The Chicago Bulls have agreed to a contract with Marko Simonovic.

Simonovic was the 44th overall pick by the Bulls in the 2020 draft. 

Simonovic averaged 15.1 points, 9.1 re bounds and 1.6 assists in 35 games last season with KK Mega Bemax.

Dennis Schroder is seeking a greater role and salary than the Los Angeles Lakers appear willing to offer as he hits free agency.

Schroder declined a four-year, $84 million extension offer from the Lakers during the season.

The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks are expected to pursue Schroder, who could be acquired via a sign-and-trade with the cooperation of the Lakers. The Knicks have enough cap space to sign Schroder outright.

The Lakers acquired Schroder from the Oklahoma City Thunder last offseason for their 2020 first round pick and Danny Green.

If Lonzo Ball signs a significant offer sheet with a rival team in restricted free agency, sources tell The Athletic that the New Orleans Pelicans are unlikely to match.

The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers are among the teams expected to pursue Ball.

Ball had a productive season with the Pelicans in 20-21, averaging 14.6 points while shooting 37.8 percent on three-pointers.

The Pelicans acquired Ball in 2019 as part of the Anthony Davis trade.

Zach LaVine and Jerami Grant have committed to the United States for the Tokyo Olympics to complete their 12-man roster.

James Harden has withdrawn as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

The United States has also received commitments from Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Kevin Love, Bam Adebayo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. 

Coby White has undergone successful surgery on a left shoulder injury sustained while engaged in basketball activities away from the Chicago Bulls.

White will be reevaluated in four months.

White averaged 15.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 31.2 minutes in his second NBA season. 

Al-Farouq Aminu intends to exercise his $10.2 million player option for the 21-22 season with the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls acquired Aminu as part of the Nikola Vuceivc trade at the deadline with the Chicago Bulls.

Lonzo Ball is expected to have a competitive restricted free agency with the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Chicago Bulls held serious trade talks at the deadline with the Pelicans for Ball.

“Ball in Chicago will be an interesting one to watch,” said Adrian Wojnarowski on the Woj & Lowe Podcast.

The New York Knicks are another team expected to have interest in Ball.

“I think Lonzo will get a pretty good number whether it’s Chicago or New York or some other places.”

Zach LaVine might be willing to take a slight discount with the Chicago Bulls if it means the team is able to add key role players around him, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times.

Before the start of the 20-21 season, several outlets reported that it was important for LaVine to sign for max money moving forward.

LaVine is finishing his fourth season with the Bulls and his seventh in the NBA. LaVine has yet to reach the playoffs in any of them.

“I’ve been making strides each and every year,’’ LaVine said. “I’m going to continue to do that. But it’s not about me. I would love to have just the opportunity to go out there and play and compete and showcase what I can do on a bigger stage. I’m going to get there. But we just have to work for it.’’

LaVine signed a four-year, $80 million offer sheet with the Sacramento Kings in 2018 that the Bulls matched. 

Zach LaVine plans to return to the Chicago Bulls lineup on Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets.

LaVine hasn't played since April 14th due to COVID-19 protocols. 

LaVine is averaging 27.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists this season. 

The Chicago Sun-Times previously confirmed LaVine tested positive for COVID-19. 

While the Chicago Bulls continue to push for a possible playoff spot, the future of Lauri Markkanen with the franchise remains entirely unclear. Markkanen will be a restricted free agent.

“Up and down in that way,” Markkanen told reporters after Monday’s shootaround when asked to summarize his season. “Start of the season I got the COVID thing so I couldn’t play, and then I felt like I was playing well for whatever, a month-and-a-half period before I got hurt, kind of found my rhythm there, and then you sit out… And then we got a little bit different team now (after the deadline) and playing [small forward], so it’s been a lot of new stuff. 

“But like every year you have your good moments and you have your bad stuff happening. I think I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can, and learn new stuff on the fly.”

Markkanen hasn't begun to look ahead to the offseason yet.

“I haven’t thought about that at all. I let all that kind of stuff happen its own way after the season,” Markkanen said when asked if he thinks this season could be his last with the Bulls. “I can’t focus on that. What do we got? Eight games left? Just try and make this play-in spot, and that’s my focus right now. Like I said, I’m going to give it all I have, and I’m not thinking about the future right now. I can’t control that, so I don’t know.’’