The Chicago Bulls are building with the future in mind. The veteran purge has nearly come to an end. The Bulls have notably traded Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine all within the past year. Only one player older than 30 years old remains on the roster—Nikola Vucevic.
However, Vucevic might not be around for much longer. The 34-year-old is only under contract for one more season before entering free agency in 2026. Following months, if not years, of targeting a trade partner, this offseason will be the most opportune time to deal Vucevic.
The veteran purge has left the Bulls as the eighth-youngest team in the NBA. Eight of the ten most played Bulls are 25 or younger. While Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Matas Buzelis are Chicago's most fascinating players going forward, recent draftees Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips could certainly play a crucial part in shaping the franchise's future.
Nevertheless, neither player has demonstrated starter-level potential… yet. Terry has made some decent strides, yet his plug-and-play potential is less obvious than Phillips. At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Phillips' frame and athleticism scream 3-and-D. But after two seasons, the "3" and the "D" are still progressing.
Phillips' three-point consistency is ultimate swing-skill
Phillips converted 32.7 percent of his triples a season ago. He connected on 50 of 153 attempts from deep. Although subpar, it's an improvement from Phillips' 23.9 percent conversion rate at Tennessee and his 31.6 percent three-point clip as a rookie.
The 21-year-old didn't stray away from wide-open threes, he only attempted open (4-to-6-feet) or wide-open triples (six-plus feet) last season. Phillips converted merely 14.8 percent of his open threes and 36.8 percent of his wide-open threes. Furthermore, he only felt comfortable shooting off the catch, as he didn't attempt one three-pointer after taking a dribble.
Phillips' simplistic three-point diet should ultimately yield a high percentage from deep. In order to see a more solidified role, Phillips will have to increase his three-point percentage. He ranked second-to-last on the team in three-point conversion rate, only ahead of Jalen Smith, who knocked down 42.4 percent of his triples before signing with the Bulls.
The former Volunteer's jumper is consistent and fluid, hinting at future improvement, but his jumper is imperfect. Phillips brings the ball down once he catches, only adding unnecessary motion. He also doesn't just bring the ball down, he brings it down to the left side before launching with his right hand. The consistency and fluidity are relative to Phillips' base and release form. He has a knack for getting his feet set, with a shoulder-width base.
Defensive improvement must be evident before Phillips sees more minutes
More reps will surely aid Phillips' three-point improvement. The same can also be said of his defensive improvement. Young players are almost always prone to defensive lapses and require time to physically and mentally develop on the less glamorous end.
While Phillips is a smooth, tall athlete, he hasn't been the most impactful defender. Phillips' opponents shot 0.3 percent better against the 6-foot-8 wing. Despite his impressive length and vertical, Phillips' opposition shot only 0.1 percent worse from within six feet. Comparatively, Buzelis' opponents shot 8.5 percent worse from within six feet.
Even though the physical tools are evident, Phillips isn't a consistent point-of-attack defender. For what it's worth, he's played far too many minutes at the four, where he doesn't hold up physically at 198 pounds. Phillips was far better defending guards and some wings as opposed to bigger forwards.
Yet, at 6-foot-8, Phillips will be required to defend bigger wings moving forward. Getting stronger will surely benefit the 21-year-old. Thus, another offseason will help Phillips' maturation. Once Phillips can tackle numerous defensive roles, he'll be almost impossible to keep off the court. The Bulls lack a versatile defender, capable of guarding three positions, and Phillips can be just that.