Oh, Bulls.
Rajon Rondo clearly isn’t a part of Chicago’s future. At the same time, it’s not like the Bulls have a bunch of high-end point guards to supplant him. Not one of Denzel Valentine, Jerian Grant, Michael Carter-Williams or Isaiah Canaan qualifies.
Cameron Payne, a late-lottery pick in 2015, might, though. And the Bulls acquired him at the trade deadline, per The Vertical’s Shams Charania:
[tweet https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/834851015295954945]
Surely this is the impetus the Bulls need to show Rondo the door?
Or not.
Per the Chicago Tribune‘s K.C. Jones:
[tweet https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/834926836194881539]
Rondo’s $13.4 million salary doesn’t become guaranteed until June 30. Maybe the Bulls view him as a draft-day trade chip—someone who can be used to help match incoming salary while proving immediate cap relief to his next team.
Really, this has to be the case, since Gar Forman, per Johnson, also emphasized playing the young guys:
[tweet https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/834930759496511488]
Basically, the Bulls remain as puzzling as ever. It’ll be interesting to see if they stick to their guns here, playing the young guys while keeping Rondo, or if they end up going back to him in an attempt to secure a playoff berth.
