Chicago Bulls

For the fourth time, Michael Jordan will be gracing the cover of an NBA 2K video game.

2K Sports announced the Hall of Famer will be featured on the covers of the NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan Edition and the ultra-premium NBA 2K23 Championship Edition.

No other way to do it for 2️⃣3️⃣

Introducing our #NBA2K23 Cover Athlete Michael Jordan

🏀Michael Jordan Edition
🏆Championship Edition

Pre-order starting 7/7 pic.twitter.com/WwVTynbK2x

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 5, 2022

Along with the game itself and several other yet-to-be-named features, the Championship Edition of NBA 2K23 will also give players a subscription to NBA League Pass. This is the first time League Pass has been offered through the video game.

“After making 23 the most recognizable number in sports, it was only fitting that for NBA 2K23 we introduce the Michael Jordan Edition," said Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy for NBA 2K. “Additionally, we’re thrilled to introduce a brand new premium edition of the game with the NBA 2K23 Championship Edition, as no other player embodies the word ‘champion’ like Jordan."

Jordan first appeared on the cover of NBA 2K11, which featured the well-regarded Jordan Challenge mode, allowing players to relive the greatest moments of His Airness' career. The mode will be reintroduced for 2K23, featuring each of the first 10 challenges along with five additional moments from his college, Team USA and NBA careers.

Details on the new moments will be made available closer to the Sept. 9 release date.

Jordan also appeared on the cover of NBA 2K12 and in a special-edition release for NBA 2K16.

Additional covers are set to be announced later this week. Price details for each edition of NBA 2K23 will be made available July 7.

The Chicago Bulls "rejected significant interest" in guard Coby White, according to The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry.

White averaged 12.7 points and 2.9 assists in 27.5 minutes per game in 2021-22. He also shot 43.3 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Chicago's stance on White is notable because he's eligible to become a restricted free agent next summer. He and the team can begin negotiating a long-term extension.

The Bulls are projected to have $98.7 million tied up in Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso in 2023-24.

Assuming no agreement is reached now, they'll have the opportunity to match any offer sheet White receives in a year. Doing so could be a costly endeavor, though, and one that means doubling down on a roster that's strong but not good enough to be a championship favorite.

White's future is one of the many subplots that surround the franchise.

By those choices I mean...

- no high-profile trade

- no low-profile trade to flip Coby White

- taking a promising guard at No. 18 with lofty potential but who doesn't look ready soon

-- adding a backup center who doesn't rim protect

-- bringing back a backup forward

— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) July 1, 2022

On Thursday, NBC Sports Chicago's K.C. Johnson said he expects White to remain with the team, citing the Bulls' high asking price for White and their continued belief in the 22-year-old.

If he had to guess, KC predicts Coby White will be a Bull next season@KCJHoop | @UnfilteredNBC pic.twitter.com/7OKbzO2Mcb

— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) June 30, 2022

White provides nice depth for the backcourt, which can't be taken for granted after Ball and Caruso missed 88 games combined last season. His shooting is also valuable to a team that averaged the second-fewest three-point makes (10.6).

Still, White wasn't so good in his first three years that he's untouchable in trades or considered a foundational piece of the squad. His contract presents a ticking clock too.

Even if it means accepting lesser value, moving White this summer or before the trade deadline might help the Bulls improve elsewhere on the court. Even marginal gains can have a big impact on a team with playoff aspirations.

Derrick Jones Jr. and the Chicago Bulls are extending their partnership.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the 25-year-old has agreed to a two-year, $6.6 million deal to remain with the Bulls.

The Bulls acquired Jones and draft picks in a three-team sign-and-trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2021. They were his third team in three seasons after he spent 2019-20 with the Miami Heat and 2020-21 with the Blazers.

The UNLV product fared well in his first season with Chicago, with head coach Billy Donovan using him primarily off the bench. He averaged 5.6 points and shot 53.8 percent from the field.

Injuries limited Jones to 51 games, though. He missed four weeks from Jan. 14 to Feb. 11 with a bone bruise in his knee and a fractured right index finger.

After making the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season, the Bulls had several key roster decisions to make this offseason. Zach LaVine was the biggest, especially after he made it clear he intended to "enjoy free agency."

Jones and Tristan Thompson were Chicago's other unrestricted free agents, and retaining the former gives Donovan more depth to utilize next season as the Bulls look to improve on last season's 46-36 record.

There was one point, early in the season, when the Bulls were in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. But injuries decimated their roster in the second half, dropping them to the No. 6 seed. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Jones isn't going to dramatically alter Chicago's fortunes next season, but he's a proven bench player who can provide scoring and length.

After allowing him to hit free agency, the Chicago Bulls re-signed guard Zach LaVine on Friday to a five-year, $215.2 million max contract with a player option for the fifth year, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

In 67 games during the 2021-22 campaign, LaVine averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc, earning his second consecutive All-Star nod.

LaVine helped lead the Bulls to the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season, although they fell in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a career year in his fourth season with the Bulls in 2020-21 with 27.4 points, 4.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds a night.

LaVine built upon the big numbers he put up in 2019-20, averaging 25.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and 2018-19, when he averaged 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 63 games.

That productive 2020-21 campaign saw LaVine named an All-Star for the first time, and he was selected for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021.

Chicago acquired LaVine from the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2017 offseason in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the T-Wolves.

LaVine missed most of the 2017-18 season as he recovered from a torn left ACL, averaging 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest in 24 games.

The Bulls made LaVine a key part of their rebuild when they matched a four-year, $78 million offer sheet that he signed with the Sacramento Kings as a restricted free agent in 2018.

Keeping LaVine in the fold again should help the Bulls maintain their status as a playoff team and perhaps become a championship contender in the Eastern Conference.

Chicago features a strong core of LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams.

The Bulls may have to make some tweaks to truly contend for titles, but keeping their best player is a step in the right direction.

The Chicago Bulls reportedly have interest in a pair of veteran additions this offseason and are likely to keep one of their talented young players.

According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls are expected to have interest in center Andre Drummond in free agency, as well as forward Danilo Gallinari if the San Antonio Spurs waive him. San Antonio acquired Gallinari from the Atlanta Hawks yesterday in the trade that sent Dejounte Murray to Atlanta.

Meanwhile, guard Coby White is reportedly "more likely to return than not" after the Bulls fielded trade calls leading up to the 2022 NBA draft but nothing materialized.

Chicago is coming off an up-and-down season that saw it spend time at the top of the Eastern Conference before dropping down to the No. 6 seed with a 46-36 record.

The Milwaukee Bucks eliminated the Bulls in the first round of the postseason, but it was a successful campaign as they ended a four-season playoff drought.

Chicago enters the offseason with question marks, though, most notably whether All-Star guard Zach LaVine will return in free agency.

Regardless of LaVine's status, Gallinari and Drummond are depth pieces that could play sizable roles in the Windy City.

Johnson noted the Spurs are expected to waive Gallinari. While he'll likely find a robust market for his services in free agency, the Bulls can offer him the opportunity to play under head coach Billy Donovan, who coached him on the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019-20.

Johnson reported it would likely take a two-year deal worth $7 million or $8 million per season to land Gallinari.

The 33-year-old native of Italy is set to enter his 15th NBA season after stints with the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Thunder and Hawks.

In 728 career games, he boasts averages of 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.0 three-pointers made while shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Gallinari shot better than 40 percent from long range in three consecutive seasons before dropping in line with his career average last year at 38.1 percent. He averaged 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.7 trifectas in 66 games for the Hawks last season.

Drummond, 28, was a two-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champion in seven-and-a-half seasons with the Detroit Pistons, but he has taken on more of a reserve role in recent years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.

After averaging better than 13 points and 12 rebounds per game in eight straight seasons, the 6'10" big man put up 7.9 points and 9.3 boards per contest last season in 73 games split between the Sixers and Nets.

Drummond would provide quality minutes behind starting center Nikola Vucevic, and Johnson noted he could sign for the veteran minimum.

