Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls may be preparing for a fire sale.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on The Stein Line that the Bulls executives have been in touch with other team's about potential moves ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline and are open to moving the majority of their roster, including Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vučević.

"No surprise, then, that Bulls executives, according to league sources, have been messaging to rival front offices that they are willing to discuss the majority of their roster in trade talks leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline," Fischer wrote. "Most notably, sources say, Chicago has expressed a desire to move LaVine, Vučević and Ball — who collectively command nearly $85 million in salary this season."Arturas is trying to drive up attention for all of his guys — he's smart," said one league figure with knowledge of the Bulls' thinking. "The fact they were willing to move DeMar and [Alex] Caruso [this past offseason], they're willing to move anybody [now]."

Chicago is currently 8-12 and sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls have missed the postseason in the last two seasons and have been out of the playoffs six times in the last seven years.

While this year's team could turn around the season, the talent disparity between them and the top team's in the conference could make a fire sale more attractive. The Bulls do have some interesting pieces, so recouping as much value as possible could be a good strategy.

LaVine is averaging 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 17 games thus far in 2024-25. He is under contract through 2025-26 with a player option for 2026-27, and a team closer to contention may view him as a solid addition to add to the core.

Vučević is averaging 20.4 points with 9.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 20 games thus far in 2-2024-25. The 33-year-old is under contract through 2025-26 and will not likely line up with any Bulls success, so trading him when his value may be the way to go.

Ball has had his career derailed by injuries and has only appeared in four games in 2024-25. He is set to hit free agency next season and while his value may not be as high as it was, Chicago could salvage something from him and allow him to revitalize his career elsewhere.

With core pieces like Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, Coby White and Patrick Williams in the earlier stages of their career, Chicago could be best suited moving off of the older core and embracing the youth.

Lonzo Ball's all-time G.O.A.T. list surprisingly left out one notable player: the 2008 NBA MVP, Kobe Bryant.

On Angel Reese's Unapologetically Angel podcast, Ball created his NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Curry.

When Reese asked Ball why he chose Curry over Bryant, it was clear he had given it considerable thought beforehand.

"I love Kobe but he was never the best player to me, like watching him," Ball said (33:00 mark). "Just because he's got the most misses ever."

James and Jordan were easy choices for Ball at one and two, but the next two spots came with some stipulations.

"I'm going Shaq just because he's the most dominant ever," Lonzo said. " We just had this debate. I would go Magic but it's looking like Curry might have to find his way in there honestly."

The former All-Rookie Second Team player, now 27, spent his formative years during Curry's peak reign.

"Back to Curry," Ball said. "His resume and the way he changed the game... he's the best shooter ever, (he) carried USA, like there isn't anything he (has not done) and he's go the rings to back it up too."

Like much of the world, Ball was captivated by Curry's flawless shooting during the Warriors' five consecutive championship appearances from 2014 to 2019, where they won three titles and Curry effectively "changed the game" forever.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is "targeting" Wednesday's road game against the Orlando Magic for his return from a wrist injury, ESPN's Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne reported.

Ball has not played since spraining his wrist during an Oct. 28 game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Bulls guard made his comeback earlier this season from two and a half NBA seasons missed due to knee injuries.

Ball had recorded 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists while averaging under 16 minutes in three games prior to his wrist sprain.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said that Saturday had been Ball's "best day" at practice since suffering the wrist injury, per Chicago Sports Network's K.C. Johnson.

Donovan followed that up by announcing on Monday that Ball would travel with the Bulls on this week's two-game road trip, which takes them to meet the Washington Wizards on Tuesday followed by the Wednesday game against the Magic, per Johnson.

Ball suffered a right wrist sprain after catching himself on the court after attempted steal, ESPN's Jamal Collier reported.

The guard did not leave the game with the injury, but rather taped the wrist "and played through the pain," per Collier. An MRI revealed the injury the next day.

Ball told reporters that playing on the sprain any further risked worsening the injury to the degree that surgery would be required, Collier reported.

The star has undergone multiple procedures on his injured left knee since his last NBA action in January 2022, including cartilage transplant surgery in March 2023. The news that he may be able to return without undergoing further procedures is good news for his hopes of re-establishing himself as a regular part of the Bulls rotation.

The Bulls have meanwhile been unable to establish much consistency this season. The team hasn't won consecutive games since Oct. 30, and heads into the Wizards game having dropped four of six prior contests. Chicago will hope the pending return of Ball will help rejuvenate the lineup as the Bulls look to take advantage of competing in a relatively weak Eastern Conference.

It sounds like the Bulls will still be without Ball tonight as they take on the Wizards in NBA Cup action. The in-season tournament group stage game tips off at 7 p.m. ET.

Now that the NBA season is fully underway, it's time once again for the Chicago Bulls to let everyone know that Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević could be available in trades if anyone wants to meet their asking price.

