I guess they have to look for a trade partner and my point has been I think Zach fits with Garland because Zach isn’t running an offense. But again the uncertainty with Zach and that several big names could be on the market with questions about Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Julius Randle, Bradley Beal or Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, et al. Cleveland could ride it out a year and then offer the sign and trade to recoup something or follow the Branch Rickey better to move a year too soon thank a year too late. Keep an eye on that space.
Mike Queensworth: A DeMar sign-and-trade for Brandon Ingram would be amazing. Pels get a certified bucket getter down the stretch on a short-term deal and Bulls get a young guy who can get better. Bulls have Coby, Zach, Ingram (one year left 36)?
Sam: That’s a scenario that would interest me, though everything coming from the Bulls for a long time has sounded like DeMar remaining over Zach. I do think DeMar has a better sign-and-trade market given his health despite the age and you can go somewhat lower on the contract. The Pelicans’ management breakdown post season sounded a lot like the Bulls’ with a reference to patience having expired and they even mentioned the end of continuity. With reports they don’t want to extend Ingram it seems like they have to be all in on Zion—good luck with that given his issue staying healthy—but like the Bulls they have to try something else. Ingram does miss a lot of games, a lot really, but he’s a smooth 6-8 and could give the Bulls some needed size, and short risk given the Bulls also have to be looking at the summer of 2025 with Ball’s contract expiring as perhaps the target time to make the real substantial changes. Like with Mitchell. it might be worth the one year trial to examine the merchandise for a test drive and even if it doesn’t work out, you then have lots of flexibility and cap space to make other changes. If you commit long term to DeRozan, that’s likely gone. Even if it’s the reported two years with DeRozan, that still could complicate 2025. Even more than LaVine, to me the big offseason question for the Bulls is DeRozan’s future.
Brian Tucker: Do we now talk about the Clippers finally landing Zach LaVine? I’d take Paul George’s expiring deal if they’re ready for a split. I doubt it works that way, but I’m looking at all these teams out after the 1st round as potential trade partners. Fun! Because we’re not likely to get a good return of a star player or draft picks, my top preference would be a few role players in exchange for Zach. Second preference would be a 1 year bad contract. Either way, it makes sense that this is the route AK will take, and hopefully it is successful. In the end though, the Bulls really do need a star player to build around, and maybe they should think about the one year reset and tanking for a chance at Cooper Flagg in the 2025 draft, who looks like he could be something. Could they be so bad if they trade Zach and AC and don’t sign DeMar, while also keep filling the UC because Coby and Ayo are fun to watch? Call it competitive tanking?
Sam: And Patrick Williams? That rebuild path has been suggested by a lot of media, which probably dooms it right away. I don’t see this management looking for a reset like that even if it seems short-term and makes some sense. I’m not opposed to that kind of small step back, but they have often signaled they do not intend to pursue something like that. I believe them. Obviously, the tanking for a certain player is a big gamble and one the Bulls failed to get lucky on four consecutive lotteries. Though they do have a younger base now than they did then and don’t have to go full 20-win. The complication, especially as you watch these playoffs, is the path in the NBA now seems to be with younger, taller, athletic players. The biggest name veterans like LeBron, Durant and Curry are long out of the playoffs for teams like the Thunder, Magic, Pacers, and teams on the rise like the Rockets. So can the Bulls even afford to double down on players in their 30s and generally undersized at their positions and not particularly athletic? Or risk that fall off the .500 cliff to NBA irrelevance? And then does recruiting become even more difficult? They’re going to have to pick a lane, and I can’t even guess now what that will be. I’m also anxious to see.
Matt Worth: Is it the Miami Jimmy Butler era tipping point? There was a report: “There have been murmurings this year that Butler and the Heat may no longer be singing from the same hymnal. Butler, famously, does things his way, and Miami’s organization, famously, does not brook much individualism.” Jimmy and Thibs reunited again in NY as Jimmy even alluded to on a podcast. And has Herro played this last game in Miami? This was Riley on Tyler Herro: “He’s been fragile… Maybe someday he will surprise everyone and play every game.” And on Jimmy:” Pat Riley clearly wasn’t amused by Jimmy Butler’s comments about beating Boston or NY if he was healthy. He says he doesn’t know “is that just Jimmy trolling. But…. if you’re not on the court... you should keep your mouth shut.”
