CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls acquired an All-Star center and sent a loud message to the rest of the NBA with one blockbuster trade. They're serious about becoming a contender. And they're ready to welcome top free agents. The Bulls pulled off their first major trade since Arturas Karnisovas was hired to lead their basketball operation last spring by acquiring two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic from Orlando prior to Thursday's deadline. They also added Al-Farouq Aminu in the deal and sent Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and two future first-round selections with certain lottery protections to the Magic. “We're trying to improve our team,” Karnisovas said. “That was an opportunity. You don't get so many opportunities to improve with players like that. I think we've done pretty well today." Vucevic is averaging a career-best 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds in his 10th NBA season and ninth in Orlando. He has two full seasons remaining after this one on the four-year, $100 million... [More]

Kyle Lowry wound up staying with Toronto after all. Victor Oladipo is finally in Miami, a destination he's eyed in the past. And Rajon Rondo is headed back to Los Angeles, though not with the team he helped win the NBA title last season. The trade deadline has come and gone. And now, playoff pushes can really begin. Miami, Denver, the Clippers, Portland, Dallas, Boston and Atlanta were likely among the teams feeling convinced that they improved on deadline day after a flurry of moves Thursday, though the best player — at least this season — might have been landed by the Chicago Bulls. They got All-Star forward Nikola Vucevic from Orlando, a move that ushered in the start of a big-time rebuild by the Magic. “Anytime you trade a player like Nikola, it is a tough decision to make," Magic President Jeff Weltman said. Vucevic is the only player from this season's All-Star Game to be traded at the deadline. It was a steep price; Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu went to the Bulls for Otto Porter, Wendell... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls expect forward Lauri Markkanen to miss two to four weeks because of a sprained right shoulder, another setback for a 7-footer off to his best start as a pro. The Bulls said Monday an MRI confirmed he has a sprained acromioclavicular joint. Markkanen was hurt Friday at Orlando when he was fouled by Magic forward Gary Clark early in the third quarter. The Bulls were scheduled to host Washington on Monday. Coach Billy Donovan described the injury as a “bit freakish” with Markkanen “driving to the basket, being physical.” Markkanen is averaging a career-high 19.1 points and 6.1 rebounds coming off a disappointing season. He is shooting 51% overall and about 40% on 3-pointers — both personal bests. Markkanen had back-to-back outings with 30 or more points against Portland and New York on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. He missed seven consecutive games early in the season because of COVID-19 protocols. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Markkanen has not played in... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four Chicago Bulls players are in the NBA’s health and safety protocol and are not available for Thursday’s game with the Washington Wizards. Forwards Lauri Markkanen, the team’s second leading scorer and top rebounder and Chandler Hutchison and guards Ryan Arcidiacono and Tomas Satoransky have been ruled out. “You’ve got to stay flexible,” Chicago coach Billy Donovan said. “A lot of different things can happen. You’ve got to be able to handle them. Obviously, a lot for us to digest and deal with going into this game.” The Bulls play at Milwaukee on Friday night, and Donovan expects his team to be short-handed again. “My guess is yes, it’s going to go on here for a period of time,” Donovan said. “How long, I’m really unsure of that. I think daily testing helps bring some clarity where guys are at. I don’t know how long it will be, but I think it will be some time.” Markkanen was already questionable for the game with a left calf injury. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls forward Chandler Hutchison will have surgery on his right shoulder that will likely end his season, the team announced Wednesday.Hutchison is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on the AC joint on Tuesday, with the recovery expected to take three to four months. He was initially hurt Nov. 27 against Golden State, missed 17 games before returning in January and re-injured the shoulder at Washington on Feb. 11.Hutchison has played in just 72 games, averaging 6.2 points, since the Bulls drafted him with the No. 22 overall pick in 2018. He made 28 appearances this season after being limited to 44 as a rookie because of a foot injury.___MORE AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Jazz answered a big run with one of their own and withstood a final push down the stretch to walk away with another victory. Those are adding up for Utah.Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points and the surging Jazz held off the Chicago Bulls 102-98 on Thursday night.The Jazz went on a 24-4 run in the third quarter to grab a nine-point lead and emerged with their 10th win in 12 games after Chicago tied it in the closing minutes.Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert each scored 17 for Utah. Mitchell hit two free throws with 19 seconds remaining, and Gobert had 12 rebounds. The Jazz also got big contributions from their bench, with their reserves outscoring the Bulls' 36-23.