Chicago Bulls Blog – Page 29 – NBA Blog

Bulls re-sign Kirk Hinrich

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has re-signed guard Kirk Hinrich.

According to the Associated Press, it is a two year deal that will pay Hinrih $2.7 million next season.

“Kirk has always been a big part of creating the professional culture we want day in, day out surrounding our club,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “He helps our team in so many ways and Kirk had other opportunities elsewhere, but we are very happy he chose to remain in a Bulls uniform.”

An 11-year veteran of the NBA, the 33-year old Hinrich (6-4, 190) has played in 767 (636 starts) regular-season games and averaged 11.8 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.1 rpg and 1.19 spg in 32.3 mpg. He owns career shooting averages of .413 from the field, .377 from downtown and .802 from the line. Hinrich has also appeared in 55 (46 starts) NBA playoff games where he has posted 13.0 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.2 rpg, 1.29 spg, 33.8 mpg and shot .428 from the field, .399 from behind the arc and .745 from the stripe.

Chicago Bulls sign Pau Gasol

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent forward/center Pau Gasol.

“We are really excited to add such a versatile player to our roster who has been both an All-Star and an NBA Champion,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “Pau is a skilled player with a high basketball IQ and is a true pro and a proven winner.”

Gasol (7-0, 275), a 13-year veteran of the NBA, comes to Chicago after spending the past six-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. While with Los Angeles, Gasol helped the Lakers make three straight trips to the NBA Finals (2008-10) that resulted in the franchise’s last two NBA Championships (2009, 2010). Prior to his run with the Lakers, the Spanish big man was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies for more than six seasons (2001-08).

A four-time NBA All-Star (2006, 2009-11), and a three-time All-NBA selection (Second Team in 2011; Third Team in 2009, 2010), Gasol has played in 905 (892 starts) regular-season games and averaged 18.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.64 bpg and 0.54 spg in 35.6 mpg. He also owns career shooting averages of .515 from the field and .750 from the line.

In postseason play, the 34-year old Gasol has appeared in 105 (all starts) playoff games and posted 17.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.97 bpg, 0.56 spg, .515 from the floor and .738 from the stripe in 38.6 mpg.

A native of Barcelona, he owns a vast wealth of international experience as a member of the Spanish national team. In 2008, and again in 2012, he led Spain to silver medals in the Olympics after guiding Spain to the gold medal in the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

Bulls use amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has amnestied forward Carlos Boozer.

“Carlos epitomized professionalism in everything he did for the Bulls both on the court, and in the community, during his time here in Chicago,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “Over the last four seasons, Carlos’ productivity helped elevate our team to another level. I have nothing but respect for Carlos, and certainly wish him the best as he moves forward.”

According to ESPN.com, “The Bulls will still owe Boozer the $16.8 million left on his salary this season but it will not count on their salary cap. Combined with their trade of Anthony Randolph to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, the Bulls will clear about $12 million in cap space. Gasol is expected to sign a three-year deal worth more than $22 million and Mirotic is expected to sign for $18 million over three years with the Bulls permitted to give him $600,000 to help pay off his buyout from Real Madrid, sources said.”

In four seasons with the Bulls, Boozer appeared in 280 games (all starts) and averaged 15.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in 30.4 mpg and shot .491 from the field.

Chicago Bulls waive Lou Amundson, Ronnie Brewer, Mike James

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has waived forward Lou Amundson, guard Ronnie Brewer and guard Mike James.

Brewer originally signed with Chicago on April 7, 2014, while Amundson and James signed with the Bulls on April 10, 2014.

Bulls trade Greg Smith to Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have acquired forward Greg Smith from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the rights to Tadija Dragicevic.

Smith (6-10, 250) is a three-year veteran and holds averages of 3.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 89 career games (10 starts) with Houston. He spent three years with the Rockets before being released on April 10, 2014. He was then signed by the Chicago Bulls on April 14, but never played for the Bulls.

In 2012-13, Smith saw action in 70 games (10 starts) for Houston and averaged 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting .620 from the field.

