March 2017 Chicago Bulls Wiretap

Jerry Krause Voted Into Hall Of Fame

Mar 31, 2017 9:14 PM

Jerry Krause will posthumously be in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2017.

Krause will be elected via the contributor category.

Krause was general manager of the Chicago Bulls for all six of their titles in the 1990s.

While Krause wasn't GM of the Bulls when Michael Jordan was drafted, he picked every player during their title run.

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

Tags: Chicago Bulls, NBA

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Exec: Jimmy Butler 'As Good As Gone'

Mar 30, 2017 11:08 AM

During the lead up to the trade deadline, Jimmy Butler and Paul George were discussed by teams. Both the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers are in limbo between true contender status and rebuilding.

According to one front office source that spoke with The Ringer, Butler is "as good as gone."

Butler has a player option in which he can become a free agent in 2019, while George can opt for free agency in 2018.

There were a number of teams interested in both players at the deadline with the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets perhaps in the best place to make a blockbuster offer for either Butler or George without completely gutting their team.

Kevin O'Connor/The Ringer

Tags: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Serge Ibaka, Robin Lopez Each Suspended One Game

Mar 22, 2017 5:26 PM

Robin Lopez and Serge Ibaka have each been suspended one game without pay for throwing punches at one another during an altercation, it was announced by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Raptors assistant coach Jamaal Magloire has been fined $15,000 for pushing Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic and acting as other than a peacemaker as part of the same altercation.

The incident, for which Ibaka and Lopez were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game, occurred with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter of the Raptors’ 122-120 overtime win over the Bulls at Air Canada Centre on March 21.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Serge Ibaka, Robin Lopez, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Suspension

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Robin Lopez, Serge Ibaka Ejected After Exchanging Punches

Mar 21, 2017 11:16 PM

Robin Lopez and Serge Ibaka were ejected from Tuesday's game after exchanging punches.

Ibaka snached a rebound away from Lopez and elbowed the back of Lopez. Lopez responded by swiping at the ball. Ibaka shoved Lopez and then Lopez threw a punch at Ibaka that missed. Ibaka then retaliated with a punch of his own that grazed Lopez's head.

Ibaka and Lopez continued to go at each other, which led to several other players and assistant coaches from each bench joining the fray.

The two players continued to lob harsh words at each other and were separated by teammates.

ESPN

Tags: Serge Ibaka, Robin Lopez, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Suspension

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Jerry Krause Passes Away At 77

Mar 21, 2017 2:40 PM

Jerry Krause has passed away at the age of 77.

Krause was the longtime general manager of the Chicago Bulls when they won six titles in the 1990s.

Krause replaced Rod Thorn as GM of the Bulls in 1985 after the rookie season of Michael Jordan.

Krause retired in 2003 from the Bulls and then worked in baseball.

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

Tags: Chicago Bulls, NBA

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Dwyane Wade Out For Regular Season With Fracture In Elbow

Mar 16, 2017 1:25 PM

Dwyane Wade will miss the remainder of the regular season with a small fracture in his elbow.

Wade signed a two-year, $47.5 million contract with the Chicago Bulls in the 2016 offseason. Wade has a player option for 17-18.

Wade averaged 18.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 30.2 minutes per game with the Bulls. 

Wade's PER of 19.1 was his lowest since his rookie season.

"It took me awhile to really get comfortable in these new surroundings. But then I thought I played the way I wanted to," said Wade to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Injury

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Dwyane Wade May Opt Out Of $23.8M 17-18 Contract With Bulls

Mar 15, 2017 12:59 AM

Dwyane Wade has a player option for the 17-18 season with the Chicago Bulls worth $23.8 million.

Rival executives, however, "believe it's reasonable to expect Wade may want out" due to the Bulls' struggles and dysfunction this season.

Wade and Jimmy Butler have been critical of their teammates this season.

Wade, Butler and Rajon Rondo have all ignored play calls from Fred Hoiberg this season.

Ken Berger/Bleacher Report

Tags: Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Bulls Haven't Ruled Out Bringing Back Rajon Rondo For 17-18

Mar 15, 2017 12:52 AM

The Chicago Bulls haven't ruled out bringing Rajon Rondo back next season despite his poor fit and the team's dysfunction.

The Bulls only owe Rondo $3 million of his 17-18 salary if they decide to not pick up their team option.

Rondo signed a two-year, $28 million deal with the Bulls and is owed approximately $14 million in Year 2.

The Bulls haven't waived Rondo because they could presumably trade his partially guaranteed contract at the draft.

Ken Berger/Bleacher Report

Tags: Rajon Rondo, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Rajon Rondo 'Looking For A Straightforward Coach' In Next Stop

Mar 14, 2017 2:51 PM

Rajon Rondo's experience with the Chicago Bulls has not been successful and he's often been blamed internally and in the media for their struggles.

“It’s different, it’s part of, it’s part of life,” Rondo said of his Chicago experience. “I thought it would be different, a lot different. Now it is what it is.”

The players have no idea of the direction of Chicago's management.

“You can control what you can control. That’s what I tell my [younger teammates]. I’m going through it 11 years but they’re going through it their second or third year, so I try to be the example for those guys and stay professional. My young point guards and my young bigs are going through it here. But I think that’s what I’m here for, to try to help them out.”

Rondo has had disappointing experiences with the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Bulls.

“My perspective on things [has changed], I would love to be part of a winning tradition or winning culture,” he said. “I thought I was going to get that here. The people up top are going in a different direction as far as experimenting. It [stinks] when you have the opportunity to make the playoffs and they want to go a different route.

“I’m looking for a straightforward coach. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most, sitting down with a coach. I want to develop a relationship and see what his goals are.”

Gary Washburn/Boston Globe

Tags: Rajon Rondo, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Bulls Remove Nikola Mirotic From Rotation

Mar 13, 2017 11:32 AM

Nikola Mirotic has been removed from the Chicago Bulls' rotation by Fred Hoiberg. Mirotic will be a restricted free agent in the offseason.

"He told me that I'm out of the rotation," said Mirotic, who hasn't played in two games and was inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Celtics. "That I need to stay ready, but he didn't give me any expectation that I would [or] when I can play. Just 'stay ready.'

"I know that I'm ready. I know I can help those guys. Of course I've been inconsistent, not just me, all the team up and down -- but to be in this kind of situation, out of the rotation, doesn't make sense for me."

After a strong March in his rookie season, Mirotic was thought to be one of the best young players in the league.

Mirotic admitted it is difficult to stay positive in his situation.

"It's a very good question," Mirotic said. "It is hard. It is very hard. There's not too many things I can do right now. It looks like it's not up to me. It's up to Coach. I've always been a good teammate, always [been] professional, so I'm going to stay in that way. Do my work and wait."

The Bulls were seeking a first round pick for Mirotic at the deadline.

Mirotic was asked if he wished the Bulls would have just moved him at the deadline. He paused several moments before saying, "No."

"I came to Chicago because I wanted to play here," Mirotic said. "They drafted me, they did everything they were supposed to do, they waited for me. And for me it was like another opportunity after the [deadline]. I really was focused, working hard on myself, being the first guy in the weight room, working some extra shots. Doing everything I was supposed to do to be ready. I was feeling much better on the floor, but they made the decision they've made. It's been hard."

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Tags: Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls, NBA

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Bulls Sought First Round Pick For Nikola Mirotic At Deadline

Shams Charania/The Vertical

Cameron Payne 'Wants To Be The Guy For The Bulls' Future'

Shams Charania/The Vertical