Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls announced Saturday that they have officially signed veteran center Tristan Thompson. In a corresponding move, the team released forward Alfonzo McKinnie.

Thompson was recently waived by the Indiana Pacers. 

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported earlier this week that the Pacers would waive Thompson and he would sign with the Bulls. 

The Pacers acquired Thompson from the Sacramento Kings at the Feb. 10 trade deadline. The deal also brought Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to Indiana. In return, the Pacers sent Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2023 second-round pick to the Kings. 

Since spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thompson has bounced around the NBA. He spent the 2020-21 season with the Boston Celtics, where he averaged 7.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 54 games.

The Celtics traded Thompson to the Kings as part of a three-team deal after the 2021 NBA Draft. In 30 games with the Kings, he averaged 6.2 points and 5.4 rebounds. 

Adding Thompson to the mix in Chicago gives the team some added depth entering the final stretch of the regular season. He'll likely play behind starting center Nikola Vucevic and could also see time playing as a power forward.

The Bulls are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference with a 38-21 record. They're competing with the Miami Heat (38-21), Philadelphia 76ers (35-23), Cleveland Cavaliers (35-23) and Milwaukee Bucks (36-24) for the top spot in the East. 

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career following the 2021-22 season, and it sounds like he's willing to test the market. 

In an interview with Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, LaVine said that while he's uncertain if signing a max contract is the goal, he just wants to get paid what he's worth. 

“I think we all get what we deserve at the level we play at, for our team and around the league. I think I stack up with everybody at that level,” LaVine said. “We’ll let the chips fall. Is the [max] the goal? I don’t know if it’s the goal, but I should be getting what I deserve."

“I’ll let them tell me what that is, and we’ll go from there.”

LaVine has spent the last five seasons of his career with the Bulls after being drafted 13th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014. He spent three seasons in Minnesota before being traded to the Bulls, along with Kris Dunn and the rights to Lauri Markkanen, in exchange for Jimmy Butler and the rights to Justin Patton.

The 26-year-old has elevated his game in each of his five seasons in Chicago. He's been particularly effective this year alongside DeMar DeRozan, averaging 24.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor and 39.9 percent from deep in 47 games. 

LaVine is eligible to sign a five-year, $201.3 million deal with the Bulls this summer. However, he could agree to a four-year, $149.3 million deal with another team. 

While it's unclear which way LaVine might be leaning, Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas told reporters in September that the team was "committed" to the veteran and wants "him to be in Chicago for a very long time."

LaVine also acknowledged that he was "excited" with the moves the Bulls made this summer, which included adding DeRozan and Lonzo Ball, among others. 

Those additions, and the play of young players such as Patrick Williams, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu has helped propel the Bulls to a 38-21 record. The team is tied with the Miami Heat for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. 

The Bulls are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season, and they are playing like they could at least make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. If the team goes deep in the postseason, that could be enough to convince LaVine to sign on for another five seasons. 

The Chicago Bulls are waiving forward Alfonzo McKinnie to make room for their signing of center Tristan Thompson, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

The 29-year-old McKinnie, who has played five NBA seasons, averaged 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 12.1 minutes over 17 games for the Bulls this year.

Per Charania, he's eligible to sign with a new team and participate in the playoffs.

Per Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype, March 1 is the cutoff date for when waived players can participate in the postseason if they sign with a new team.

McKinnie has played for the Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Bulls during his five-year career. He's scored 4.0 points on 46.7 percent shooting in 11.6 minutes per game during that span.

The former University of Wisconsin–Green Bay forward went undrafted in 2015. He played in Luxembourg and Mexico before landing a deal with the G League's Windy City Bulls in 2016. One year later, McKinnie broke through to the NBA with the Raptors.

He bounced around the NBA and was eventually waived by the Lakers in 2021. McKinnie went back to the G League and Mexico simultaneously when he linked up with Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico.

He averaged 24.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 10 games before the Bulls signed McKinnie to a 10-day contract amid Chicago losing five players to the league's health and safety protocols in December.

McKinnie, who was born and raised in Chicago, landed another 10-day deal before the Bulls signed him for the remainder of the season. However, the Thompson move has changed plans, and now McKinnie will be looking for another place to play ball.

There is no shortage of great pairings in the NBA right now, but Zach LaVine believes the Chicago Bulls have the best one-two punch. 

Speaking to reporters during Saturday's All-Star press conference, LaVine said he and DeMar DeRozan are "the best duo in the NBA."

One reason that LaVine and DeRozan have been able to move up the ranking of best duos this season is because some of the other top tandems haven't played much together. 

The Brooklyn Nets no longer have James Harden, and Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have only played together three times this season. Anthony Davis and LeBron James have combined to miss 45 games for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Bulls are tied with the Miami Heat for the best record in the Eastern Conference (38-21) thanks in large part to DeRozan and LaVine. 

DeRozan might be the saddest player in the NBA to see the All-Star break hit right now. He is in the midst of a historic run that has catapulted him into the MVP conversation. 

The five-time All-Star has scored at least 35 and shot 50 percent from the field in seven straight games. 

LaVine has missed 10 of the past 19 games, including three straight leading into the All-Star break with a knee injury. He is on pace to average at least 23 points per game for the fourth straight season. 

The DeRozan-LaVine tandem is averaging a combined 52.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game this season. 

Chicago is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The team hasn't won a postseason series since 2014-15.    

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan became the first player in NBA history to score at least 35 points while shooting 50 percent from the field in seven consecutive games, breaking a mark previously held by Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain.

