Bulls make sneaky move on unknown weapon amid Zach LaVine rumors

While the Chicago Bulls' focus has been primarily on management's continued efforts to explore options to offload two-time NBA All-Star Zach LaVine and his massive contract, the Bulls have made moves that indicate the franchise is willing to get younger and cheaper with a rebuild underway. But younger and cheaper doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't have promise, because if Adama Sanogo's final appearance with the Bulls last season is any indication, then the diminutive center could have a bright future as a rotational big ahead of him.

“Chicago Bulls RFA Adama Sanogo has agreed to sign a two-way contract with the team, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport,” NBA insider Chris Haynes wrote on Twitter. “Sanogo is represented by Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports.”

Although Sanogo only played nine games for the Chicago Bulls during his rookie season, he finished the year with by far his best performance on the big stage. In a game that featured many of the Bulls' starters and rotation players missing, Sanogo scored 22 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in 35 minutes as a substitute against the Washington Wizards in Chicago's 81st game of the season. With that performance, Sanogo became one of 22 rookies in NBA history to have a 20-20 game, according to StatMuse, and just the fifth rookie to do so this century, joining Victor Wembanyama, Walker Kessler, Gorgui Dieng and DeJuan Blair.

“It feels good, man,” Sanogo said after his 22-point, 20-rebound performance, per Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “I’ve been waiting for this all year. To be able to come out and do it now, it’s awesome. The good thing about it is it’s like a dream come true for me.”

Thanks to his late-season performance against the Wizards, in addition to his stellar play throughout the season with the Bulls' G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, Adama Sanogo will have an extended chance to live out his dream. And with Andre Drummond headed to Philadelphia, and the Bulls likely open to finding a suitable contract for Nikola Vucevic, don't expect Sanogo to play in just eight NBA games this year.

What's new for the Bulls on the Zach LaVine side?

Unfortunately for the Chicago Bulls, it's not that bad. When the decision was made to sign Zach LaVine to a five-year max deal in 2022, it proved to be the final blow to Chicago's chances of getting anything of value back for him. Now, it's possible the Bulls will need to shed draft picks in order to entice a team to take on LaVine.

While the Warriors and Kings have been considered the teams to watch for a potential Zach LaVine trade in recent days, there could also be a glimmer of hope in Brooklyn. Stephen Not of Sporting News suggested a potential Zach LaVine-for-Ben Simmons trade would shave $2 million off the Bulls' salary and allow Chicago to shed long-term money faster than if they kept LaVine. Simmons' contract expires at the end of the year, allowing the Bulls to pivot toward a full-fledged rebuild, and Brooklyn gets a pseudo-star they can put on banners outside Barclays Center.

This seems like a win-win situation, in my opinion.