As opposed to place all their eggs in the free-agency basket, the Chicago Bulls broke open their piggy banks .
First, they matched Zach LaVine $78 million offer sheet by the Sacramento Kings last offseason. Next, they traded for Otto Porter Jr. at the 2019 deadline, carrying on the $27.3 million owed next season and his $28.5 million player option for 2020-21.
Some may argue about whether LaVine and Porter should be a roughly $46 million mix. But it may work. Since other franchise columns Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. have multiple years left on their newcomer deals, the cash largely balances out. The Bulls should still have approximately $20 million to spend this summer.
They appear to have a good foundation around which they can construct. Even though Carter suffered a thumb injury before Porter came, the latter has had the opportunity to create some chemistry together with LaVine and Markkanen. This trio has produced an eye-opening 6.6 net evaluation across 288 shared minutes.
Particularly if Chicago adds another top-five choose this summer, it might be assembling a solid 25-and-under collection.
Read more: overtimesportsnation.com