The Vallejo, Calif., native was undrafted out Fresno State after declaring himself an early entry candidate for the 2011 NBA Draft. In his sophomore season with the Bulldogs, he was named to the 2011 All-WAC second team. In 31 games, he averaged 11.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game.

Dragicevic (6-9, 222) was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 53rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. The Mavericks acquired the native Serbian from Utah and cash considerations from the Houston Rockets in a four-team trade and sent forward Lamar Odom to the Los Angeles Clippers and the draft rights to Shan Foster to the Utah Jazz. In exchange, Los Angeles sent guard Mo Williams to Utah and the draft rights to forward Furkan Aldemir to Houston.

Bulls trade Anthony Randolph to Magic

The Orlando Magic have acquired two future second round draft picks (2015, 2016), cash considerations and the contract of forward Anthony Randolph from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the draft rights to forward Milovan Rakovic, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. In addition, Orlando intends to waive Randolph.

The draft rights to Rakovic (6’10”, 280, 2/19/85) were acquired by Orlando, along with cash considerations, from Dallas in exchange for the draft rights to Reyshawn Terry on June 28, 2007. He has played his entire professional career overseas.

Trainer Fred Tedeschi gone from Bulls

Here’s the Chicago Tribune with an update on the Bulls training staff:

Longtime Chicago Bulls athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi, hired by former general manager Jerry Krause in August 1998, has left the organization.

Tedeschi twice won the NBATA’s Joe O’Toole Trainer of the Year award. According to a team spokesman, he has accepted a position at Oregon State, where his daughter is enrolled in graduate school.

Knicks not looking to land Carlos Boozer

Here’s ESPN.com reporting on the Knicks and Bulls:

If the Chicago Bulls’ dream scenario is to land Carmelo Anthony through a sign-and-trade involving Carlos Boozer, the Bulls will have to come up with another plan, according to league sources.

The New York Knicks will not take back Boozer in a sign-and-trade deal, the sources said.

Despite their interest in Anthony, sources said the Bulls have not called the Knicks to gauge potential sign-and-trade scenarios.

The Knicks’ top priority is, of course, to resign Anthony. But if Anthony decides he wants to play in Chicago, it would make sense for the Knicks to retrieve some assets via a sign-and-trade, and a source said they would perhaps do so as a last resort.

Nuggets, Bulls deal Gary Harris, Jusuf Nurkic, Anthony Randolph Doug McDermott in draft-day trade

The Denver Nuggets have acquired the draft rights to G Gary Harris and the draft rights to C Jusuf Nurkic from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for F Anthony Randolph and the draft rights to F Doug McDermott, General Manager/Executive Vice President Tim Connelly announced tonight.

As part of the deal, Denver also received a second-round pick in 2015.

Harris, 6-4, 210, was taken 19th overall after averaging 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a sophomore at Michigan State last season. He was an All-Big Ten selection and received honorable mention in the Associated Press All-America voting.

Harris, 19, started 67 of 69 games in his college career and became just the third player in Michigan State history to score 1,000 points in two seasons. He also was the Big 10 Freshman of the year after averaging 12.9 points in 2012-13.

Nurkic, 7-0, 280, was selected 16th overall. The 19-year-old big man averaged 11.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 28 games for Cedevita Zagreb of the Adriatic League in 2013-14.

In the second round, the Nuggets selected Nikola Jokic with the 41st overall pick. Jokic, 6-10, 254, averaged 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists for Mega Vizura Belgrade of the Serbian League last season.

Bulls reportedly seek trade for Arron Afflalo

The season of signing, trading, drafting, etc. is rapidly approaching. League-wide, roster-flipping fun will soon be upon us. Here’s Yahoo Sports reporting on the Bulls:

The Chicago Bulls are pursuing a trade for Orlando Magic swingman Arron Afflalo, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Afflalo, 28, has two years left on his contract – including an Early Termination Option (ETO) provision next summer – and front office executives believe the Magic are prioritizing a trade for Afflalo over working to extend his contract.

It is unclear how the Bulls’ pursuit of Afflalo would impact the franchise’s free-agent interest in New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.