Sam: Jimmy back to Philadelphia to finally play with Embiid? Let the rumors begin. Though I also have this queasy feeling—and I am not a conspiracy theorist—that Pat Riley is cooking up one of these schemes again like when he and Dwyane Wade supposedly became enemies and Wade went off to get the big free agent contract, and what do you know Wade before long was back in Miami and dancing with Riley on a cruise and getting his long goodbye tour while still collecting from it turns out the Bulls even though as I recall the Nuggets had even offered him more money. Anyway, back to reality, or at least the NBA’s version despite who’s winning in these playoffs, the 76ers seem still a believer in the three stars formula. They also have cap room to absorb a big contract. Could the Heat be ready to reset? After all, it’s back to back eighth place finishes, and despite the playoff run last year they were three minutes from losing that play-in game to the Bulls. Jimmy’s 35 to start next season and more than most he has put in heavier minutes in his career. Jimmy’s got one more season at $48 million and a $52 million opt out, and it doesn’t seem like Miami is going for that extension. He misses a lot of games, and his agent says he’s not pacing himself and couldn’t play, which may be a greater concern. It seems like a Wade redux could be coming, and Jimmy may just be going. We all know Riley, who is an elite executive, isn’t going to just sit around and see if things get better.
Wayne Warner: If AK requires Bulls to not return same roster and not to be over cap, then seems logical. Let DeRozen walk as if sign him (even with trade) then over cap Match offer for Williams but then trade him. Then have the 4 guards in White, LaVine, Ayo & Carter; 5 wings in Caruso, Ball, Terry, Phillips & Bitim; 3 bigs in new power forward, Vučević & Sanogo and their round 1 draft pick. Roster changes as DeRozen, Williams, Drummond & Green no longer on roster… and Ball is essentially new, LaVine didn’t play much in 23/24, and bigger roles for Terry & Phillips. Just do not understand how Bulls can sign DeRozen to a big contract, trade LaVine… as have to get back salaries that match Lavine… right?… so then over the cap.
Sam: That is the big guessing game and the musical chairs. I think they have a bit more flexibility than you suggest, but yes if they reup DeRozan for big money it would seem they have to basically come back with the same team that they said doesn’t work. There have been rumors about maybe trying to trade Vučević, which seems far fetched, and obviously the seemingly mutual agreement that it is time to move on from LaVine. If they can trade into cap space they have loads of potential flexibility. But that’s difficult. Williams isn’t expensive and I’m higher on him than most and would like to see him get a full chance at small forward. But if DeRozan returns, that’s out as DeRozan plays close to 40 minutes a game and then maybe you’d try to move on from Williams. I don’t see how you can judge him for a new contract if he comes off the bench another season or plays out of position at power forward. I assume they carry Ball’s money one last season and then move on. It would seem the big summer to make a mark is 2025 since both White and Dosunmu would then have one season left on modest for this era contracts, Ball, presumably LaVine and perhaps DeRozan would be off the books, and unlike this year it’s considered a deep draft class in 2025. Though the Bulls lose their pick in 2025 if it is not top 10 from the DeRozan trade. Also, they still need Portland to make the playoffs before 2028 to get that first, and the way the West keeps improving that unfortunately seems unlikely. So 2025 could be a big change summer and maybe you basically take a step back for just one season in 2024-25 while giving some of the young guys a chance to grow further. But not so much if DeRozan gets that big extension. If Benny hadn't wasted all that popcorn I could pull up my recliner and have some while I watched to see how this plot unfolds.
Chris Granner: Obi Toppin would sure look good dropping those corner threes in Bulls red!
