Even though the Bulls 'front office will have cap space to work with this summer, don't expect a major roster overhaul. John Paxson vowed to be patient and methodical in announcing the rebuild was on following the Jimmy Butler trade with Minnesota last June, and there's no reason to expect the Bulls will overspend for veteran help when the free agent negotiating period begins on July 1.
Oftentimes NBA teams only get one real chance to use cap space because of upcoming contract extensions, but the Bulls should be in position to carry their cap room over to 2019. Yes, they plan to sign Zach LaVine to a long-term contract this summer and valuable reserve Bobby Portis is up for a contract extension as well, but since the contracts of Robin Lopez ($14.3 million) and Omer Asik ($11.3 million, $3 million buyout for 2019-20) will be off the books in 2019, the Bulls could bide their time for a run at a 2019 free agent class that might include Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kevin Love, Kemba Walker, Tobias Harris, Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Hassan Whiteside, Nikola Vucevic and Jonas Valanciunas.
Unless a high quality player (like Milwaukee’s Jabari Parker) becomes available in a trade for salary cap reasons, expect the Bulls to make their two first round draft picks in June and bring back most of the players on the current roster. The three foundation players acquired in the Butler deal, LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn will return, and so will veteran center Lopez, who could draw interest as an expiring contract at the trade deadline next February.
Recent 1st round selections in Portis and Denzel Valentine should be back, along with reserves Asik, Cristiano Felicio, Cameron Payne and David Nwaba (RFA). Two-way contract players Antonio Blakeney and Ryan Arcidiacono agreed to two-year deals last summer, so they'll be back as well.
Justin Holiday is signed to a team-friendly $4.4 million contract for next season, but if the Bulls draft a small forward (Mikal or Miles Bridges) he could wind up being an attractive trade candidate for a contending team looking for some scoring off the bench. Similar story with Jerian Grant, who's signed for next season but could be on the move if the coaching staff prefers Payne as the back-up point guard or drafts another player at that position.
That leaves Paul Zipser (non-guaranteed deal), Sean Kilpatrick (non-guaranteed deal) and Noah Vonleh (FA) who probably won't be back because of the roster crunch.
There's always a chance the front office could look to add a veteran in free agency to address a position they didn't hit in the draft, and a productive younger free agent like Denver's Will Barton could be attractive if the price is right. But if you're counting on a big move this summer, you're probably going to be disappointed, unless the Bulls beat the odds and win a top 3 pick in the draft lottery on May 15.
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If you've been reading this column regularly, you know I'm a big fan of Villanova swingman Mikal Bridges. The 6-foot-7 junior officially declared for the NBA Draft, and it's apparent he plans on being more than just a "3 and D" guy in the pros.
Bridges told ESPN he has closely monitored the careers of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, who went from little known mid-major college players to NBA All-Stars. "They weren't phenoms when they came out of school," Bridges said. "They weren't always on top and dominating. They were very low-key guys. They kept getting better and better.
"There's space in the NBA on the floor, and there's this move toward positionless basketball that I fit into," Bridges told ESPN. "I can shoot the ball. I can defend. I can move without the ball. I'm progressing in my game, getting better through work every day."
Bridges averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from the 3-point line on the way to helping Villanova win its second national championship in the last three seasons. Chances are Bridges will be available in the 7-to-9 range, where the Bulls are likely to draft, and he could develop into the perfect complement for Markkanen at small forward.
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With New Orleans clinching a playoff spot Monday, the Bulls are guaranteed to receive the first round pick (it was top-5 protected) they acquired in the Nikola Mirotic trade. If the Pelicans lose their season finale against the Spurs on Wednesday that pick could be as high as No. 18, but it could also fall to No. 23 if the Pelicans win and the Thunder, Jazz and Pacers all lose, and some coin flips go the wrong way.
So, picking somewhere between 18 and 23, the Bulls will be going with the best player available philosophy, possibly taking a chance on a young big man like high schooler Mitchell Robinson, USC's Chimezie Metu or Missouri's Jontay Porter (Michael's brother), or an athletic wing like IMG Prep's Anferee Simons, Oregon's Troy Brown or USC's DeAnthony Melton.
Basically all options are on the table when you hit that point in the draft, including a European draft-and-stash player like small forwards Dzanan Musa and Rodions Kurucs, or accomplished older college players like Duke's Grayson Allen or Big Ten Player of the Year Keita Bates-Diop from Ohio State.
Don't forget, the Bulls drafted Bobby Portis with the No. 22 pick in 2015, Taj Gibson with the No. 26 pick in 2009 and Jimmy Butler with the No. 30 pick in 2011.
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Speaking of Gibson and Butler, their season will be on the line in Wednesday's game against Denver. The winner advances to the Western Conference playoffs, the loser will be out with a 46-36 record.
Tom Thibodeau brought in a number of veterans to try and end the Timberwolves' run of 13 straight seasons without a playoff appearance, including Butler, Gibson, Jeff Teague and Jamal Crawford. Anything less than a postseason appearance will be a huge disappointment for basketball fans in the Twin Cities, and might even have an impact on Butler's future with the team. Butler is eligible for a contract extension this summer, but he might decide to wait until he hits free agency in 2019. After all, that strategy worked out pretty well for him in the past.
The larger issue in Minnesota is the lack of improvement from fourth-year swingman Andrew Wiggins after signing a max contract extension. Wiggins is averaging 17.7 points as the Timberwolves third option, and tends to disappear late in close games. Karl-Anthony Towns elevated his game to All-Star status this season, but Wiggins has been a disappointment, and that could keep the Wolves from reaching the high expectations that greeted the team at the start of training camp.
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With the playoffs starting this weekend, injuries could play a bigger role than ever. Boston is being dismissed as a contender after losing Kyrie Irving for the season because of a second knee surgery. The Celtics already knew they would enter the playoffs without Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart and reserve big man Daniel Theis, so even with the coaching brilliance of Brad Stevens, they could be ripe for an early round upset.
Out West, just about everyone is predicting a Golden State-Houston Conference Finals, but the defending champs will play the first round without two-time league MVP Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson is still trying to find his shooting touch after recovering from a broken right thumb. Playing all those postseason games over the previous three years has taken a toll on the Warriors, but if Curry comes back strong from his knee sprain, they're still the team to beat.
In the East, Toronto has its best chance to get to the Finals, but the Raptors have stumbled down the stretch including a pair of losses to the Cavaliers that might affect their confidence in a potential second round series. LeBron James continues to play at an MVP level in his 15th NBA season, and that alone makes the Cavs the favorites. Philadelphia has been impressive in the closing month, led by the Magic Johnson-like play of rookie point guard Ben Simmons, and the 76ers should get injured center Joel Embiid back at some point during their first round playoff series.
Could Philly make an unexpected run to the conference finals? Maybe.
But does anyone out there really like any Eastern conference team's chances in a best of 7 series against LeBron James?
(I didn't think so!)