Over the past several weeks, Bulls fans everywhere have been living with a sense of hope. Players like Malcolm Brogdon, for example, were discussed as possibilities for the Bulls before the NBA Draft, even knowing that they’d most likely have to overpay the guard to pull him away from Milwaukee.
And whether or not it was all a dream, it’s now over:
Indiana is trading a first-round and two future second round picks to the Milwaukee for Malcolm Brogdon, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
The Indiana Pacers had point guards Darren Collison and Cory Joseph hit free agency this offseason, and rather than looking to re-sign one of them, the Pacers hopped into the market for an upgrade … and they got one. And not just for one year, either:
Malcolm Brogdon's four-year, $85M deal with the Pacers is fully guaranteed, league sources say.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 30, 2019
Bye-bye, Brogdon.
And … Sorry, hopeful Bulls fans.
Right before the NBA draft, ESPN’s Bobby Marks gave fans hope when he said that Brogdon would be looking at a four-year, $80 million offer sheet from a team like the Bulls. But after the selection of Coby White (and despite continued optimism from guys like ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who said that he believed the Bulls were “lining up” to make an offer to Brogdon) it felt as though Chicago’s run at a high-tier point guard was off the table.
Well, quickly after the 5:00 p.m. start of free agency earlier today, the Bulls opted to go after forward Thaddeus Young on a three-year $41 million deal, which immediately took them out of the running for a point guard of Brogdon’s caliber.
The Bulls are now looking at around $10 million in cap space remaining, which is most likely going to a veteran guard.One of the Pacers old point guard’s Cory Joseph could certainly still be in the conversation, but the Bulls will now be working on a tighter budget all around with plenty of room for added depth on the bench.
Let the craziness continue!