DeRozan tallied 38 points while knocking down 16 of his 27 shots from the field (59.3 percent) in a 125-118 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

"Just to be in the record books along with staples of basketball history—[I'm] speechless," he told reporters about surpassing Chamberlain's mark. "As a kid, as a fan of the history of the game, being in the league as long as I've been in the league, things like that continue to make me even more humble." 

DeRozan has been a revelation since being acquired by Chicago in an August sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs. He's averaged 28.1 points, which ranks fourth in the NBA, to go along with 5.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 51.7 percent from the field in 55 games.

His recent success has allowed the Bulls to enter the All-Star break on a five-game winning streak despite the injury absences of Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball.

"I'll be honest with you, I can't. I can't describe it," DeRozan said of the hot streak. "It's one of those things where I'm completely locked in as soon as I come to work. Understanding, I want to be able to leave work with a win by any means necessary."

All of the attention in recent days has surrounded the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers following their blockbuster trade headlined by James Harden and Ben Simmons.

Yet, the Bulls still sit atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 38-21 record and haven't had their preferred lineup much as of late because of injuries.

If Chicago can get healthy in time for the playoffs, it'll feature one of the deepest, most versatile rotations in the league and will be an extremely tough out.

DeRozan will continue to carry a heavy burden as the team's go-to scorer, but his ability to remain efficient even without LaVine on the floor to keep defenses honest is a great sign and shows his comments about being locked in aren't just a cliche.

The Bulls guard is on his way to the All-Star Game in Cleveland this weekend. Chicago returns to action next Thursday when it hosts the Atlanta Hawks.

Veteran center Tristan Thompson's time with the Indiana Pacers has ended after just four games.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the Pacers will waive Thompson, and he plans to sign with the Chicago Bulls once he clears waivers.

"It was fun while it lasted," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after Wednesday's win against the Washington Wizards. "He's gonna be joining a different team. He's gonna be waived tomorrow, and he'll be joining a contending team in the East."

The Pacers acquired Thompson at last week's trade deadline as part of the deal that brought in Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield from the Sacramento Kings. Indiana sent former All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2023 second-round pick.

Indiana improved to 20-40 with Wednesday's win. Thompson had his best game since joining the team, finishing with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and six rebounds in 21 minutes. He had played 15 minutes in each of the last three games and failed to score in double figures in any of them, which were all losses for Indiana.

Despite his short time with the team, Carlisle provided Thompson with some praise on his way out.

"We thanked him for what he's brought for the last six or seven days," Carlisle said. "He's brought a high level of professionalism, and he's done a rellly good job."

Chicago took down the Kings at home on Wednesday in its last game before the All-Star break for its fifth straight victory. At 38-21, the Bulls are first in the Eastern Conference. Thompson will provide some depth to a Chicago frontcourt that has been thin behind former All-Star center Nikola Vucevic.

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine missed the past two games with a knee injury, but the team received good news Wednesday.

Head coach Billy Donovan told reporters LaVine's visit with a specialist went "very well." Fluid was drained from his knee, which helped take down the swelling, and he is cleared for physical activity within 48 hours.

That means he could participate in Saturday's three-point contest and Sunday's All-Star Game, although Donovan said the Bulls doctors will hold a meeting about his minutes.

Chicago defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs without LaVine and can take over first place in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

The team doesn't play again until Feb. 24 after Wednesday's contest thanks to All-Star Weekend, so the guard will have plenty of time to rest and recover even if he does take the floor Sunday.

LaVine is a major reason the Bulls have surpassed expectations as a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference this season. He made his second consecutive All-Star Game and is averaging 24.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from deep.

While there was some concern about how he would fit offensively alongside DeMar DeRozan after the Bulls added the latter this past offseason, the pair has been among the league's best one-two punches and gives Chicago a chance to defeat any team it faces on a nightly basis.

The Bulls will likely need both healthy and ready to play significant minutes in the playoffs if they are going to parlay their successful regular season into a deep run, but there are enough pieces to help them tread water in the immediate future until LaVine returns.

Javonte Green, Coby White and Troy Brown Jr. can all play additional minutes on the wing, and the team can run the offense through big man Nikola Vucevic for stretches as well.

Still, getting LaVine and the sidelined Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams back before the playoffs will be critical for Chicago to live up to its ceiling as a contender this season.             

Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine is out for Saturday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to knee soreness, head coach Billy Donovan told reporters. Donovan added that LaVine is considered day to day.

The 26-year-old had also missed two games last week against the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers because of a back injury.

LaVine is in the midst of another stellar season. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the second straight year and is averaging 24.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He averaged a career-best 27.1 points in 2020-21, which ranked seventh in the league.

The Bulls have been one of the best teams in the league this year. Chicago's 35-21 record ranks third in the Eastern Conference entering Saturday. The team is 4-5 this year when LaVine is out of the lineup, per StatMuse.

The offseason acquisition of DeMar DeRozan has been a match made in heaven. DeRozan was named an All-Star starter and averages 27.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists. With LaVine sidelined, DeRozan will shoulder more of the load on offense.

Former All-Star center Nikola Vucevic will also get more touches while LaVine is out. His average of 17.7 points is his lowest since 2017-18 when he was with the Orlando Magic, but that's more a result of LaVine and DeRozan's ball-dominance. When given the chance, Vucevic is one of the most productive big men in the NBA.

LaVine's absence will also create more playing opportunities for wings such as Javonte Green, Troy Brown Jr. and Matt Thomas.