The Bulls may have Bennedict Mathurin on their radar, but don’t mistake that for a full-blown pursuit.
A league source told Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic that Chicago’s interest in the Clippers’ restricted free agent swingman has been “overstated.” The team is still viewing Mathurin as a talented player who could be worth a flyer, but the bigger picture in Chicago points elsewhere right now.
According to Lorenzi, the Bulls’ two main priorities are keeping roster flexibility intact and adding future assets. That matters here because landing Mathurin would likely require a sign-and-trade, and that could force Chicago to part with something from its asset stash, such as second-round picks. There’s also the contract wrinkle: a player brought in via sign-and-trade has to be signed to at least three seasons, which would chip away at the flexibility the Bulls want to preserve.
Chicago could certainly use more scoring, but Lorenzi says the more pressing needs are floor spacing and defense. In that context, the Bulls don’t appear eager to chase a high-volume scorer who isn’t a strong passer or shooter. Mathurin isn’t off the board entirely, but a deal only seems realistic if it comes together on team-friendly terms - the kind that wouldn’t require the Bulls to hand out a long guarantee or give up meaningful assets.
Around the Central, Mario Hezonja’s new deal with the Cavaliers comes with a bit of built-in uncertainty. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that the one-year minimum contract is non-guaranteed, with Hezonja’s full $2,845,883 salary becoming guaranteed if he stays under contract through November 15.
Real Madrid reportedly worried that the Croatian forward could be waived this fall and then end up with a EuroLeague rival after using his NBA out clause with the Spanish club. Still, one report out of Cleveland said the Cavs see Hezonja as part of the regular rotation and do not plan to cut him before the season.
And in Indiana, the Pacers’ moves since February’s Ivica Zubac trade have mostly been small ones, but Tony East of Forbes writes that several of those lesser transactions have mattered. The theme for the Pacers has been depth-building, even without the flexibility to swing big.
If you missed it, there was another Central notes roundup earlier this morning with updates on the Pistons, Cavs, and Pacers.
In Other News...
Rick Carlisle Just Set The Tone For Indianas Next Step
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For a team that has already tasted how far it can go, the next step is less about selling the possibility than handling the responsibility that comes with it. Carlisle pointed to the need for the group to keep building quietly, which fits a franchise trying to turn one big run into a sustained chance at another title. The Pacers know the target is there, but the real work now is making sure the season gets rolling the right way. [Read more 🡒]
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Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins have been added elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the kind of centerpiece who changes a season by himself, and Norman Powell is part of the growing depth that makes this group less predictable than the one the Pacers expected to face. For Indiana, the question is no longer just whether the roster is improved enough to hang in the standings. It is whether a playoff path that once looked manageable now demands far more consistency than fans might have anticipated. [Read more 🡒]