After the Bulls reportedly went so far as scheduling a physical last week with Chicago native Patrick Beverley, they’ve backed off bringing in Beverley or anyone else as a third point guard.
For the moment, anyway.
The Bulls’ apparent intention now is to maintain maximum roster flexibility for potential trades. Chicago and Utah are the only two teams at present with just 13 players on their roster.
Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that a trade sending James Johnson to Charlotte has emerged as one option, but it remains to be seen if such talks get serious or what else would have to be involved ... or if Johnson remains as available as he was in the offseason after seizing a rotation spot under new coach Tom Thibodeau.
ESPN.com reported the Bulls’ interest in Beverley last week. The Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson reported that the Bulls also explored signing veteran point guard Anthony Johnson and had interest in Patrick Mills had Mills failed to survive Portland’s final cuts before Opening Night. Veteran NBA scribe Sam Smith, writing for Bulls.com, reported that Chicago has also looked at Utah castoff Sundiata Gaines.
The Bulls have likewise considered re-signing John Lucas III to a non-guaranteed contract after Lucas and Kyle Weaver were let go in Chicago’s final cuts. Beverley was let go by Miami even though he had a guaranteed two-year deal worth $1.3 million.
