DeMar DeRozan's three-year contract with the Chicago Bulls is coming to an end. But DeRozan would like to extend that partnership, either via an extension or a new contract as a free agent.

"It's definitely somewhere I'd like to return to," DeRozan told Lou Williams about re-signing with the Bulls. "I think more so than anybody. When the job ain't done with me, Lou, no matter how tough the situation may look, I'm one of those guys that tries to stick it through and try to make something out of nothing."

DeRozan praised both the city and the Bulls organization.

"The city is great, I love the city. The organization been great, so it's definitely a place I'd love to return to and take care of unfinished business," DeRozan said.

Chicago Bulls guard launched a new podcast called "What an Experience. On the debut episode, Ball gave and update on how his recovery is going after his latest knee surgery.

"It's coming along, man. Week by week," Ball said. "It's improving, so that's all I can ask for. Still not where I want it to be. Out of 100 (percent), I'd say I'm about 70 (percent). Good enough to play, but it could still get better. I still got a long summer ahead of me. But definitely looking forward to the future."

Ball recently exercised his $21.4 million player option for next season. He hasn't appeared in a game since January 14, 2022. Ball has missed the last two-and-a-half seasons following multiple surgeries on his right knee.

The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to hire Josh Longstaff on the coaching staff of Charles Lee.

Longstaff most recently was an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls under Billy Donovan.

Longstaff has also worked under Mike Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks and as a G League head coach.

While Tim Connelly is likely the Detroit Pistons' top candidate to run their front office and Jon Horst will not be made available for an interview, a number of other candidates have emerged.

Trajan Langdon, Dennis Lindsey and Marc Eversley are among the potential candidates for the Pistons, sources tell James L. Edwards III and Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

Langdon is currently general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans under David Griffin.

Lindsey is in an advisory role with the Dallas Mavericks. 

Eversley is general manager of the Chicago Bulls under Arturas Karnisovas. Eversley was a candidate for the Pistons in 2020 before they hired Troy Weaver.

The NBA held its 2024 draft lottery in Chicago on Sunday with the Atlanta Hawks winning the top overall pick. The Hawks entered the lottery with just a three percent chance of securing the top pick.

Lonzo Ball has picked up his $21.4 million player option with the Chicago Bulls for the 24-25 season.

Ball hasn't played since January 2022 and it is uncertain if he will play again.

Ball signed a four-year, $80 million deal with the Bulls during the 2021 offseason.

Alex Caruso has been named the winner of the 2023-24 NBA Hustle Award.  Caruso, a 2022-23 NBA All-Defensive First Team selection, has won the NBA Hustle Award for the first time. 

Presented annually since the 2016-17 season, the NBA Hustle Award honors a player who makes the effort plays that do not often appear in the traditional box score but help determine team success. Hustle statistics include deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box-outs.

In the 2023-24 regular season, Caruso led the NBA in deflections per game (3.7) and finished second in total deflections (265). He also ranked seventh in the league in both total loose balls recovered (73) and total contested three-point field goal attempts (221).  Caruso drew 12 charges, making him one of 18 players to reach or surpass that total.

Last season was a nightmare for Zach LaVine. The Chicago Bulls star guard played in only 25 games. LaVine initially missed time with knee soreness, before a right foot injury knocked him out for the season in mid-January.

The good news is that LaVine is ahead of schedule in rehabbing from what has been termed a non-union Jones fracture. The All-Star guard had a piece of bone removed from his right foot in order to promote recovery. The Bulls put a four- to six-month timeline on LaVine's recovery. He's now progressing towards on-court work at the three-month mark, which should allow LaVine to have a normal offseason training regiment.