More on Bobby Portis Free Agency
The Knicks also continue to have significant interest in young big men Julius Randle and Bobby Portis, per sources. Randle is an unrestricted free agent and Portis is restricted, so New York would need to offer him a contract of at least two seasons in length. The Knicks will have roughly $70 million in cap space in free agency. The specific numbers of the cap next season are expected to be released soon.
League sources confirmed to SNY that the Knicks are also considering making a significant short-term offer to DeMarcus Cousins. But some in the organization have said that going after younger players like Randle and Portis is a priority that's ahead of pursuing Cousins, who will be 29 at the beginning of next season.
Chase Hughes: The Wizards have extended a qualifying offer to Bobby Portis, meaning he will be a restricted free agent on June 30, @NBCSWashington has learned.
As an upcoming free agent, Portis has attracted attention from almost every team in the Eastern Conference as well as several Western Conference teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks, according to a person with knowledge of the interested teams.
Bobby Portis is expected to draw interest from the Lakers, Clippers, Jazz, Bucks, Magic and Knicks among others, NBC Sports Washington has learned.
Chase Hughes: Leonsis waiting until after free agency to name a long-term team president means that interim pres. Tommy Sheppard will make the call on their RFAs on June 30. That means Tomas Satoransky, Thomas Bryant and Bobby Portis.
Alex Kennedy: Bobby Portis told me he can imagine staying in CHI his whole career: "I love the city of Chicago. I'm a blue-collar player, it's a blue-collar city. Fans really support me. I just love being in Chicago, playing for the Bulls, throwing those 5 letters across my chest every night." pic.twitter.com/hFlj0MkQKW
KC Johnson: Bobby Portis even stronger on wanting to stay in Chicago: "I couldn’t see myself in any other jersey. Obviously, I got Bulls DNA. Me and the city have a love connection somewhere. I just enjoy playing for the Bulls."
KC Johnson: Mark Bartelstein spent hours at the Bulls' practice facility on Monday, trying to get a deal done in face-to-face negotiations with Bulls GM Gar Forman. "We had very positive talks," Bartelstein said. "These are hard extensions to get done."
