According to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday, the Bulls are interested in retaining Jaden Ivey, who will become a restricted free agent this summer.

Ivy, 24, is a 6'6" (1.91m) and 88kg (48kg) guard who was selected 5th overall in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. During his time with the Pistons, he played 214 regular season games, averaging 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 27.9 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 43.1% and a three-point percentage of 35.4%.

In mid-February of this year, Ivy was traded from the Pistons to the Chicago Bulls. He has been sidelined since February 11 due to left knee soreness, and has only played 4 games for the Bulls so far, averaging 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 27.9 minutes per game.

Despite this, Ivey remains a favorite of Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. When asked about Ivey's current situation, Donovan showed great patience: "Unfortunately, he came to the team right after the trade deadline and had to work hard to adapt to a completely unfamiliar environment. I mean, our initial intention in making the trade was to have him stay with the team long-term. As for the free agent market after his contract expires in July—considering he's a restricted free agent, I don't know how it will ultimately develop. From the team's overall perspective, we believe he has the potential to become a very good player, and he's young with huge room for growth."

According to the latest news released by the Bulls, Ivy's recovery is progressing smoothly. He is scheduled to undergo a follow-up examination next week.

Image source: Internet