It seems like any Bulls rumors that amount to a potential solution for this front office to fill the need at the four heading into next season, nothing comes of it. That was true of the possible connection that the Bulls had with the four-time All-Star and veteran power forward Paul Millsap. And the Bulls apparently had a connection with the former San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers seven-time All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.
Instead, the Bulls saw the likes of Millsap and Aldridge sign with the Eastern Conference foe Brooklyn Nets this week. To make this happen, the Nets shipped off the veteran center DeAndre Jordan in a big deal with the Detroit Pistons that also involved some draft capital and young and potent forward Sekou Doumbouya.
This leaves the Bulls still with a gaping hole to fill on the bench at the four. There are still some options remaining in free agency to fill this looming need at power forward on the bench. But executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley need to act fast to find the right solution ahead of the start of Training Camp later this month.
Bulls rumors in connection with LaMarcus Aldridge still leaves Chicago empty-handed
According to a report from K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago on Sep. 3, there was some mutual interest between the Bulls and Aldridge heading into the weekend. But it didn’t take long for Aldridge to re-up with the same team that he retired early last season with.
Even K.C. acknowledges the thinning market available for the Bulls among power forwards in free agency. It’s hard to overemphasize how fast the Bulls’ front office needs to act at this point to fill this need for head coach Billy Donovan to have an effective rotation heading into next season.
The Bulls are set to open up Training Camp on Sep. 28. And then, the preseason slate is now roughly one month away with the opener coming at home at the United Center on Oct. 5 against the divisional foe Cleveland Cavaliers.