Per ESPN's Jamal Collier, the Bulls are expected to put LaVine and Vučević on the trade block at some point after giving them time to rebound from their disappointing seasons in 2023-24.

LaVine and Vučević have spent most of the past year on the trade block with no movement to this point.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported in July that a Vučević deal is "more likely to materialize" at some point during the 2024-25 season. He cited the dearth of available big men and Vučević's contract as being more amenable to making a trade happen than LaVine.

Vučević is under contract through next season with salaries of $20 million in 2024-25 and $21.5 million in 2025-26.

Money has been one of the biggest obstacles preventing a LaVine trade. He has two guaranteed years remaining on his contract including this season with salaries of $43 million and $46 million, plus a $48.97 million player option for 2026-27.

In a ranking of the worst-value contracts in the NBA posted in March, Keith Smith of Spotrac had LaVine's deal as the third-worst primarily because of injuries that have limited his playing time.

LaVine was limited to 25 games last season due to a foot injury that required surgery. He has only hit the 70-game threshold in a season once since 2016-17 (77 in 2022-23).

The addition of Josh Giddey at point guard during the offseason has opened things up for the offense, creating easier opportunities for LaVine and Vučević.

Vučević is averaging 20.8 points per game with a career-high field-goal percentage (56.1) and three-point percentage (45.7) in eight starts. LaVine was healthy to start the season and averaged 22.7 points per game on 45.8 percent three-point shooting in six starts, but he has missed the past two games due to a right adductor strain.

If both players continue to perform well and stay healthy, it will at least help the Bulls' negotiating leverage in talks with other teams leading up to the trade deadline on Feb. 6.

Monday was quite the day for Michael Jordan fans who have a few extra millions of dollars to throw around.

According to a release from Sotheby's, a collection of five memorabilia items from His Airness deemed "Colossal | The Ultimate Jordan Collection" sold for a combined $8.5 million in auction.

The most notable item was a game-worn jersey that Jordan donned for 17 or more games during the Chicago Bulls' championship 1996-97 season that sold for $4.7 million. While the jersey was sure to fetch quite the price because of the Hall of Famer's own accomplishments during that season, it is also connected to Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson.

After all, that was the red jersey Jordan was wearing on March 12, 1997 when then-rookie Iverson crossed him over and created one of the most memorable NBA highlights of the decade and his own legendary career.

Of course, that season included plenty of better moments for Jordan.

He led the league in scoring as an All-NBA First-Team selection and All-Defensive First-Team selection who finished second in MVP voting. Most importantly, he led the Bulls to their second straight championship in the middle of what would become the second three-peat of his career.

Another notable item that sold Monday was the United States flag Jordan draped over himself during the gold-medal ceremony at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It went for $1.8 million and is best known as the flag he used to cover up the Reebok logo on his Team USA jacket.

Air Jordan built a branding empire with Nike and used the flag, which is also signed by other members of the Dream Team, to cover up a competitor's logo at an opportune time.

Team USA went 8-0 in those Barcelona Games and defeated Croatia for the gold medal. None of the wins were even close, which was not surprising given star power that included Jordan, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, David Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Patrick Ewing and more.

The other items that sold Monday were a game-worn and signed jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 Eastern Conference first-round playoffs, a 1988-89 game-worn jersey, and a practice set from Jordan's time at North Carolina that included a practice jersey and signed sneakers.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine suffered a shoulder injury that has been diagnosed as a sprained left AC joint, according to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.

Johnson noted that LaVine is listed as questionable heading into the Bulls' matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

The 29-year-old sustained the injury during Chicago's 102-99 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, but was able to finish the game. X-rays on his shoulder after the contest came back negative, per ESPN's Jamal Collier.

LaVine finished with a season-low 11 points in the victory over Orlando, shooting 2-9 from the field and hitting just one of his four attempts from behind the arc. He was able to pull down 10 rebounds and dish out three assists.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan revealed that he checked with LaVine at halftime regarding his left shoulder and the two-time All-Star explained that he'd play the first five minutes of the third quarter to see if he could finish the contest (via Johnson). Donovan didn't hear from LaVine again for the rest of the game.

Despite his inconsistent performance against the Magic, the 29-year-old has started his 2024-25 campaign on a high note. In five appearances, he's averaged 23.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 43.6 percent on three-pointers.

LaVine's name has been involved in trade rumors throughout the year, as he was reportedly offered to several opposing organizations in negotiations during the offseason.

Instead, he remained with Chicago and has helped lead the team to a 3-2 start to the season. The Bulls have also been buoyed by a strong defense, owning the seventh-best defensive rating in the association (via NBA.com).

While LaVine's availability is uncertain against Brooklyn, the Bulls will still attempt to secure their third straight win on Friday. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball said his right wrist injury is between a Grade 1 and Grade 2 sprain, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.

Ball added that playing on the sprain could risk exacerbation to a Grade 3 sprain, which would require surgery, per Shelburne. He will be re-evaluated in 10 days, the Bulls said on Tuesday.

Ball was injured in the first quarter of the Bulls' 126-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. He suffered the injury while bracing himself after a steal, per Shelburne, and went on to play 18 minutes in the victory.

The injury occurred in Ball's third game back from two and a half seasons sidelined with leg injuries. He has been averaging 4.7 points, shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc, while playing a career-low 15.7 minutes per night.

Ball recorded season highs in minutes played and points, while also recording six assists and his first block of the campaign, on Monday despite the injury. The guard attributed the feat to adrenaline, per Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune.

Ball is currently wearing a brace to immobilize the wrist, per CHGO's Will Gottlieb.

Before his wrist injury, the Bulls had already implemented plans to manage Ball's return to the NBA, including resting him during back-to-backs.

Accordingly, Ball sat out the second game of the regular season due to injury management before rejoining the roster the next night to play 15 minutes in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ball is now set to miss at least the next five games for the Bulls, starting with Wednesday night's home game against the Orlando Magic. He likely would have already been sidelined for one of those five games, however, given that the stretch includes a back-to-back set against the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Bulls guard underwent multiple surgeries on his left knee since he last played in the NBA in January 2022, including a cartilage transplant in March 2023.

Ball will still be able to do lower-body work while sidelined, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network. The Bulls will hope he is able to return as soon as possible so the team can continue working on his readjustment to the NBA. Chicago could give more minutes to backup guard Ayo Dosunmu in his absence.

The Chicago Bulls announced guard Lonzo Ball suffered a right wrist sprain in Monday's 126-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Ball will get re-evaluated in 10 days, so he'll be sidelined for at least the next five games for Chicago.

The wrist injury is particularly cruel because the 27-year-old is just coming back after missing the last two-and-a-half seasons due to persistent knee trouble.

Ball made his regular-season return in the Bulls' opener and has averaged 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

"For him, he's been able to wrap his head around the fact that this is my new norm. This is my reality," head coach Billy Donovan told reporters after the Bulls' 123-111 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in their first game.

Now, the process of working Ball more fully into the rotation will have to be put on hold for the time being.

Donovan shifted the 6'6" playmaker to the bench given his lengthy layoff, so his absence won't require too many changes to how the backcourt is structured.

With Ayo Dosunmu already averaging 26 minutes per contest, other reserves will need to pick up the slack to replace Ball. Any one of Jevon Carter, Talen Horton-Tucker or Dalen Terry could be called upon to shoulder a slightly heavier load.

Lonzo Ball has officially completed his long return to a regular-season game.

The Chicago Bulls guard came off the bench and played 14 minutes in his team's 123-111 season-opening loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. While he finished with just five points, four assists and two rebounds, that he was even on the floor at all was noteworthy.

After all, the last time he appeared in a regular-season game was Jan. 14, 2022.

"I'm just happy to be on the court," he told reporters. "Coach calls my name, I'm just trying to give good minutes."

The Bulls plan on limiting his minutes, playing him off the bench and holding him out of back-to-backs for the time being, but it is still a testament to his resilience that he is once again part of the rotation.

Ball underwent multiple knee surgeries, including a cartilage transplant, since he last played in a game, and there were times when it was easy to speculate when he would ever make it back on the court.

As for the game itself, 27 points from Zach LaVine wasn't enough for the Bulls to keep up with the Pelicans on the road.

Brandon Ingram spearheaded the scoring for the victors with 33 points, while CJ McCollum added 23. It wasn't all good news for the Pelicans, as Zion Williamson was sidelined and there is concern Dejounte Murray suffered a fractured left hand, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

New Orleans still had enough to defeat Chicago, which will now turn its attention to another challenging road game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Monday's deadline passed without guard Josh Giddey receiving a contract extension from the Chicago Bulls, and it sounds like a new deal was never on the horizon for him.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on this week's episode of The Hoop Collective (2:58 mark) that "there was never really any meaningful negotiations there" regarding an extension for Giddey.

Windhorst called it "a surprise to me" that Chicago and Giddey never made progress toward a new deal because, "I thought the Bulls were gonna be under some amount of pressure to get him done because they traded Alex Caruso for him."

Caruso was valued highly around the NBA, with an executive telling Windhorst the now Oklahoma City Thunder guard was worth two first-round picks. Giving up a player of that caliber for what could be less than a year of having Giddey on their roster would be a questionable decision for the Bulls.

Giddey is expected to be in the starting lineup for the Bulls this season. He appeared in four preseason games and recorded over 10 points in three of them. The fourth-year guard started 80 games for the Thunder last season and averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists, all of which were career lows.

The Bulls could be on the verge of a rebuilding year. In addition to Giddey, star swingman Zach LaVine is also a likely trade candidate if Chicago gets off to a slow start this season.

The Bulls will open the 2024-25 campaign on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.