Fred VanVleet’s Injury Potentially Offers Bulls $7M Relief Amid Multiple Contract Stalemates

The Chicago Bulls have seen plenty of heartbreak lately. Three straight play-in exits, a roster built on stopgaps, and two of their best young guards still waiting for extensions. Now, a twist from Houston might drag them deeper into the headlines. Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, could sideline the Rockets’ leader for the season. The veteran averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 assists last year, but his absence may trigger a financial wrinkle with Chicago attached.

Thanks to NBA injury provisions, the Rockets can apply for up to $7 million in relief to replace VanVleet. That number just happens to mirror the figure execs have floated around Ayo Dosunmu, which is why his name keeps circling back in the trade chatter. Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe recently discussed him as a $7 million stopgap option.

Simmons said, “7 million a year. Stopgap. They could probably patch some stuff together. Maybe even throw some of their lesser picks and just grab them, right? And if you’re the Bulls, what do you care? You just want to go 40 and 42 again this year and not pay the luxury tax. That’s your only goal year after year.” Add in the fact that Chicago held advanced trade talks around Dosunmu this summer, and the dots start connecting fast.

The Bulls love both Coby White and Dosunmu. But with contracts stalling, relief money dangling, and the clock ticking before opening night, something has to give. What will? Well, come back here to find out!

(This is a developing story…)