Chicago selected White with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. While he hasn't established himself as a regular starter, he has been a valuable offensive contributor.

White started only 17 of the 61 games he appeared in last season and averaged a career-low 12.7 points and 3.0 rebounds, but he pitched in 2.9 assists and 2.2 three-pointers while shooting a career-best 43.3 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range.

Since LaVine and DeMar DeRozan took precedence as scorers, White was often forgotten, but he played a significant role, especially after Lonzo Ball underwent knee surgery in January and sat out the rest of the season.

Johnson noted that while the Bulls aren't closed off to the idea of trading the 22-year-old guard, they are happy to keep him, especially as insurance for Ball if he is unable to stay healthy.

Amid rumors that he will remain with the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine has reportedly already spoken to some about his decision to re-sign with the club when free agency begins Thursday.

Per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, LaVine has told people he intends to sign a new deal that is "expected" to be agreed upon quickly when the moratorium period opens at 6 p.m. ET.

After the Bulls' season ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, speculation began about LaVine's future with the organization.

LaVine didn't do anything to quiet the talk when he told reporters in April he planned "to enjoy free agency" and "experience A through Z without making any fast decisions."

B/R's Jake Fischer reported earlier two weeks ago that LaVine is expected to re-sign with Chicago, despite rumblings he could receive interest from the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Bulls do have the luxury of being able to offer LaVine an extra year on a contract. He is eligible to sign a five-year max deal worth around $212 million with Chicago. Other teams can only offer him a four-year max worth approximately $157 million.

Last season was a positive step forward for the Bulls. The front office made aggressive moves in the offseason to bring in DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso as free agents.

Those additions had a significant impact on the franchise, particularly in the first half last season. The Bulls were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference as late as Feb. 25, but injuries took a significant toll on their depth down the stretch.

Chicago finished the regular season as the No. 6 seed in the East with a 46-36 record. It was the organization's first time with a winning record since 2015-16 (42-40) and first time making the playoffs since 2016-17 after going 41-41.

LaVine has developed into a star in the past five seasons with the Bulls. He has been named to the All-Star team in each of the previous two seasons and has averaged at least 23.0 points per game in four straight seasons with a 39.2 three-point percentage during that span.

The Los Angeles Lakers don't have much wiggle room to add players this summer after Russell Westbrook opted into his $47 million player option. However, that's not preventing the team from looking at ways to improve.

Rival executives believe the Purple and Gold may target Chicago Bulls point guard Coby White in a trade this offseason, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.

"The Lakers could also look to acquire players via trade, with rival executives believing Chicago's Coby White could be a target," Woike wrote. "Moving Talen Horton-Tucker, a player whose ball-dominant skills are viewed by rival scouts as being redundant with the Lakers' stars, could be a way to upgrade to suit the Lakers' needs."

If the Bulls were to move White, it wouldn't necessarily be surprising, as ESPN's Jonathan Givony previously reported the franchise was open to trading the No. 18 pick in the 2022 draft and potentially White in a package.

White has a $7.4 million salary-cap hit for the 2022-23 season, per Spotrac, while Horton-Tucker has a $10.3 million cap hit.

White would undoubtedly be an upgrade from Horton-Tucker. The 22-year-old averaged 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 61 games last season while shooting 43.3 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from deep.

While his numbers declined from the 2020-21 campaign, White averaged 27.5 minutes last season, compared to 31.2 minutes during the season prior. In addition, he started just 17 games last season compared to 54 in 2020-21.

Horton-Tucker, meanwhile, averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 60 games with the Lakers last season while shooting 41.6 percent from the floor and just 26.9 percent from deep.

The Purple and Gold finished the 2021-22 season with the NBA's ninth-worst three-point percentage (34.7 percent), and there's no question they need to add shooting around Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Athletic's Jovan Buha reported the Lakers' focus in free agency is two-way wings, but adding White, who has shot well from deep over his three-year career, via trade would also help the team's outside shooting struggles.

In addition, White could handle starting point guard duties if Westbrook were to underperform again this coming season, so acquiring him could prove to be a valuable addition.

