The Bulls continued NBA Summer League action Sunday night with a 82-75 loss to the Cavaliers at Thomas & Mack Center.
But as is often the case at this time of year, it’s the off-the-court gossip that’s just as, if not more, entertaining.
One day after officially announcing the Thaddeus Young signing, the Bulls finalized the sign-and-trade acquisition of Tomas Satoransky from the Wizards for future draft considerations. Satoransky signed a three-year, $10 million deal that is guaranteed for $5 million in the final season, a source confirmed.
The final season of Young’s three-year, $41 million deal also is only partially guaranteed, which has been previously reported. That means the Bulls could be in position to play the maximum-salary free-agent game in 2021 if they desire.
But it’s Satoransky’s imminent arrival that is causing the most intrigue, simply because of the position he plays. The 6-foot-7 combo guard posted career-high averages of 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and five assists in 80 games last season, starting 54 times at point guard once John Wall went down with a season-ending injury.
Piled on top of the drafting of Coby White with the seventh pick in last month’s draft and the re-signing of Ryan Arcidiacono, who attended Sunday’s game in support, the Bulls suddenly have a crowded roster at point guard.
The Bulls have said all the right things regarding Kris Dunn’s future, insisting there’s a role for one of the centerpieces of the June 2017 trade of Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves. And with Dunn scheduled to make $5.3 million on his rookie deal and being someone who typically responds when challenged, the Bulls won’t just give him away.
However, league sources said Dunn is available for the right price. In fact, the Bulls, sources said, have had discussions with the Grizzlies regarding a sign-and-trade for Justin Holiday. If that move materialized, it would not only alleviate the point guard logjam, it would add a veteran wing shooter.
Entering the offseason, the Bulls’ goals were big-man depth, providing point guard competition for Dunn and wing shooting. Young, second-round pick Daniel Gafford and Luke Kornet, who has verbally agreed to a deal that’s not official yet, fill the big-man depth. Satoransky, White and Arcidiacono create the point guard competition.
Though the Bulls will get Denzel Valentine, who also attended, back from injury and also can play Satoransky off the ball, adding more wing shooting remains on their wish list.
As for the game, the Bulls sat Chandler Hutchison for precautionary reasons. The second-year forward said Saturday that he’s on roughly a 20-minute limit in his first action since fracturing the sesamoid bone in his right foot in late January.
White didn’t get the matchup with Cavaliers first-round acquisition Darius Garland, who sat for precautionary reasons after undergoing meniscus surgery in his lone season at Vanderbilt. White finished with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists, seven turnovers and is now 0-for-11 from 3-point range.
“I’ve been impressed with his poise and his patience,” coach Jim Boylen said before Sunday’s game.
Gafford had eight points and eight rebounds.
“We’ve got a player who’s got a pure heart, plays for the team, executes his assignments, goes from assignment to assignment and tries to play winning basketball,” Boylen said.
Layups
The Bulls signed Gafford using cap space, a source said, which allowed them to keep him under team control for four seasons. Two of those seasons are guaranteed. … Shaq Harrison and Walt Lemon Jr. are on waivers. If they clear, the Bulls may re-sign one or both for the remainder of summer league. … Satoransky will wear No. 31. … Former Bulls coach Tim Floyd sat with general manager Gar Forman. … Bulls guard Antonio Blakeney sat courtside with Valentine and Arcidiacono.
