Latest On Josh Giddey, Bulls Negotiations | By The Horns

Latest On Josh Giddey, Bulls Negotiations | By The Horns

[Music] What’s up everybody and welcome to a new edition of the By the Horns podcast presented by Toyota. Toyota has more all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles than any other brand. So find yours and shine on Toyota. Let’s go places. Cam Smith back with my man Casey Johnson for this fresh edition of By the Horns. And Casey, as we record this podcast, it is July 22nd. It feels like this month and summer is really flying by. And for me, I’m a little sad because as it gets closer to my birthday, which is next week on July 31st, it’s a realization, too, that summer is starting to get ready to end. And more so that school is getting ready to start back. But I’m a little bittersweet right now because the birthday’s coming up, but also it’s the one of the signs and the flags going up that summer is almost over. Yeah. And this is kind of entering the quieter period of NBA off season, uh, typically. So, August is pretty dead month. We’re a little bit away from that and then September as well and then we gear up for training camp. Uh really only one big news piece of news left for the Bulls off season. That’s the Josh Giddy contract. I know we’re going to get into that, but first I think we’re going to take a look at summer league and Yuki Mania. Ah Yuki Mania definitely taking over the entire city of Chicago and a little bit of the basketball world as well. So as Casey mentioned, let’s get into that conversation. Vegas is done. I I guess I can say congratulations to the Charlotte Hornets for winning the 2K26 summer league. I don’t know what goes into that. I know they they still get rings and they are celebrated like they won an NBA championship. So there you go. Congratulations to the Charlotte Hornets for winning the 2K26 summer league. But this Bulls team KC finished the summer league with a win. They won three out of their five games. And a big reason why they were able to finish off on a positive note with a win with that team from the summer is Yuki Kawamura. My man had been balling ever since he got more minutes and more opportunity. And we saw it in that win against the Utah Jazz where he had 20 points, 10 assists, six of nine from three. And the Bulls are like, you know what, there’s something to this Yuki Mania thing. So, let’s just go ahead and sign him to a two-way contract. Casey, you saw a couple of games with this Bulls team early on in Vegas. What stood out to you from watching Yuki then to how he finished off summerly because it felt like he just stepped into just a playmaker leader type role at that point guard position? Yeah, I mean, let’s I mean, he finished with that big game against Utah, 20 points, 10 assists. I mean, let’s there’s a lot to say about Yuki. I mean, let’s uh let’s start with the positives. I mean, first of all, um you know, he really jumps out with his activity. I mean, his ability to make highlight reel passes, his ability to pick up the ball full court, his ability to create havoc at the defensive end, even though he’s undersized with his hands and activity, and just peskiness. I mean, he he had a lot of steals, a lot of assists. So, you can see the appeal. I I personally am surprised they cut Jir Young to make room for Yuki. And a lot I know people say, okay, he outplayed Jamir Young. I just feel like the Bulls have so many guards. I thought I do not think they would downgrade in size. Yuki is famously the shortest player in the NBA. Look, man, this guy proved it last year. He can play at the NBA level. He played 22 games for the Memphis Grizzlies. Played very well for the Memphis Hustle in the G-League where he was coached by Chuck Sworks son, TC Swerski. Um, and so I’m not hating on Yuki. I just personally was surprised. I get the appeal. He’s a fan favorite. I I’m guessing he’ll put it some fans in the seats out in Hoffman, the States. Uh, and prove me wrong. Maybe he’ll be uh getting some a taste of action with the Bulls. I would be surprised given the glut of guards they still have on this roster. And I’ll just close with this and I don’t mean to be like a cold water guy. Uh but like every year in summer league there’s like one name that Bulls fans just go nuts over. One one time was Freeman Liberty and I remember how angry Bulls fans are when he signed a two-way with the Toronto Raptors. Yeah. Uh Carly Jones who was a G-League MVP one year. I mean, everyone’s like, “Oh, we got to have Carly Jones.” Prove me wrong, Yuki. I mean, try to try to earn some NBA minutes and prove me wrong. I’m just saying like I will be surprised if he makes the NBA roster. But very cool story. And I know he plays very very well on Vegas. Here’s another name in that group of names with Yuki and Javon Freeman Liberty and Carly Jones. How about Kenny Loftton Jr.? Like the thing and the energy on Kenny Loftton Jr. of course the big man that had multiple moves and you know just surprised a lot of people. So yeah, I’m I’m with you Casey. like prove me wrong as well, Yuki, with what you can do. And I get it like hard over hype. And I know that’s helped a lot of guards throughout the uh NBA’s time in history. I mean, we have examples of this Bulls team. And you think of Nate Robinson and John Lucas, guys like that. Aaron Brooks, not too much in terms of the same height as Yuki, more so Nate Robinson in terms of just height alone would be the better comparison in that. Um, so you have guys that have been able to have success with the Bulls on the NBA level throughout their careers at that size. But with a team that’s stacked with guards, I’d be hardressed to see if Yuki is going to see um a lot of time, if any time, with this Bulls team, I know that he may be called up. Um I’m not sure on how many minutes he will get when it comes to that spot. look for more of Yuki in the preseason wearing that Bulls uniform, but the majority of the season he’ll be over in Hoffman Estates with the Wind City Bulls. But to your point, Casey, with the experience that he has one year last year with the Memphis Grizzlies and became really good friends with John Morant. So, I think that accelerated what he’s able to do on the court, especially with his size. And don’t get me wrong, this guy’s been a pro. Um, and not to say that he doesn’t belong, but when you have the lack of height at 5’8, it makes it very difficult for you to have an impact in the NBA. And I know we heard Kevin Durant’s thoughts with the Mind the Game podcast with LeBron about how the six-foot guard and even less than that is really going to be absolute obsolete at some point. You have to have someone that can make plays and be able to do things on both ends of the floor. And we talked about Yuki and what he’s able to do. ball pressure-wise andounding guys up the court, but it you have those areas of the game where teams are going to pick on you because of lack of size. So, those are the points that we’re hitting towards with Yuki. And I know we’re going to maybe get some smoke in our mentions, Casey, for any of the presidents or anyone a part of the Yuki Yuki Mania fan club. But we’re just calling it what it is, and that’s what it is with Yuki. steel. He was one of only three guys in the summer league, KC, to average at least six assists and two steals. So, that lets you know the impact that he was able to have with that Bulls team in those five games in summer league. And he was rewarded with that two-way contract. But it’s a feel-good story, but also you have a guy that just brings good energy, right? I think that’s part of the story as well. And that energy is infectious in the locker room. And we saw with a lot of the behind thes scenes content that we saw from the Bulls who did a good job. The Bulls TV and media team did a phenomenal job of, you know, chronicling this team as they led up to heading out to Vegas and while they’re in Vegas as well. Yuki is a magnet to the camera and just his energy is genuine. Yeah. Look, and I’m glad you brought up John Mor because I mean like you know players always know more than anybody and to have a advocate with that high of a profile and John Morant, let’s let’s not make sure our words don’t get twisted. It’s like I I believe Yuki could play at the NBA level. I just don’t see a pathway for that with this roster unless there’s like a glut of injuries and that would obviously not be good for the Bulls. I mean, his ability to pick up full court like really stands out. He’s just a he’s just a pest uh defensively and that’s what he tries to how he tries to overcome his size. And yeah, he’s a fan favorite. He’s a teammate favorite. He’s a coach’s favorite. That energy energy is a skill in the NBA and he plays very very hard. So, I’m wishing the best for him. I just don’t see a pathway um to playing time at the NBA level. Um but prove me wrong and uh you know I will say uh you know the fact that he will put uh some people in the seats in Hoffman estates cannot be overlooked and also look the Japanese media was out in full force. This is obviously a huge storyline in their home country for very valid reasons. Uh really hot, you know, the only other Japanese player I believe that’s on an NBA roster right now. So, um, you know, this is really a cool story. Uh, but I just always go back to the Javon Freeman Liberty and Carly Jones. And then you you you uh brought up one more that I forgot about that. Yeah. Yeah. It’s like it’s like flavor of the day right now. We’re all star for basketball. Um, but credit to Yuki. Uh, and I’ll just say in closing for me, uh, Jir Young, your 37 point game, it’s a harsh business, man. man, dude after scoring 37 points and carrying them in in a game against the Bucks. Um, so I I also believe Jir Young in the right situation can be get some NBA minutes. Um, so we’ll see where he goes in his future. And that’s the great thing about summer league, right? If you’re not able to make that roster, whether as a two-way guy or make the training camp uh roster for a lot of these teams across the NBA, then you have opportunity because the film is out there. And don’t get it twisted, other NBA teams are watching you play as well. And a lot of teams uh overseas, European professional teams were in attendance in Vegas and watching these guys and trying to see who would fit with their roster and their forward movement with the program that they have. So Jir Young, I’m sure will will be with a job soon even though it didn’t work out with the Chicago Bulls. But one last note on Yuki Kamura KC, he’s rocking number eight next year for this Bulls team. We saw the Bulls tweet that out yesterday and uh I saw you quote tweeted said, “Last worn by Zack Lavine.” Right. And so someone had a great uh hilarious response in my Twitter mentions. They said, “I’m surprised I didn’t give him 23.” Oh my gosh. Give him 23. And also give them the locker as well. Like give give them all Jordans and then a little more Jordan. So that’s hilarious. But congrats to Yuki on earning his spot with this Bulls organization on that two-way contract. So Casey, as we kind of transition, we’re getting their tours to wrapping up this summer league conversation. Um, just kind of quick takes on what you think from Modus and also Noah As from what they what they were able to do out in Vegas, especially Modus in the limited games that he played. He only played two. Yeah, I mean, I joked that those were really the only two guys I was paying attention to going out there and a little bit of Lachlan who to me showed real quick on Lachland some ball skills. His his his handle and his passing ability stood out to me. Um, I don’t think he played overly well overall, but you could see again style of play like he just kind of he can he knows how to handle and pass it and that’s going to be his future if he makes it in the NBA. But yeah, the two most important people by far, Madus Gellis and and Noah Assen. Um, mixed bag from Noah. I mean, disastrous debut. No other way to sugarcoat it. Loved his response in game two before he got hurt. Uh, decent third game for him that before he got shut down. Um he’s young, he’s raw. We knew this. Uh what stands out to me is his length. Um his ability to contest to the rim, uh draw fouls on his driving ability, get to the line. Um that’s where he’s going to have to make his mark. Uh if he’s going to get NBA minutes as an 18-year-old, I guess he’ll be 19 in December early in his rookie year. Um so, and then Modis I was very impressed with, you know, serious demeanor. Yeah, accepted the responsibility of more ball handling on his plate, more pick and roll. Um, diet of offensive arsenal on his plate. Uh, acted like a leader, carried himself with a swag. We saw it last year. I felt it even more. Sat down with him out in Vegas. It was palpable. He just really, he feels like a guy who’s poised to have a breakout year. Um, you know what that level is? I’m not saying he’s going to be like, you know, an all-star, but I mean, I just feel like he’s going to really create some waves this year at the NBA level. So, um, overall, I if you’re a Bulls fan, I think you have to be pleased because that’s your front court of your future right there. Ellis and Noah Sen. So, we’ll we’ll see uh as they attack training camp um how that goes. But overall, fairly positive for Vegas for sure. Yeah, I believe I said this on the last by long horse podcast with you, Casey, on the last episode with summer league. It’s almost damned if you do, damned if you don’t, right? If you play well, people are going to say, “Well, the summer league guys that are that you’re playing against won’t even be on the NBA roster.” But if you play bad, it’s like, “Oh my gosh, who is this guy?” Like, he hasn’t improved. He’s playing against guys that won’t be on the NBA roster. The sky is falling. So, with Noah and you said him bouncing back in the second game, I’m 100% in agreement with that. And so I’m making this point to say that I don’t look for guys to have a like a modest right year two he has NBA experience of course second league second team all rookie excuse me and I wasn’t looking for modest to average 35 or 40 but I just wanted to see how he was able to step into that leadership role his poise with the basketball Donovan the third putting him in those uh initiating offensive spots and making sure that when it’s on the break that he’s handling the basketball to make plays for himself or others and you saw that from Modis in Vegas which was great even though two games but still there was enough for the Bulls there to say okay we’ve seen enough let’s shut him down but also let’s not have any injuries with Mod because we have a long way to go before training camp starts and that’s the last thing that we want for a young guy that mentally has prepared himself for another leap in his young NBA career and we’ve discussed this at nauseium at times with Madison his mentality but hopefully people can see it as well but he’s a guy that carries himself with maturity on the important with his work ethic. And at the end of the day, he’s a 20-year-old kid. He’s going to have his fun. You see all the social media stuff when