Westbrook averaged just 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists last season while shooting 44.4 percent from the floor and a dismal 29.8 percent from deep in 78 games. It was one of his worst seasons in the NBA.

The Lakers are hoping to reach the playoffs next season after finishing 11th in the Western Conference during the 2021-22 campaign. However, it could be difficult given the way the team has been built.

Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins has reportedly piqued the interest of multiple teams on the trade market in recent weeks.

According to Matt Moore of The Action Network, the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings have all checked in on Collins.

Moore noted that while the Hawks were shopping both Collins and veteran forward Danilo Gallinari leading up to the 2022 NBA draft, nothing materialized due largely to a tepid market.

Collins, 24, has been a constant subject of trade rumors over the past couple of years, and the whispers grew louder following an up-and-down 2021-22 season for the Hawks.

Atlanta signed Collins to a five-year, $125 million extension after helping the team go on a Cinderella run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but last season didn't go according to plan for Collins or the Hawks as a whole.

The Hawks barely reached the playoffs with a 43-39 record and got eliminated in the first round by the Miami Heat.

Meanwhile, Collins had his lowest scoring average since his rookie season with 16.2 points per game to go along with 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 three-pointers made and 1.0 block. He also shot a career-low 52.6 percent from the field.

Collins had an even tougher go in the playoffs, averaging just 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in five games.

There was clearly a disconnect between Collins and the Hawks last season, as Shams Charania of The Athletic reported in January that Collins had grown "increasingly frustrated" with his role and "challenged the Hawks locker room on several occasions."

Chris Kirschner of The Athletic added fuel to the fire last week, reporting that a source close to Collins said he is "done in Atlanta."

While Collins has some deficiencies, particularly on the defensive end, the 6'9" forward could be a big-time addition for any number of teams.

He is just two years removed from averaging a career-high 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds in 41 games during the 2019-20 season, showing what he can do when utilized properly.

The Celtics, Bulls and Kings would likely all feature Collins prominently, although to varying degrees.

Boston reached the NBA Finals last season before falling to the Golden State Warriors, and while Collins would undoubtedly be a starter, he would probably be the third scoring option behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

The Bulls were a playoff team last season, but they lack a true power forward, so Collins would be an ideal fit and perhaps the No. 2 scoring option behind DeMar DeRozan unless Zach LaVine returns in free agency.

Sacramento is in the midst of a 16-year playoff drought and could use a splashy addition like Collins to get back on track.

Collins would give the Kings one of the NBA's most exciting frontcourt duos alongside Domantas Sabonis, and few teams would be able to match up well with them.

Although the Collins-Hawks relationship hasn't been at its best recently, trading him would leave Atlanta with a huge hole on the roster and no clear No. 2 scoring option behind All-Star guard Trae Young.

Mo Bamba will generate interest from multiple teams when the free-agent negotiating period begins on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.

Per The Athletic's Kelly Iko, the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets are already showing interest in the 24-year-old center.

Iko noted the Orlando Magic have interest in re-signing Bamba.

It's unclear where things stand between Bamba and the Magic.

Iko noted the writing might be on the wall after Orlando posted images on social media unveiling No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero's jersey number as 5, which has been worn by Bamba.

you love to see it

📸: paolo5/IG pic.twitter.com/hVSknFND4V

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) June 25, 2022

There's other, more tangible evidence Iko pointed out to suggest Bamba might be on the move, including the volume of frontcourt players the Magic have.

Of course, B/R's Jake Fischer noted there's also "motivation on both sides" between the Magic and Bamba to stay together.

The Bulls haven't been shy about their desire to find a strong defensive presence at center. The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported June 6 they have interest in a Rudy Gobert trade, as well as New York Knicks free agent Mitchell Robinson.

Per Fischer, any potential deal the Bulls put together for Gobert would likely need to include Patrick Williams, and it's unclear if the team is willing to move the 20-year-old.

