Chicago Bulls: 3 early 2021 All-Star free agent targets

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Kawhi Leonard Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

3) Chicago Bulls 2021 All-Star FA targets

Kawhi Leonard, Forward

There aren’t that many options to begin with among the participants in All-Star Weekend that the Bulls could target for free agency when next offseason arrives. Karnisovas, LaVine, and the Bulls would have to look further into the future to find that answer among potential free agent targets that were named to the All-Star Game this year.

One name that does really stick out at the top of this year’s free agent class is the former Toronto Raptors NBA Champion and the two time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. This 29-year-old former Raptor and San Antonio Spurs forward just got his fifth career All-Star selection this year, which somehow still doesn’t feel like enough.

Leonard will be a starter for Team Durant in this year’s All-Star Game, which is the same team that LaVine will be on. This could be a good opportunity for LaVine to see what type of relationship he can build with Leonard.

It’s still hard to see a superstar of Leonard’s stature wanting to come to the Windy City, even with the improvement that the team has showed so far this season. But it’s worth checking into with LaVine also getting his first career All-Star nod this year.

Leonard is facing a player option that he could pick up next offseason, which would give him an annual salary of around $36 million for the 2020-21 season. The Bulls would be more than happy to at least give Leonard that amount of money, and he would completely shift the direction of this franchise were he and LaVine to wind up playing together as soon as the start of next season.