he’s streaming and he’s talking to Chad and all that stuff. That’s just he’s a 20-year-old kid, right? He’s dancing. He’s going, you know, doing, you know, going out to concerts and, you know, hanging with Caleb Williams of the Bears. But when it’s time to work, Modest is locked in. And that’s what you want to see from a young guy. And so, I think that speaks volumes about him. And quickly on Noah, just how he was able to bounce back and get into the point of I was mentioning I didn’t want to see Noah average 20 or 15. I just wanted to see how he moved, what his confidence level was like. Most importantly for me, Casey as an 18-year-old guy and a sing and not having that experience in the NBA, how would he be able to respond if someone got the better of him or if he didn’t have a better game? And you saw that from game one to game two. and Ford before he was shut down. He was a dude that was like, “Okay, I didn’t have the game that I wanted. This was not the debut. I come back, I get a double double. We all know the Johnny Fury thing happened, but he still had a great game in that ball game against the Indiana Pacers.” So, he was able to respond. And what it showed me was that Noah has heart for the fight. And I think that’s special for a young guy at 18 years old. That’s a great point. And you mentioned the word maturity uh for Modis. And we talked about Noah’s maturity just off of our first initial media impressions before he went to Vegas. I will say standing there after that debut and watching him own it and look inward and not point fingers outward and just say, “Look, man, I was I I didn’t play well. I I need I was overwhelmed by the physicality and then the way he responded in game two.” Again, you know, we’re not saying he’s going to come out and average 20 points a game in his rookie year at the NBA level, but I do think you see uh a bu a mature perspective, ownership of uh needing to play better, better better accountability. He talked about having like three film sessions between game one and game two and kind of just learning what this takes at this level. And that’s what the summer league’s all about. So, that that really stood out. Um, one other quick uh Bulls summer league note uh to put a bow on this. uh you know it’s every NBA team’s now like uh it’s invogue for players you know veterans to sit courtside while their team’s playing and the Bulls had quite the contingent out there but uh I talked to Kobe White and I sumu and Kevin Herder briefly uh in Vegas and we all already talked about on this podcast um about how they gathered in LA um at the start of uh July I want to say maybe it was June I can’t remember uh for that kind of informal work out and uh you know uh they they got runs in together, they hung out together off the court. Uh Kevin Hera told me they’re going to do that again uh as a group before uh training camp starts. So again, not to overstate these matters, but there are worse things that teams can be doing in the offseason and uh especially for a young group and introducing a new guy like Isaac Aoro who’s also sitting courtside and is going to try to make this second gathering. And this is again run by Kobe and IO mostly modest with a little bit of an assist, but uh Kobe and IO um you know with trade chatter dying down pretty much for both of them looking like they’re both going to be here. The fact that there’s you know um you know keeping that uh leadership mantle I think is a good sign for Bulls fans. No doubt about that. And look Casey Johnson and I are not pocket watching people when I make this statement. But these are young millionaires. Casey, they could be anywhere in the world right now, but they’re electing and choosing to spend their time with each other to grow that chemistry like we saw last year in the offseason. And Kobe White and I right there at the forefront as two of the leaders of this team, making sure that that chemistry is being built before they get into training camp. So, it it says something about just their mentality and what they’re trying to do with this group and the newer guys just getting acclimated and uh and joining this group and understanding what it takes to be a Chicago Bull and making sure that they are in sync with each other before training camp starts. So, that speaks volumes. KC, since we wrapped up summer league talk and everybody wants to know the latest on a particular member of the Chicago Bulls and that is Josh Giddy. So maybe this should be like a weekly thing when we do by the horns of you know have some kind of like flash alert coming up. All right, Josh Giddy update or Josh Giddy the latest on that. So what do you got for us Casey on Josh? All right, July 22nd restricted free agency continues to move and crawl for not only Josh Giddy but Jonathan Kaminga, Cam Thomas, Quinton Grimes. Uh it’s just it’s just not happening for these guys. It’s it’s a slow restricted free agency period. Just just a couple overall points I want to make about this. There was some speculation that with Josh Giddy being out in Vegas and not