1) Chicago Bulls 2021 FA targets ahead of 20-21 season
The superstar that would definitely be the grand prize target for the Bulls in the next cycle of free agency, as long as he doesn’t re-sign with the Clippers before the arrival of next offseason, is the 29-year-old 6-foot-7 and 225 pound small forward Kawhi Leonard. While the Clippers were able to sign PG down to a contract extension this offseason, they weren’t able to do the same with Leonard.
“The Claw” will most certainly be a a key target to sign down for the Clippers before the arrival of next offseason, but there’s no guarantee that he won’t want to take his talents elsewhere. Kawhi already surprised some around the NBA landscape when he won a title two seasons ago with the Raptors and then took his talents to join the Clippers, alongside PG.
If Karnisovas and the Bulls are able to put together an attractive enough pitch, and free up enough space on the cap sheet heading into next offseason, then it’s reasonable that they could be a suitor for Kawhi. But that will be a very tall task for the likes of Karnisovas and Eversley to put together in a rather short amount of time.
Moreover, during the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Leonard played in 57 games with the Clippers (all of which he started in). And he averaged 27.1 points per game, 7.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks. Leonard shot 47.0 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 88.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Kawhi is facing a player option that he can pick up next offseason that would pay him a little north of $36 million for the 2021-22 season. But there is a chance that he opts out and sees what else is out there on the free agent market come next offseason.