Sam: I've mentioned him previously as a potential free agent, and he fits the profile of one of the Bulls primary needs of a 6-9, athletic guy who can run the floor and make some shots. These playoffs continue to show more of that than ever seeing teams like Minnesota, Dallas, Orlando, Boston, etc. - the need for youth and size to have success in this NBA. That small ball, shooting thing was OK as long as you had Steph and Klay. Lacking that, as Pat Riley famously said, rebounding equals rings, and it’s still mostly a game for tall people. Or at least to make sure you gave a few. Minnesota loading up big seemed aimed at Jokić. And is working. It seems most likely Toppin remains since Indiana doesn’t have a huge payroll even with having to sign Siakam. And by the way, what the heck is Toronto up to giving up Siakam and Anunoby, who are modernizing both their new teams. Anyway, Toppin is erratic. Against the Bulls this season, he was one of 10 on threes in the four games and probably still projects as a backup. In part because he maybe doesn't have the highest basketball IQ. There’s the between the legs dunk in the Game 1 loss to the Knicks. Never a great idea in the playoffs with every possession so vital, but mostly useless on the road because that sort of dramatics perhaps is justified to engage the home crowd. The road doesn’t get you the momentum. And then there was his jump ball spike at the end of that improbable Bulls overtime win in March when there were 11 ways the Pacers could win and only one way the Pacers could lose, and Toppin provided that. But he is 6-9 and athletic, and that’s a good thing.
Ateeq Ahmed: On the Bucks. Do you think Bucks move Dame or retool around him and Giannis? By the way, was the game ball when the Pacers knocked out the Bucs the one the Pacers took from Giannis back in December.
Sam: Nice. Giannis gets the ball from his 64-point game, but home again after the first round, and injured again for just about every playoffs. Which no longer seems coincidence having occurred that many times. He turns 30 early next season going into his 12th season, so he isn’t a young guy anymore. The Lillard trade was obviously to get Gannis to re-sign, so they’re obviously not doing anything with Giannis given he was hurt again and Lillard missed a lot of time. So you figure the Bucks run it back with the notion that Doc Rivers needs a full season to be comfortable with this team. But if the Lillard trade was a success for enabling them to re-sign Giannis, it was a failure on the basketball court with Lillard turning 34 this summer and more frequently unavailable. He's missed about a quarter of his team's games the last five years and the Bucks decimated their defenses to acquire the defense-challenged Lillard. Is there a Jimmy Butler trade there given how badly Miami wanted Dame and he wanted South Beach last year? Back to Milwaukee for Jimmy, where it all started for Jimmy at Marquette? A defensive stopper who took out Giannis last season? Jimmy's last stand? You gotta love the NBA offseason.
Chad Lankford: I am not a huge fan of LeBron the person and he will never pass MJ in my biased judgement as a lifelong Bulls' fan, but I recognize his greatness as well as only the marginal drop-off as he has aged and nears 40. That said, I wonder if the Bulls dump LaVine and Williams to highest bidders, resign DeRozan for the 3 years he desires, extend Caruso for say 3 years, draft Bronny in second round, and sign LeBron for 3 years (after opt-out) at a slight discount for the opportunity to "play" with Bronny. Or perhaps a trade of LaVine for LeBron during or right after the draft was my thinking. LaVine would like to be in LA and if LeBron knows the Bulls will or already have drafted Bronny, then he might accommodate such a trade to the Bulls.
Sam: LeBron had his chance in 2010 to play in Chicago with Wade, Rose, Noah and Deng and turned it down. I doubt playing his kid will change his ideas about the Bulls. I am interested to see who draws Bronny if he remains in the draft, which I doubt. But LeBron supposedly has suggested the kid is on his own and it’s no longer a package deal. Of course, anything involving LeBron and Chicago makes no sense because if the Bulls resign DeRozan because even if they dumped both LaVine and Williams into another teams’ available cap space without taking anyone back—which is likely impossible—LeBron still would have to take about a $30 million pay cut. He’s not leaving LA, especially since he's now working on selecting the next coach. Though the best chance to move LaVine may be to the Lakers because LeBron’s buddy’s agency represents Zach and I’m sure LeBron would rather have Zach than D’Angelo Russell among several others there. Russell and Hachimura probably would get it done if LeBron signed on to a Zach deal. It likely wouldn’t be the Bulls preference, but if it comes to the Bulls are moving Zach no matter what it’s anyone’s guess what they’d get back.
Phil Flushing: The Suns are a mess. Beal is untradable. But maybe they can fill out their roster really nicely by dealing Booker. For: McBride, Donte, Randle, Robinson.
Sam: Be tough after the Knicks win the title? The Suns have that huge payroll and I’m not sure of the rules on whether they can take back multiple players in a trade with that second apron and all. But I agree this belief as they spun it post season that they can come back with those three and now that they’ll be comfortable all is good, well, that’s a stretch. The Beal deal was a banana peel. They’ve always needed a point guard which neither Beal or Booker is. That chemistry and effect of those Knicks Villanova players has been remarkable. It’s the perfect Thibs roster. Good for them for figuring that out. I wouldn’t trade Durant, so I might take a serious look at something like that trade you suggest if I were the Suns. But the Knicks getting better? That the nightmare.
Allan Olson: Do you think Derrick Jones Jr. would have made the Bulls a playoff team if he’d stayed with the Bulls? And why did he leave—was it just money?
Sam: No. I have no idea why he left. I think he actually ended up signing for less money. I was sure last summer he was opting in and Drummond was opting out. So, ooops, missed on that one. The Bulls have Jones Jr; his name is Javonte. Their issues are elsewhere.
Pete Zievers: It's a good development for basketball that the superteam concept has receded. For starters, there's a chance that money gets spread more evenly amongst the players. It gives other players an opportunity to showcase and get hot. When I was a kid I used to like to pick out that cool backdoor flip from Boerwinkle to Weiss or the work-a-day regularity of a Bob Love face-up. Point: every game had something a little different even though the team itself had a definite personality. Contrast that to superteam play where Curry dribbles around like crazy then launches one. I get that works out statistically... he's the best shooter and 3 things happen when you pass with two of those being bad. Still when the game was played that way I became an NBA fan. It wasn't so much that the stars hooked me, though Chet Walker amazed me with the many subtleties and his general sense of what he was doing. Such a good, good, good basketball player well worth watching the whole 48 for the comprehensive nature of his game. And of course, Jerry Sloan. That said, it was wonderful to see Gar Heard or Kennedy McIntosh or Cliff Ray or Rowland Garrett or Mickey Johnson make a play. It wasn't at all Scalabrine time. These were capable players showing and contributing towards the success that team enjoyed. It was easier for me to relate to these guys. Maybe it was just me or the fact that I was a little kid, but there you are. I'm thinking now that every basketball team needs a best player and that best player needs someone to complement him or her. But with a diminished emphasis on "we gotta have huge star power and as many as we can load up" it gives the other players a chance to breathe a little bit and consequently the game itself breathes a little bit.
Sam: Those are some good names. Though many of readers probably will have to look it up. It’s a get-off-my-lawn, I’m-keeping-your-ball-if-it-goes-in-my-yard debate, but for years we’ve had to listen to this New York lecture from the self proclaimed smartest fans that they know basketball better because they witnessed the 70s Knicks when no one averaged 20 points and everyone could shoot and pass and dribble and the ball moved around and everyone cut and moved and that was basketball. And not this star thing of Wilt or Kareem or eventually Michael. And then New York basketball became a point guard averaging 40 points. But hey, as we know, it really is mostly all about the ability to hold up a No. 1 foam finger. Nothing wrong with that. Oh, and by the way this Jalen Brunson. Wow! Fifth in MVP voting, and talk about who’s the most unlikely among that group. With what Brunson means to winning you’d place him among Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Jokic and maybe Doncic and Giannis. He’s part of the face of a dawning new era in the NBA. Wembanyama? Sorry, not yet; not when you’re a big part of winning 20 games.
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