The Rockets are hoping they've found the nucleus of their next great core with No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith set to join second-year guard Jalen Green. Bamba would fit in with their timeline because he's only 24 years old and has shown flashes of tremendous potential.

Orlando has struggled to find ways to maximize Bamba's skill set. He did take a step forward in 2021-22, his first season playing primarily in the starting lineup. The University of Texas alum averaged 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds and shot 38.1 percent from three-point range in 71 games.

The 2022 NBA draft is done, but the roster changes are just getting started this offseason.

Few teams could be in for a bigger overhaul than the Utah Jazz, which already lost head coach Quin Snyder after he stepped down earlier this month following eight seasons.

That left the future of star player Donovan Mitchell in question as well, considering ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the guard was "surprised and disappointed" about the departure of Snyder.

Wojnarowski also described Mitchell as "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future."

Simply running things back with the core of Mitchell and Rudy Gobert probably wouldn't mean a championship in that future. After all, the Jazz did not advance past the second round of the playoffs despite making the postseason in each of Snyder's last six seasons. That includes a second-round loss in 2020-21 when they finished with the best record in the NBA at 52-20.

In addition to the clear ceiling in place, there have been multiple reports of tension between the two star players and no shortage of rumors about whether one or both will be traded.

Sean O'Connell of SiriusXM reported in May that Gobert reached a "him or me" point with Mitchell, while Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported in June that Utah has "been one of the more active teams during early offseason trade conversations."

Fischer noted many of those discussions were about Gobert since "Utah has not entertained rival teams' overtures to steal away All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell."

The big man seems the more likely trade candidate than Mitchell, who is still just 25 years old and a franchise cornerstone under contract through 2024-25 with a player option for 2025-26. He has the offensive skill set to be a go-to option for years to come, while the defensive-minded Gobert is limited on that end of the floor and someone who is ideally surrounded by other elite talent.

That means teams with impressive offensive guards who need help on the defensive side should be seen as the most likely landing spots for Gobert.

Enter the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls.

Fischer mentioned both Eastern Conference squads as teams that were interested in the 29-year-old, and it's not difficult to see why. Chicago has a two-time All-Star big man in Nikola Vucevic it could include in the deal and would immediately bolster the interior defense.

If the Bulls do end up bringing back Zach LaVine, they will need a rim-protector like Gobert since DeMar DeRozan and LaVine are not exactly renowned for their shutdown defense on the wings.

Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso are better known for their defense, but they both dealt with health issues last season and may not be on the floor together as often given the importance of LaVine and DeRozan to the offensive attack.

Chicago also went perimeter with its only pick of Thursday's NBA draft when it selected Arizona's Dalen Terry at No. 18 overall.

Atlanta also has an All-Star on the perimeter who isn't an all-world defender in the shape of Trae Young.

While the 23-year-old can carry the team to victory on any given night with his outside shooting and overall offensive game, the Hawks would be much better with someone like Gobert to help cover for his defensive mistakes.

Like the Bulls, the Hawks didn't load up down low in Thursday's draft either and went with a wing in Duke's AJ Griffin (No. 16).

Atlanta and Chicago are also looking to take another step into the discussion of serious Eastern Conference contenders and could be in "buy" mode with the chance to land a three-time Defensive Player of the Year down low.

As for Mitchell, a pair of Eastern Conference teams also stand out as potential destinations even if the Jazz reportedly aren't interested in trading him.

It was clear throughout the Eastern Conference Finals that Jimmy Butler could use some offensive help if the Miami Heat are going to take the next step and win a championship.

Kyle Lowry is past his prime, and Mitchell would give the Heat a third All-Star-caliber player alongside Butler and Bam Adebayo in the Eastern Conference race.

Elsewhere, the New York Knicks are further from a championship than Miami but could use a star player in a major market desperate for a contender. They also landed multiple picks in draft-day trades that may be used in future moves.

New York has won one playoff series since the 1999-2000 season and took a step back in 2021-22 after reaching the postseason the prior campaign. Mitchell would give the team its best player since Carmelo Anthony and someone who could actually lead it deeper into the playoffs.