Which Bulls are most likely to leave Chicago this offseason?
The Bulls spent the pandemic-induced hiatus overhauling their front office, and are now doing the same to the coaching staff. It makes all the sense the world, coming off a 22-43 season that began with playoff promises.But what about the roster?Entering an unprecedented offseason, the Bulls will be faced with a number of free agent, option and extension decisions that will shape personnel for what they'll hope is a bounceback 2021. They also own the Nos. 4 and 44 picks in the Nov. 18 draft, and, as a presumed over-the-cap team, will have the non-taxpayer mid-level and bi-annual exceptions to sign a contributor on the margins if they so choose.As for the guys currently on the roster, most are expected to be back. Twelve of 15 guaranteed roster slots are currently occupied barring one or multiple trades, which are always possible.Who should we expect to see on the roster whenever the 2021 campaign tips off? Here are members of the 2019-20 Bulls, ranked from most likely to depart this offseason to most likely to return in 2021.*Note: Adam Mokoka and Max Strus were on two-way contracts last season and are unmentioned in this piece.
He could be a cheaper version of Kris Dunn. But the potential restricted free agent also could be redundant if the Bulls tender a qualifying offer to Dunn.
The veteran forward has a movable contract that only carries a partial guarantee for 2021-22 and a sterling reputation leaguewide as the consummate professional. If the Bulls are committed to Lauri Markkanen, trading Young away might be best for all parties.
This is a hard one to read since Valentine was under-utilized last season but, by several accounts, played well with strong leadership skills inside the Bulls bubble. He’s a potential restricted free agent whose shooting and passing can help.
On the one hand, the Bulls don’t appear to be in position to let assets walk for nothing, particularly one who has proven to be elite at the defensive end. On the other, Dunn was the only player not to attend the team’s voluntary minicamp. And pre-pandemic, whispers of the Los Angeles Clippers showing interest in the potential restricted free agent persisted.
He’s expendable, but there’s also likely not a strong market for someone coming off such a disappointing season. It’s more likely than not his expiring deal sticks around.
He’s dependable, durable and, given his work ethic and practice habits, doesn’t need to play minutes to bring value to the team. He’s essentially on an expiring deal since he carries a team option for 2021-22.
The team’s best player and leading scorer is on a value contract that makes make him either a building block or plus trade asset for the new regime. Why does it feel like he may not be Artūras Karnišovas’ answer for a lead player on a championship contending team?
It would be a surprise if the new management regime sold low on the dollar with Markkanen. The only questions are: Can they find common ground on an extension of his rookie-scale contract? Does the new regime want to?
His deal is eminently movable given that only $5 million of it is guaranteed for the 2021-22 season. However, he’s also a dependable rotation player who fits with any scheme or personnel, so his value this season is high.
The young, athletic center knows his role and — notice a theme here? — and is on a rookie-scale deal that makes his reserve minutes all the more valuable.
Given how thin the Bulls are at wing and how affordable Hutchison is on his rookie-scale contract, his chances of trying to replicate his positive stretches (when healthy) are greater than his leaving this offseason.
Few players seemingly stand to benefit more from Billy Donovan’s arrival than the center whose defensive instincts and untapped offensive potential could make him a bargain on his rookie-scale deal.
The blur of a guard has two things going for him — a future long on potential and a rookie-scale contract.
The seldom-used center actually could be valuable closer to the trade deadline as an expiring contract. Until then, good luck finding a team to take him off the Bulls’ hands.
The veteran small forward owns a roughly $28.5 million player option and a growing injury history. Any questions?
