The Athletic reported this afternoon that many rival executives around the NBA believe the Washington Wizards will embark on a "full rebuild" over the next year. The big names to watch would be 29-year-old Bradley Beal, 27-year-old Kyle Kuzma, and the Chicago Bulls' most desired target, 27-year-old Kristaps Porzingis. Kuzma and Porzingis have looming player options this summer that they have yet to comment on whether or not they'd be accepting, and Beal is consistently one of the league's elite scorers. Can the Bulls build an appealing enough package for Washington's future to lure the 7'3" stretch center out of the nation's capital, or will he choose to walk and seek out a young contending core?
Solving The Center Problem
Chicago has a big decision on their hands as to who will man the middle next season and beyond. Currently an unrestricted free agent, Nikola Vucevic has held down the paint for the last several seasons and has made it known that he will be exploring all options. The Bulls have expressed interest in returning the former two-time All-Star selection but would be wise to look for a younger and more talented option in Porzingis.
K.C. Johnson of NBC Chicago estimated an annual salary of $22-24 million a year for the 32-year-old, which would be a bit cheaper than Porzingis, who's set to make $36 million if he accepts his player option. An extension with the former Knick and Maverick would cost around $26-28 million annually for a long-term deal. Due to the risk inherited when Chicago first acquired Vucevic, it seems they'll be sticking with their veteran big man as his price has turned effectively into three first-round selections.
New-Look Chicago Bulls
In a perfect world, the Bulls would take full advantage of two teams looking to re-route their future. With the Wizards waving the white flag to a complete rebuild, Chicago can snag the young center and secure the position for years. With the Portland Trail Blazers actively seeking a veteran All-Star caliber talent in exchange for the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Bulls can part ways with DeMar DeRozan and see a fresh slate headlined by Zach LaVine, Porzingis, and Scoot Henderson. Yesterday's news of Charlotte reportedly leaning toward Brandon Miller at the second overall pick should only accelerate the Bulls' efforts to move into the Blazers' draft slot and take the leap out of mediocrity.
The 2023-24' Chicago Bulls could look as follows with a few splash deals before the season's start.
PG: Scoot Henderson (19)
SG: Alex Caruso (29)
SF: Zach LaVine (28)
PF: Patrick Williams (21)
C: Kristaps Porzingis (27)
Andre Drummond also expressed his intention to remain in the Windy City for next season on a podcast yesterday, saying he "loves being in Chicago." Despite being healthy the entire year, he only appeared in 67 games and averaged 13 minutes per contest. His size, rebounding ability, and physicality all gave the Bulls a spark off the bench last season.
Is the front office in a do-or-die scenario in Chicago, or will they cruise into next year with a similar roster to the lackluster 2022-23' campaign that ended with a sub-.500 record and without a postseason appearance?
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