RealGM

After averaging 11 points, 15 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in summer league, Malcolm Thomas won’t be retained by the Chicago Bulls into next season due to the franchise’s salary situation, a league source told RealGM.

As the guarantee date on Thomas’ contract approached, the Bulls weren’t able to keep the 6-foot-8 forward. Thomas had a breakout showing in summer league for the second straight year, highlighted by a record 22-rebound performance.

Thomas had been confident about his future with the Bulls, and he has always intrigued the organization. The Bulls remain interested in bringing back Thomas at some point, a source said, but he is expected to draw interest from several NBA teams.

Before leaving for Las Vegas, Thomas had spent the offseason working out at the Bulls’ practice facility.

“I’ve worked on my strength, a lot of offense and defense,” Thomas told RealGM after the Bulls’ final summer league game. “I’ve worked on pretty much everything. … There’s always stuff that I could have done better, but overall our team played well here and I think I played good.”

Thomas, 24, played five games for the Golden State Warriors last season before finishing the season with the Bulls. He averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in seven games for Chicago.

Via Shams Charania/RealGM

smfh...here's to another season where the Bulls won't do ****

clearly to save capspace, they should just amnesty Boozer, they would have saved more.

Sad, really sad. So they will sign some over the hill broken down veteran center at the veterans minimum to back up Noah. I can see this train wreck happening now: the guy will get injured and it will be up to Nazr to make sure that Noah isn't overworked. But Thibs won't trust Nazr, so Noah is worked like a rented mule. The only hope is that Taj remains healthy and isn't needed to play big minutes elsewhere (like to play in place of Carlos).

The only team that is hurt by this is Chi-town. This kid is only getting better and hanging onto him til they get Nikola would be smart. Oh well, guess overpaying DRose the test cheater was more important in the long run.

Grandad434 wrote:The only team that is hurt by this is Chi-town. This kid is only getting better and hanging onto him til they get Nikola would be smart. Oh well, guess overpaying DRose the test cheater was more important in the long run.

Oh no, they didn't keep their 5th big man

Seriously, who cares

Honestly, if you watched any of these Summer League games, you'd realized the Bulls don't need Thomas. He has some of the worst hands I've ever seen by a basketball player, literally fumbling 75%+ of the passes he received down low. Sure he can rebound, but the Bulls have PLENTY of rebounding as their roster stands currently. They already have Noah, Nazr, Boozer, Taj, and Murphy (who may or may not make the team, he can shoot, but his clear lack of any defensive skills will kill Thibs). This guy wasn't going to improve their roster, best of luck to him, but he still needs awhile to develop his entire offensive game.

Yes he has terrible hands, but I'd love to have him back in GS... definitely more than the mongoloid we signed to replace Landry :/

Timsta wrote:smfh...here's to another season where the Bulls won't do ****

Seriously you value Malcolm Thomas that much that him not returning makes the bulls season pointless? Please stop writing about basketball online.

Markusrayburns wrote:

Timsta wrote:smfh...here's to another season where the Bulls won't do ****

Seriously you value Malcolm Thomas that much that him not returning makes the bulls season pointless? Please stop writing about basketball online.

What if I don't??????????????????????? I was writing a **** opinion about a big who has given us more contributions than Vlad Rad.....if you want the Bulls and Paxgar to sit on their hands and not make moves other than veteran journeymen then so be it, to each it's own......Me on the other hand, wants to see the Bulls make moves to win **** championships, 1998 is not too far from being two decades ago

TdotRap4Lyfe wrote:clearly to save capspace, they should just amnesty Boozer, they would have saved more.

and it makes it even more strange considering we're in the luxury tax

Grandad434 wrote:The only team that is hurt by this is Chi-town. This kid is only getting better and hanging onto him til they get Nikola would be smart. Oh well, guess overpaying DRose the test cheater was more important in the long run.

Folks wasn't overpayed, it's mainly Booz and to an extent, Taj who is overpayed. But this move does hurt us because he's a young big that can provide valuable minutes to rest Noah.

I can't believe some Bulls fans are actually upset about not retaining a kid who has awful hands, averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.3 rpg in actual NBA games last year, and was cut from Maccabi Tel Aviv because he couldn't catch a ball or defend the paint to save his life. On top of that he kept whining about playing time even though he was clearly the worst player on that team. Don't worry, Bulls fans, I am sure you can find a better cheerleader.

TdotRap4Lyfe wrote:clearly to save capspace, they should just amnesty Boozer, they would have saved more.

I think their plan is to wait until next offseason, amnesty Boozer, and then bring over Nikola Mirotic.

If I were a betting man I'd already be placing them on a Bulls championship in '14-'15.

Grandad434 wrote: Oh well, guess overpaying DRose the test cheater was more important in the long run.

You do sound like a grandad with comments like that... It is pretty difficult to overpay one of the top 5 players in the league - whether he cheated on a test in high school or not.

Your alzheimer's must be acting up if you can't remember the top-5 D. Rose from before his injury.

I guess LeBron is a "college skipper" because he didn't even try to cheat on a test to get into school?