joining this aforementioned group courtside that that was a sign of acrimony. What I will say is like to me I was told that was a negotiation reminder rather than a negotiation ploy. It was just like kind of like hey remember you know this guy’s not technically a member of the Bulls. He’s a restricted free agent. So there was definitely some agency uh strategy there but it wasn’t anything acrimonious. In fact, I’m told Josh Giddy had a nice sit down with Billy head coach Billy Donovan, not Billy Donovan the third, the big boy NBA head coach Billy Donovan while they’re out in Vegas. I know Josh also had some contact with his teammates um while I was out in Vegas. So, look, is Josh Giddy frustrated he doesn’t have a deal yet? I’m sure he is, but this is what restricted free is all about. The Bulls still continue to, you know, read the market, read the situation where they have the power. It is a delicate dance. We’ve talked many times, Cam, about how they don’t want to alienate a guy that they still view as a a cornerstone for their for their next roster iteration, but I’m told there’s still a pretty significant gulf uh between these two sides. You know, it’s just like Josh Giddy is stuck on that $30 million number and the Bulls are closer to that $20 million number now. Wow. I still think Josh Giddy will be a bull next year and obviously playing on the qualifying offer is not uh an ideal scenario, but it is in play. Um I ultimately do think they’re still going to get a deal done. My guess would be it would be uh closer to the Bulls number and maybe a shorter term length so that Josh can become an unrestricted free agency faster. That’s just that’s just educated speculation people. Don’t aggregate that. It’s breaking news. But I I would just say that the Bulls are, you know, look at the Lowry marketing situation, his restrictive tra that dragged all the way to August until they found a signing trade. Uh I not heard any sign and trade machinations for Josh Giddy. So I I keep emphasizing I do believe he will be in a Bull’s uniform next year. It’s what number and how many years? That’s Yeah, I’m with you, K. I’m I’m with you, Casey. It’s like and we’re just going to call this giddy gate. like, you know, have that, you know, like we’re on CNN and it has like the music pop up. All right, here’s a Giddy Gate latest with Casey Johnson on it. Um, if if I if you’re a Bulls fan, Casey, you said that this thing is dragging on because there’s a gulf between numbers with Giddy, his representation, and the Bulls. If it gets to mid to late August, should Bulls fans start to get a little concerned about Giddy and these negotiations with this Bulls front office? What? Great question. What I would say to that, Cam, is this. What I would be concerned about is, again, both all the power. Giddy is almost certainly going to be back, whether it’s on the qualifying offer or long-term deal. What I would be concerned about is like, what kind of mindset is Josh Giddy going to come into camp with after the negotiations dragging on that long and then him not maybe getting uh what he wanted. You want him coming into camp with a good feeling. Yeah. Pleased with his deal. Now, the fact that it dragged on, you guys get over that if they sign a deal that ultimately pays him $90 million over four years. And I’m just throwing out a, you know, number and and that’s a lot of money. So, guys get over that stuff. And, you know, the Bulls, it’s not just the Bulls, though. It’s like the Warriors are doing the same thing with Jonathan Kaminga and you know, Cam Thomas is in the same situ situation. Quinn Grimes, same situation. It’s just that’s the reality of restricted free agency this summer. It happens. It’s not pretty always. Um, but that would be my only concern. Like what kind do you get a do you get a let’s go Bulls fired up Josh Giddy or do you get a this is BS you know this takes so long Josh Giddy I don’t know the answer to that yet but it certainly will be a story line to monitor case see at the end of the day he’s a human right I mean and with those emotions and especially if you don’t get what you want and not to say that Josh Giddy is going to start pouting if he doesn’t get what he wants but still there’s something there um and just put yourself in that position I’m speaking to our viewers and our listeners right Now, if you’re not in a spot where the deal that you want to have is met and you have to lower your number and this golf that KC described it as between the Bulls front office and Josh Giddy that is there and if he’s not able to get the number that he wants then you’re going to have a little little something there. Not to say that he will. We’re not saying that we heard this from Josh Giddy. I’m just kind of putting myself and some of our listeners and viewers in that position. But you want to, again, as we talked about with Kobe and Io, they had a workout with the team and the players in LA. They’re planning on having it another workout before training camp goes together so that they can grow that chemistry. Josh Giddy not being there, he comes into training camp and if he’s a little uneasy on things, that could disrupt chemistry. But we’re not saying that that’s what Josh Giddy feels and that’s the situation because we know how social media works and people want things to go viral. We are not saying that. We’re just saying hypothetically with what is happening with Giddy and these negotiations with this Bulls team. But again, this is a team that is loaded with guards and you’re going to have guys out there from day one in training camp competing for their spot in terms of their minutes with this group. So, we will continue to monitor Giddy Gate with by the Lord. See, whenever I can get KC laughing like that, then I know that I did a good job with uh with tagging that segment. So, anybody out there trying to copyright this and stop it right now. We already got it done. It’s called Giddy Gate on by the horns. All right, Casey, we mentioned this is July 22nd as we move through the summer months. Uh, and just kind of a landscape view of what we’ve seen across the NBA. Some interesting moves with some guys who I feel are preparing for a potential swan song with their careers. And the two guys that jump out to me are Damen Lillard going back to the Portland Trailblazers on a three-year deal and Chris Paul going back to the Clippers on a one-year deal. I believe he’s getting like three and a half million for that. So, two interesting uh bits of news there for both of these guys. But Casey, when I saw the news for each one, I’m like, “Yeah, are they getting ready to call it a career?” Because we know that Dame is recovering from that Achilles injury. I would be shocked if he plays in the 25 26 season. He has a three-year deal. So, I think year one and even he said this with his press conference with Chanty Bilips that Chanty said that Dame is going to be the highest paid assistant coach in the NBA cuz he’s going to throw a lot on him and he’s going to be there every day and demand a lot from him um just in that role. So, they already view Dame in that this upcoming season just being more of a mentor and assistant coach and possibly finishing out the last two years of that contract in Portland where he started his career. I mean, this is a top 75 player along with Chris Paul as well. So, did you have those same thoughts that I did, Casey? Like, okay, the these guys are are they see the light at the end of the tunnel with their NBA careers? Yeah, I mean, what Chris Paul’s going into what, season 21? I mean, I I can’t keep track. I mean, there I thought it was fitting for both of them and I like both moves. Um, you know, the Dame thing to me, it’s like that that been kind of whispered about for a few weeks. I’ I’d heard some whispers about that and um it just seemed like every ever since he made his public request to go elsewhere, his heart wasn’t in it. He just seemed like to me a one franchise guy and the fact that he’s back to me seems fitting. And I mentioned this when they traded for Drew Holiday and now obviously with Dame missing this year, you expect Drew to be there and will they both be there when Dame returns? We’ll see. But this does have a Bulls tie because the Blazers still owe the Bulls a first round pick. that’s lottery protected and with the Blazers, you know, pushing some chips in and getting some internal development and, you know, Abdia played so well for them down the stretch last year, like this is this could be a boon for Bulls fans because it could deliver a first round pick either in the 2026 draft, which is loaded, or the 2027 draft, which early returns are it’s not so loaded, um, for the Bulls, uh, as part of that long ago Larry Markin sign of trades. So, uh, you should be rooting for the Blazers to be good if you’re a Bulls fan. And Damen Lillard makes the Blazers good or better. Uh, not this year as to your point, Cam, because I don’t expect him to play, but um, he’s still he’s still a very good player. Um, so yeah, it just seemed fitting for both those guys. I always kind of like CP3 with the Clippers, and I I actually quietly think the Clippers had a pretty low-key nice off season for the limited amount of, you know, moves that they were able to make. Um, I thought they were impactful. Um, the West is just such a gauntlet obviously, but I I like the Clippers and I’ll, you know, don’t know where I’ll have them ranked as of right now, but I think they’re going to be up there. So, uh, solid offseason for the Clippers and CP3 finishing his career there would be would be perfect. Yeah, the Western Conference is spicy. Once again, it just interesting for me with uh CP3 going to the Clippers and knowing how the last time he teamed up with James Harden and that was with the Houston Rockets didn’t didn’t go too well with some things happening down there. So, Tailoo will have his hands full in terms of trying to hopefully maybe that relationship is mended already, but mend that relationship so the bigger goal is at hand. And we know that the Clippers want to win the franchise’s first ever NBA championship. And Kawhi Leonard is a big piece of that if he can stay healthy. Uh but on paper, this is a team along with the Houston Rockets. Um I still will throw Denver in there as well that are legitimate competitors to the Oklahoma City Thunder of coming out of the West and being in the NBA Finals. on paper and we talked about Chris Paul um and Brook Lopez backing up Zubos but Bradley Beal uh joining the Clippers as well so they add shooting to that team. So they have a lot of veteran pieces and guys in search of their first ever NBA championship and so hopefully that is part of maybe the ego lessening just for the greater good for the Clippers and winning that that title. But one quick note back on the Portland Trailblazers and Damen Lillard. Uh, Portland Trailblazer fans, just put 1992, the NBA Finals, put it over to the side. It was a long time ago. Just accept the Chicago Bulls fans that will be rooting for you. So, we just call you the Portland Bulls for the season that you know you can have a return in terms of getting that high draft pick, especially for the 2026 NBA draft. Uh but Casey, this is been a a summer of eyeopening moves, uh shocking moves across the NBA, and we shouldn’t expect anything less from the league. And I know that we got to finish up in a little bit, but just hitting it back to Vegas. Derrick Rose, former Chicago Bull great and icon, uh had his chestable event in Vegas. And if you follow D Rose on Instagram, this is not any kind of like gimmick. And this is that’s not who Dererick Rose is. He he doesn’t do things for gimmicks or try to go viral or just to ride a wave. No, he he’s locked in to chess. He’s a avid and really great chess player from his inner circle and his best friends that I speak with and they play chess as well, Casey. But the first ever chest that’s there in Vegas for former NBA player and having NBA guys, current NBA guys playing it. So, what are your thoughts on D rolls in this transition? Because he’s not the basketball player anymore, as he said back on January 4th when he addressed the United Center and the world uh as we honored Derek Rose, but he says that he’s a businessman now and business is moving for D- Roll so far. Yeah. Uh the the I was over at the win uh the day before that started uh for my sit down with Modis and I saw the setup going. I didn’t run into Derek, but I ran into a couple of his people that I know um and talked to him. You’re right. I mean, everything Derek does is filled with substance and the pursuit of, you know, challenging yourself and challenging your mind, and that’s what this is all about. It was a heavy XBull uh flavor to it. I mean, you had Drew Gooden out there playing. You had Rajan Rondo out there. You had CJ Watson, Tony Allen, never an XBull, but obviously Chicago. And so, yeah, it was a cool event. And Derek’s serious about this and will remain serious about this. And my biggest takeaway in seeing some of his interviews with some of the other media outlets, um, because I I left before the tournament started was just how, you know, talking about the the love that he feels back with the Bulls organization and that had already started happening before that event last year, but that just took it to another level. He talked about his relationship with Jerry and Michael Rhintof and just uh I I think you’re going to be seeing Derek uh around the organization and around Chicago a little bit more this coming season and that’s always always a good thing. Yeah, definitely just warms the heart of a lot of Bulls fans and Chicagoans. And this summer, he’s been busy being back in the city. We saw him throw out the first pitch uh one of the White Sox games. He was over at the NASCAR street race and you know, opening that thing up. So again, this is something that we know of Derek Rose is that he is 100% Chicago. He is 100% Southside. He does a lot for the Chicago community and his community of Englewood and just different parts and for different people throughout the city. So, salute to D Rose on the uh career transition and just everything that he’s doing because it’s great to see him evolve as a person and as a man. All right, that will do it for this edition of the By the Horns podcast. We are presented by Toyota. Toyota has more all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles than any other brand. So, find yours and shine on Toyota. Let’s go places. He is the one and only KC Johnson. I’m Cam Smith. We’ll talk to you next week, Bulls fans. Take care. [Music] [Applause]

Yuki Kawamura stole the show in Las Vegas and earned a two-way contract—but can he actually crack the Bulls’ crowded guard rotation? Cam Smith and K.C. Johnson break down the rise of “Yuki Mania,” grade performances from Matas Buzelis and rookie Noa Essengue, and share the latest on Josh Giddey’s stalled contract negotiations. Plus: updates on Bulls player chemistry off the court, Derrick Rose’s chess tournament takeover in Vegas, and what Damian Lillard’s return to Portland means for Chicago’s draft picks.

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