The NBA offseason is quickly gaining momentum. Although free agency officially begins on June 30, a flurry of rumors has already taken flight. Trade activity has been particularly constant; we witnessed several deals on the draft`s opening night, including the Phoenix Suns` acquisition of Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets.
We`ve already seen significant player movement through trades, such as Kevin Durant heading to the Houston Rockets, and the Celtics reducing salary commitments by sending Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks.
However, the offseason is just starting, and considerably more activity is anticipated in the coming weeks. Let`s review the most recent rumors circulating around the league.Sacramento Kings Interested in Signing Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook became a free agent after opting out of his $3.4 million player option with the Denver Nuggets for the upcoming season. Despite a productive year with the Nuggets, Westbrook has decided to explore the free-agent market, possibly seeking a more lucrative contract or a new team environment. While free agency hasn`t officially opened, Westbrook`s market doesn`t appear to be particularly robust. However, the Sacramento Kings have reportedly shown some interest in the former MVP guard, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Sacramento has been without a primary point guard since trading De`Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in February. Westbrook could represent an affordable option, potentially for a season or two. Another player the Kings might explore, according to Amick`s report, is Tyus Jones, who is also a free agent after playing last season with the Phoenix Suns.
Chicago Bulls Exploring Trades for Multiple Players This Summer
The Chicago Bulls have been stuck in a state of mediocrity for several years. They made one playoff appearance in 2022, but outside of that, their recent history includes play-in tournament berths and selections in the middle of the draft lottery. The Bulls recently drafted Noa Essengue with the No. 12 pick. Looking ahead to the offseason, reports suggest they are aiming to significantly revamp their roster. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Bulls have essentially made everyone available for trade except Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, with Giddey expected to receive a contract extension this summer. Specific players mentioned as available include Coby White, Lonzo Ball, and Patrick Williams, per Cowley.
According to Cowley, the Bulls are looking to `package Williams in a deal this summer` or include him in a multi-team trade if such an opportunity arises. This isn`t particularly surprising. Although Williams drew comparisons to Kawhi Leonard before entering the league, his performance has fallen considerably short of that standard. He possesses the physical attributes and defensive skills that make him potentially valuable on a winning team, but his passive approach on offense has been a consistent concern for Chicago.
Elsewhere on the roster, Cowley reports that Coby White is not expected to accept any contract extension the Bulls might offer this summer. Instead, he reportedly plans to play out the final year of his current deal and enter unrestricted free agency next summer. If this is his strategy, it would be strategically sound for the Bulls to trade him now rather than risk losing him for nothing. There is definitely a market for White, who has developed into a legitimate scorer for the Bulls, averaging 20.4 points last season.
Chicago could potentially secure a decent return for White if they trade him this summer. The same applies to Lonzo Ball, who returned to the Bulls after missing two and a half seasons due to injuries and rehabilitation setbacks. Ball participated in only 35 games, but he demonstrated flashes of his previous capabilities as a strong defender who can hit three-pointers and facilitate the offense. Given Ball`s $10 million salary for next season, it shouldn`t be difficult to find a team willing to take a chance on his potential return to form.
Jasper Hawthorne