“Everybody did a little something in a given time to help us win the game," coach Quin Snyder said. "And that's how you win on the road and that's how you win close games.”Zach LaVine led Chicago with 26 points and Lauri Markkanen scored 18. Wendell Carter Jr. added 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Bulls lost for... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points and the surging Utah Jazz held off the Chicago Bulls 102-98 on Thursday night.The Jazz went on a 24-4 run in the third quarter to grab a nine-point lead and came away with their 10th win in 12 games after Chicago tied it in the closing minutes.Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert each scored 17 for Utah. Mitchell hit two free throws with 19 seconds remaining, and Gobert had 12 rebounds.Zach LaVine led Chicago with 26 points and Lauri Markkanen scored 18. Wendell Carter Jr. added 18 points and 13 rebounds but the Bulls lost for the third time in four games.The Jazz led 96-88 in the closing minutes before Chicago scored eight straight, tying it on LaVine's 3 with 1:43 remaining. Bogdanovic hit two free throws and Gobert drove for a dunk to make it a four-point game, before Carter made two free throws for Chicago with 47 seconds remaining.After Mitchell missed a 3, LaVine missed on a wild drive. The Jazz got the rebound, and Mitchell hit two free... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen will miss the rest of the season after experiencing a rapid heart rate and fatigue.The Bulls say tests to determine the cause of the problem have come back normal. He will continue to be evaluated over the next 10 to 14 days for precautionary reasons.Markkanen did not play Wednesday night in the Bulls' loss to Portland. The teams announced afterward he will miss the remaining six games."The long-term health of our players is always our organization's top priority," Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said. "We will continue to monitor Lauri's condition and work with our medical staff and doctors to provide him with everything he may need."Markkanen remained overnight in Toronto after exiting Tuesday night's loss to the Raptors with what the team called "extreme fatigue." He was evaluated in the training room by the Bulls' medical staff and Toronto's team physician and underwent more tests at a hospital.He... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago forward Lauri Markkanen missed the Bulls' game Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers after remaining overnight in Toronto because of what the team called "extreme fatigue."Markkanen was evaluated in the training room by the Bulls' medical staff and Toronto's team physician after exiting in the first half Tuesday night in a loss to the Raptors. He underwent more tests at a hospital following the game and remained in Toronto overnight.Coach Jim Boylen said Markkanen was in his office at 2 p.m. Wednesday after being examined in Chicago and wanted to play against Portland. Boylen would not say which tests Markkanen underwent."Lauri's tough," Boylen said. "He's a competitive guy."The 7-foot forward from Finland is averaging 18.7 points and 9.0 rebounds in his second season.Markkanen's injury is the latest in a long line for the Bulls this season. Leading scorer Zach LaVine (bruised right thigh, right knee tendinitis), Otto Porter Jr. (strained right rotator cuff) and Kris Dunn (back) were also unavailable on Wednesday. Wendell Carter Jr., Chandler Hutchison and Denzel Valentine are recovering from season-ending injuries.The Bulls had veteran center Robin Lopez starting along with guards Antonio Blakeney and Shaquille Harrison and forwards Brandon Sampson and Wayne Selden Jr. starting on Wednesday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls have ruled out injured rookies Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison for the remainder of the season, and might soon do the same with Otto Porter Jr.Executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson says the Bulls have "run out of time" on Carter (left thumb surgery) and Hutchison (right toe injury). He stopped short of shutting down Porter (strained right rotator cuff), though he did say, "It's kind of trending that way."Carter and Hutchison each appeared in 44 games. The No. 7 pick, Carter averaged 10.3 points and 7 rebounds, while Hutchison averaged 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds after getting drafted 22nd overall.Porter, acquired from Washington last month, missed his third straight game Saturday against Utah. Leading scorer Zach LaVine (right knee tendinitis) sat out his second in a row.The Bulls entered Saturday's game with the fourth-worst record in the NBA. Shutting down Porter and LaVine might result in a few more losses and better... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls say rookie forward Chandler Hutchison will miss at least a few weeks because of a right foot injury.The Bulls announced Saturday the first-round pick has "an acute injury to a sesamoid bone in his right foot." He will spend two to four weeks in a walking boot and will be re-examined after the All-Star break.The team says Hutchison was hurt against Atlanta on Wednesday. He had his first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. The No. 22 overall pick, Hutchison is averaging 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds.The Bulls are 11-38 heading into a home game against Cleveland on Sunday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports