The next week should be the most [fill in the blank] of the offseason.
Typically, I’d throw the word “exciting” into that spot, but I’m not sure the Chicago Bulls will meet that adjective. While the Josh Giddey trade suggests that the Bulls are about to press the reset button, I don’t think anyone would be shocked to see them do the opposite. All this front office has talked about is a desire to remain “competitive,” which could make this upcoming week the most “stressful” or “infuriating” of the offseason.
Wednesday and Thursday will be the first and second rounds of the 2024 NBA Draft, respectively. Sunday evening will mark the official start of free agency. Big decisions are going to have to be made over the next six days, and I sure wish I felt more confident about the Bulls making the right ones.
Add Josh Giddey’s introductory press conference to the schedule this week. The 21-year-old will reportedly meet with Chicago media at 2:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, per Drew Stevens. The media availability is expected to be streamed live, so we’ll be sure to share it with y’all and provide some instant thoughts.
The Bulls will hold a virtual media availability for Josh Giddey at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The good news is that we should have at least a feel for how this week will play out by the end of Wednesday night. What the Chicago Bulls do with their No. 11 pick will say a lot about the rest of the offseason plans. Will they draft someone with a high floor who can help sooner than later like Devin Carter or will they swing on the star upside in someone like Ron Holland? Will they trade up like some rumors have suggested or will could they look to add a pick later in the first round? Whichever path they go down, it should give us at least some indication of what free agency will have in store.
Zach LaVine’s trade market could also fluctuate plenty over the next few days. As other trades are made and free agents begin to sign, new doors can open up for the Bulls to explore. The Sacramento Kings have been mentioned frequently as a possible suitor – even after re-signing Malik Monk to a four-year contract. But the 76ers remain an intriguing team to watch, as do squads like the Magic and Rockets. Not everyone is going to be able to land their first or second options, which may quickly vault LaVine up their boards. Do I think this will lead to Chicago getting an attractive return for his services? No. But it may at least finally lead them to a resolution.
During an episode of the Bulls Talk Podcast last week, NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson stressed that the Bulls are being “very active” in the lead-up to draft night. He said he believes the front office has talked to teams about a slew of possibilities, which isn’t limited to only finding a trade partner for Zach LaVine. I’m undoubtedly glad to hear this, but I will also believe it leads to meaningful change when I see it. It’s one thing to make a lot of phone calls; it’s another thing to get a deal done.
On the Bulls Talk Podcast, @KCJHoop discusses what he's hearing about the Bulls making moves this offseason.
Former Chicago Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming has found a new job. The Portland Trail Blazers have added him to Chauncey Billups’ coaching staff, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Should be a soft landing spot for the long-time assistant, who can now help develop a handful of high-upside prospects.
ESPN Sources: Nate Bjorkgren and Chris Fleming are joining Chauncey Billups’ coaching staff with the Trail Blazers, Bjorkgren has been a Raptors assistant and spent season as Pacers’ HC. Fleming had a prominent role under Billy Donovan with Bulls and stops with Nets, Nuggets.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2024
HoopsHype provided some more information on the Chicago Bulls’ assistant coaching search. Before hiring both Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig, the team reportedly spoke with two very familiar faces:
Lastly, before adding former Washington Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. and Los Angeles Clippers assistant Dan Craig, the Bulls also spoke with former head coaches Nate McMillan and Dwane Casey, league sources told HoopsHype.
The organization’s strong emphasis on adding an assistant with head coaching experience does worry me a bit. This would undoubtedly align with the idea that they want to remain in the competitive mix. However, it also rarely hurts to get experience in the building, including when you’re trying to rebuild. Heck, maybe that’s why both McMillan and Casey didn’t end up with the jobs. Perhaps the Bulls realized that targeting the two younger options on their list made more sense with where they could be headed.
Not hiring Dwane Casey could have an indirect yet drastic fallout. He coached DeMar DeRozan in Toronto, where the two achieved a lot of success and became very close. If the Bulls did add him to the bench, it would almost feel more likely that DeRozan would stick around. This isn’t to say that neither Unseld Jr. nor Craig are fans of the veteran forward, but I’m sure Casey would have been a pretty extreme internal advocate for keeping DeRozan in Chicago. Not to mention, DeRozan would have another reason to stay.
The Chicago Sky finally got a win over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. Even better, they did it behind a career night from rookie Angel Reese. The rivalry is alive and well, folks!
Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.
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NEWSLETTER
