This summer will see a lot of big names potentially hit the open market and while the likes of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony may end up opting back into their contracts for another season, guys like Lance Stephenson are going to become free agents.
More from Chicago Bulls
- NBA Rumors: Warriors, Lakers among contenders for key free agent
- 3 players Bulls can sign with Disabled Player Exception
- NBA free agency: The 3 biggest losers in this offseason so far
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
- 5 players Sixers could acquire in Harden deal to stay competitive
But the big question when it comes to Lance Stephenson is who will want him after his antics in the Eastern Conference Finals, a even his own teammates are non-committal to his future with the team as far as endorsing him as someone they’d want to keep. One team that has been mentioned is the Chicago Bulls, but it appears that any mention of Stephenson coming to Chicago isn’t being considered by the front office.
K.C. Johnson from the Chicago Tribune notes that the notion that the Bulls could be interested in Stephenson isn’t a dumb one to consider given his production, but he’s just not someone Chicago wants to deal with
"Using your logic, why wouldn’t Stephenson also be a headache for Tom Thibodeau? I’ve not once heard Stephenson’s name mentioned as a possibility. He’s certainly a talented player. But beyond some of the baggage he can’t seem to escape, his price tag wouldn’t make sense for the Bulls."
Adding Stephenson’s production is something no team in the NBA would say they’re uninterested in doing but adding the headache he brings is not something teams really want to do. The Bulls have never been known for character dysfunction as Tom Thibodeau runs a tight ship and team chemistry is huge on his roster.
We saw how badly Stephenson messed that up in the Conference Finals and it’s just not something the Bulls are willing to over look when it comes to adding him in the offseason — and other teams are likely thinking the same thing.