The Bulls finally made the decision to go into rebuild mode when it came to Thursday's NBA Draft night. Now, after trading away their superstar, the Bulls' upper management have a few more decisions to make in terms of their free agent acquisitions from last year. The Bulls have not made a decision in terms of bringing back Rajon Rondo or Dwyane Wade yet. Both players can be bought out if the Bulls choose.
What should the Bulls do?
Bring back Rondo in reserve role
Rondo can be brought back and be paid $13.4 million or be bought out for $3 million. The Bulls are not likely to make the playoffs this year after making a trade that brought in Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and Lauri Markkanen. It wouldn't make sense to bring back Rondo to start on a rebuilding team. However, it would make sense if Rondo could stay on the team in a backup role.
Rondo was praised by young players last year on the team. He could be a mentor to Dunn who had a disastrous rookie campaign, and LaVine. This would only work if Rondo is open to the idea of being a mentor and letting the younger players grow.
Buyout Wade
If the Bulls bring back Rondo, it would make more sense to get rid of Wade. Having Wade on the court will stunt the development of the younger players. The Bulls don't need a 37-year old shooting guard on the floor with a bunch of players in their early 20s. The Bulls want a high draft pick in 2018. A starting lineup of LaVine, Dunn, Markkanen, Robin Lopez, and Paul Zipser seems like it is the way to go. Wade had a nice homecoming, but he needs to be bought out and go be a role player on a championship contender.
What will the Bulls do?
The way that the Bulls have been talking for now, it seems like they will keep Wade and Rondo. It's unlikely that a prolific free agent is coming to Chicago, so maybe having Wade around would benefit the younger players too.
Regardless, the Bulls will be bad next year, so both Wade and Rondo's money will come off the books next season. Combining that salary cap money with a high draft pick could help speed up a rebuild.
This season will really ride on the development of LaVine, Dunn, Markkanen, Denzel Valentine, Bobby Portis, Paul Zipser, and Cam Payne. The Bulls could have a season in which they find some role players for the 2018-2019 season. The Lakers are a perfect example of what the Bulls hope to become. The Lakers have a young corps with financial flexibility to sign a free agent next summer. The Bulls are hoping that their haul will become a young corps that will be able to convince someone to come to Chicago.