The San Antonio Spurs’ roster appears to be set after filling the last of their 15-man roster as well as the three two-way spots. With the Spurs summer seemingly complete, fans are probably looking forward to the beginning of training camp and the preseason. However, for Spurs fans who have been keeping up with the Chicago Bulls’ off-season, they should like what they see.
While the Bulls have gotten younger this summer, they haven’t completely gotten worse. They will bring back Lonzo Ball, who has missed two and a half years of basketball but could still potentially help them, as well as Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine.
“League sources say that the Bulls are thus resigned to [the] fact that they will likely be forced to start the new season with LaVine on the roster…trying to help him rebuild some trade value…”
– via @TheSteinLine
— Jah (@JahlilWill) July 26, 2024
The Bulls tried and failed to shop LaVine, but his value seems to be at an all-time low, so they will be forced to bring back their all-star guard. That probably won’t make them a playoff team, but with Chicago owing the Spurs a top-10 protected first and several teams likely to tank hard for Cooper Flagg, they may be at risk of giving up that pick.
At this point, it’s hard to say, but perhaps not for the reasons one might think. Although there are going to be several teams that try to tank for the number one pick, teams such as the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz have given no indication that they will do so.
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets, who also owe the Spurs a protected first-round pick, may be trying to make the playoffs, at least according to Brandon Miller. The Spurs would benefit if the Hornets made the playoffs or the Bulls finished 11th or worse.
Neither seems likely, but with a log jam of mediocre teams, it is anyone’s guess as to how those teams will ultimately finish in the standings. However, LaVine’s return to the Bulls at least gives the Spurs a better chance of seeing Chicago’s pick convey next season.
