NEWSLETTER
The Marko Simonovic era has finally come to a close.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Chicago Bulls are officially waiving the 23-year-old big man after a failed two-year experiment.
Simonovic was the second-ever hand-picked talent by the current front office. Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Everlsey selected Patrick Williams No. 4 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft before taking Simonovic off the board with the No. 44 pick. The center spent one more season overseas with the well-known program KK Mega Basket in Serbia before joining Chicago during their jam-packed 2021 offseason. Simonovic initially inked a three-year, $4.3 million deal.
The third year in that contract was non-guaranteed, and the Chicago Bulls had to make an official decision on whether or not they’d keep him around by Friday, July 7. After appearing in just 16 games over his first two seasons – all garbage time – the full expectation this offseason was that today’s news would come.
Chicago will now head into the rest of the offseason with 12 guaranteed contracts. Ayo Dosunmu could make that 13 if he goes on to accept his $5.2 million qualifying offer or re-sign with the team on a multi-year deal. In the event of Dosunmu’s return on a number close to that QO, Chicago will have roughly $5.3 million to fill their final two roster spots.
