{"id":415421,"date":"2023-07-06T22:19:36","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T03:19:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/?p=415421"},"modified":"2023-07-07T09:47:17","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T14:47:17","slug":"2023-bulls-offseason-updates-summer-league-and-some-new-faces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/2023-bulls-offseason-updates-summer-league-and-some-new-faces\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Bulls Offseason Updates: Summer League and Some New Faces"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s that time of year again. The 2023 Bulls offseason has arrived! Between last month\u2019s draft, free agency, and the NBA\u2019s Summer League, enough is happening to make you think we\u2019re already in the middle of a season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that isn\u2019t quite the case. So with over three months to go until the start of the 2023-2024 season, let\u2019s see what the <\/span>Chicago Bulls<\/span><\/a> are up to these days!<\/span><\/p>\n

2023 Bulls Offseason News<\/span><\/h2>\n
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A post shared by Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

How Was The Draft?<\/span><\/h3>\n

This first update for the 2023 Bulls offseason involves the NBA Draft and a surprising move made by our franchise. Entering the Draft, the Bulls had zero picks to their name as a result of the trade to acquire Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107 and a punishment for how they pursued Lonzo Ball in free agency.<\/span><\/p>\n

With no pick available, we didn\u2019t expect much from the Bulls on draft night, but Art\u016bras Karni\u0161ovas and his staff had other plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a <\/span>deal made with the Washington Wizards<\/span><\/a>, the Bulls acquired the 35th pick in this year’s draft for two future second round picks. With pick 35, one of the first splashes of the 2023 Bulls offseason was made and the team selected <\/span>Julian Phillips<\/span><\/a>, a small forward from Tennessee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Phillips is a large forward, standing 6\u20198\u201d with an even longer 6\u2019 11.5\u201d wingspan. He had the highest vertical out of all players in this rookie class, and in his lone season with Tennessee last year he earned SEC All-Freshman honors and averaged 8.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 1.4 apg. The Bulls will look to utilize the combination of his length and athleticism on defense while hoping to develop more consistent shooting to add to his offensive game.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A post shared by Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Contract Signings Old & New<\/span><\/h3>\n

Drafting Phillips isn\u2019t the only recent move for the 2023 Bulls offseason. Up next we have some signings to talk about for both some new and some familiar faces.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Extensions<\/span><\/h4>\n

Starting with the familiar guys, the first signing the Bulls made involved <\/span>a contract extension with center Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107<\/span><\/a>. The deal was reported for three years and $60 million. While he\u2019s played pretty consistently in both seasons with us, many fans like to knock Vuc and are already questioning this deal and what it means for the team\u2019s future plans. Despite the noise, Vuc is one of the team’s most reliable players as he found himself being only one of two to play all 82 games last season along with Patrick Williams.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next extension was a pleasant surprise to see, with<\/span> a three-year, $33 million deal<\/span><\/a> going down at the end of last month to extend point guard Coby White. At 23 years old, White has shown plenty of improvement as a defender and floor general from where he was when the Bulls drafted him years ago. Despite last season being a statistical down-year for the young Bull, he\u2019s still a three-point threat for a team that needs some support in that area, and with <\/span>Lonzo Ball set to be out another season<\/span><\/a>, he\u2019s a guard that\u2019s familiar and comfortable with the Bulls organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

Andre Drummond also exercised his $3.36 million option to stay with the team and refused to give up his number to one new addition <\/a>who requested #3 for $500.<\/p>\n

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Free agent F Torrey Craig has agreed on a two-year contract with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. Deal includes a player option. Craig averaged 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24 minutes for Suns last season.<\/p>\n

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n