Pippen Ain't Easy
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A Look at the Bulls During Free Agency + SummerBulls Notes

By Michael Whitlow

Mar 23, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016 NBA free agency period has been crazier for some (Kevin Durant is a Golden State Warrior), but also the furthest thing of chaotic for others; like the Chicago Bulls. Here’s a look at what’s gone down with the Bulls, plus a look at the SummerBulls in Las Vegas this week.

The NBA’s free agency is this weird span of a week where the NBA turns into college football’s National Signing Day and some high-profile stars find new and creative ways to announce where they’re going to play next season.

For the Chicago Bulls, they’re usually rumored to be involved in the frenzy, but nothing good ever happens. (Well, Carlos Boozer happens.)

With the day for players eligible still a couple days away (July 7 to be exact), let’s take a look at how the Bulls roster has changed, including a glance ahead at the SummerBulls during their time in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Rajon Rondo (two years, $28 million with the Chicago Bulls)

Why did the Bulls sign a cancerous player like Rajon Rondo has been throughout his career? Because the Bulls don’t know any better. They just don’t.

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All throughout this summer, Bulls general manager Gar Forman has been preaching that the Bulls will get ‘younger and more athletic’.

So, signing a 30-year-old point guard that can’t shoot that’s a locker room problem after trading away a 27-year-old point guard that can’t shoot was your solution, huh?

The upside to the Rondo deal is that it’s basically a one-year rental to get the Bulls into next summer if things don’t pan out. The second year of Rondo’s contract isn’t fully guaranteed, so the bulls have some support there.

Still, when other veteran guards like Brandon Jennings ($5 million) and Deron Williams ($10 million) who may not be the best options are available, but are cheaper, the Bulls giving almost $30 million to Rondo doesn’t add up.

E’Twaun Moore (four years, $34 million with the New Orleans Pelicans)

Good for E’Twaun Moore.

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The guard rotation for the Pelicans is a bit crowded (if they’re all healthy), but Moore can play both guard positions efficiently and gets to play with Anthony Davis. That doesn’t seem too bad.

When the details on Moore’s deal came out, the first thought was, “Yeah, there was no way the Bulls were going to re-sign him.”

With Jerian Grant, Jose Calderon, Denzel Valentine and Rajon Rondo (after Moore’s deal was announced) all in the fold, Moore made the right choice to bolt elsewhere for more money and a new opportunity.

Pau Gasol (two years, $30 million with the San Antonio Spurs)

This seemed like the biggest given of the summer, right?

It wasn’t just Pau Gasol opting-out of his three-year deal with the Bulls he signed two summers ago. It was the 36-year-old Gasol signing with the team he most likely would have signed with if the Bulls didn’t land him.

Gasol landing with Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs — especially with the recent news of Tim Duncan considering retirement — seemed like the obvious match.

Plus, giving Gasol $15 million a year might have had many Chicagoans petitioning to ban the Bulls from the city of Chicago.

The current Bulls depth chart (minus Denzel Valentine and Paul Zipser):

The 2016-17 SummerBulls:

There’s nowhere to find the fully Las Vegas Summer League roster for the Bulls because of a couple things:

  1. It’s technically not a full roster yet.
  2. Forman probably isn’t done scoping out the YMCA complexes in Ames, Iowa for guys to put on the roster.

Next: 2016 Summer League preview for the SummerBulls

As for now, with the first game set for July 9 against the Boston Celtics, here’s what the SummerBulls roster looks like:

  • Dez Wells – former guard at Xavier and Maryland, played for the D-League’s Oklahoma City Blue last season
  • Rasheed Sulaimon – former guard at Duke and Maryland, went undrafted in 2016 draft
  • Tre Demps – former guard at nearby Northwestern, Dell Demps (general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans) is his father
  • Jerian Grant – acquired in Derrick Rose trade, played with the New York Knicks last season
  • Denzel Valentine – 14th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Bulls
  • Bobby Portis – 22nd overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Bulls
  • Doug McDermott* – 11th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft by Denver, traded to Chicago; won’t play, but will practice with the SummerBulls
  • Cameron Ridley – Undrafted in this year’s class, had foot issues during senior season at Texas
  • Jack Cooley – played with Jerian Grant at Notre Dame, last played for Unicaja of the Spanish Liga ACB
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