The Bulls have signed forward JaKarr Sampson to a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from Chicago’s G League affiliate the Windy City Bulls, pursuant to the NBA’s hardship roster rules.  

Sampson (6-9, 215) appeared in 24 games this season for Windy City, posting averages of 21.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.17 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game.

The Chicago Bulls are signing Walter Lemon Jr. to a contract for the remainder of the season.

Lemon played in five games last season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Lemon averaged 20.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 33.9 minutes per game in the G League this season.

Lauri Markkanen has been undergoing a series of tests to determine the cause of an episode of a rapid heart rate and fatigue during the game in Toronto on March 26.

At this point all testing has been normal, but as a precaution, the medical team has recommended additional testing over the next 10-14 days. Markkanen will not return for the remainder of the season.

“The long-term health of our players is always our organization’s top priority,” said John Paxson, Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. “We will continue to monitor Lauri’s condition and work with our medical staff and doctors to provide him with everything he may need.”

Lauri Markkanen experienced extreme fatigue during the first half of Chicago’s game in Toronto. He was seen and evaluated in the training room by the Bulls medical staff and Toronto’s team physician. Although he was stable, it was determined that further testing was warranted, and he would remain in Toronto overnight.

As a result, Markkanen was accompanied by team Director of Performance Health Chip Schaefer, where he underwent more testing at a local hospital after the game.

He was cleared to travel after tests were completed and is now back in Chicago. Markkanen is undergoing further evaluation and will not play in Wednesday's game versus Portland. Updates on his condition will be provided when appropriate.

The Sacramento Kings discussed a trade with the Washington Wizards centered on Otto Porter Jr.

The Kings eventually pivoted to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks for Harrison Barnes, while the Wizards dealt Porter to the Chicago Bulls.

Sacramento also had interest in Porter when he was a restricted free agent in 2017.

Barnes was acquired by the Kings to help fortify the wings, but he's spent most of the past two seasons as a power forward.

The Chicago Bulls have shut down rookies Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison for the season after injuries to both players.

Carter played in just 44 games this season.

John Paxson added that the Bulls may do the same with Otto Porter Jr., who missed his third game following a strained rotator cuff.

Zach LaVine has also missed his last two games with tendinitis in his right knee.

"We're gonna monitor them. Otto has so many things going on that we won't push him. We may run out of time, too. For Zach, I think it's important for him to try to fight through some of these little things. Last year, we shut him down toward the end. It's a case-by-case basis," added Paxson. 

The Phoenix Suns have expressed interest in Kevin McHale and Jim Paxson for their general manager vacancy.

McHale currently works for TNT and was the longtime general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves. McHale last worked for a team as head coach of the Houston Rockets.

Paxson was general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers when they drafted LeBron James. Paxson is currently a consultant with the Chicago Bulls.

The Suns fired Ryan McDonough as general manager before the start of the regular season.

The Chicago Bulls will let Zach LaVine pay Jim Boylen's fine for getting ejected from a game, pending league rules.

NBA rules stipulate that the person receiving the fine must pay it. Boylen is expected to be fined $7,000 - $5000 for two technical fouls and $2000 for the ejection.

Boylen was ejected after arguing with Doc Rivers about how the Clippers were setting screens during the game.

"What Jim did, I personally respect that a lot. He really cares about us and he's going to fight for us. That shows his true character the way he feels about us," said LaVine.

Doc Rivers and Jim Boylen were ejected after an argument during the 3rd quarter of the Los Angeles Clippers 128-121 win over the Chicago Bulls.

The confrontation took place following an offensive foul call on Montrezl Harrell.

Rivers and Boylen were each issued a pair of technical fouls, leading to their ejection. 

The Chicago Bulls will retain John Paxson and Gar Forman in their front office roles next season.

"Absolutely," said Michael Reinsdorf when asked the question about Paxson and Forman. "We believe they’ve done a great job. I know that in this market, with some of our fans and some in the media, they look at it differently. That perplexes me. Let’s talk about them individually because that’s another thing I don’t understand — why they’re referred to as “GarPax” when they have different job responsibilities.

"John, as our vice president of basketball operations, he took over in 2003 and orchestrated our first rebuild. He inherited a team and made a lot of different trades. He drafted Kirk Hinrich. We spent $3 million in a trade with Phoenix so we could draft Ben Gordon and Luol Deng in the same draft. He added Joakim Noah. We signed a top free agent in Ben Wallace in 2006. A lot of people forget he was the No. 1 free agent that year. And we ended up sweeping the defending NBA champion Miami Heat in the first round and played Detroit in a tight, six-game series. We were on our way.

"The next year, we tripped and didn’t make the playoffs. That was the year we got extremely lucky and we won the draft lottery and the right to draft Derrick Rose. John and I will be the first to tell you we were lucky. That’s part of what sports are about. The Lakers were lucky the year they won the coin flip to draft Magic Johnson. The Cavaliers won the lottery the year LeBron James came out. That’s luck. After we drafted Derrick, we brought Tom Thibodeau in a couple years later and we had the best record in the league two years in a row. One year we went to the conference finals. The next year, we were poised I think to go all the way. And that’s when Derrick blew out his knee.

"We’ll never know what that team could’ve accomplished. But as Pat Riley said when LeBron James left the Heat, he saw a championship window close. Well, when Derrick blew out his knee, we had a window that closed on us. The problem was Derrick’s contract had just been extended. So we were very limited as far as what big moves we could make. But John and Gar did a great job bringing players in during that time.

"Right now, we’re going through our second rebuild. That also mystifies me. I listen to some people who reach out to me asking how many rebuilds can we do. This is our second rebuild. And given where we are today, I think for Year 2 of our rebuild to have two potential All-Stars in Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine and a great draft pick in Wendell Carter Jr., we’re in good shape. Wendell injured himself, but I think we have a good enough sample size to know he’s going to be a solid NBA player. I think he’ll bring a lot to the defensive end and he’s very skilled. And then the trade for Otto Porter Jr., I know it’s only eight games, but the numbers speak for themselves. The offensive output has increased dramatically.

"I look at rebuilds and what some other teams have gone through, and I have confidence in where we are. I try to look beyond the standings and what the potential is. I look at the Sacramento Kings. They’re a team that last year wasn’t very good and they’ve made a tremendous jump this year. We’re poised to make a similar jump."