Bulls Free Agency Primer: Point Guard

NBA free agency opens at the stroke of midnight on July 1, who are the top players at each position and would they fit with the Chicago Bulls?

This year, the free agent class features some marquee names and adds the complexity of a rocketing salary cap, which now reaches $94 million. We are going to look at each position throughout the week with this Bulls free agency primer, determining who are some of the top players who will be available and the likelihood that they end up in Chicago.

Today, we are looking at the free agent market for point guards. The point will be of particular interest to the Bulls who have traded away former MVP Derrick Rose and were heavily linked to reports of interest in the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s draft, Kris Dunn. While the Rose trade brought back two guards at point in Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant, the only other point guard on the roster is the recently acquired Spencer Dinwiddie. Grant and Dinwiddie have upside, but Calderon only has one year remaining and may not even make it that far as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

Here are some of the top point guards of the 2016 free agent class:

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Mike Conley (Unrestricted Free Agent)

At the age of 28, the nine-year veteran has played his entire career with the Memphis Grizzlies. He will likely explore the free agent market and see what kind of offers he can get, but it seems unlikely that the Bulls will be in the market for his services. After all, they did just jettison a player, Rose, who will make less this coming season than what Conley will command on the open market. As the premier name at point guard, he will garner a lot of attention in free agency, but isn’t the missing piece for Chicago.

Rajon Rondo (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Rondo has spent 10 years in the league, most of them with Boston. However, the last year and a half has been a rocky ride for the former NBA champion. After getting traded to Dallas, he was effectively banished from the team during the playoffs for clashing with head coach Rick Carlisle. During his loan season with Sacramento last year, his on-court numbers looked fine, but he still can’t shoot. Also, he was suspended for a homophobic slur directed at referee Billy Kennedy. The Bulls might be able to sign Rondo, but probably shouldn’t risk it.

Jeremy Lin (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Lin is a phenomenon unlike most others in recent memory. He has limited exposure as a starting guard and probably would be better served in a dual role where he splits time as point guard and shooting guard. He has the ability to turn a game, as demonstrated this past season in Charlotte, but does so as a sixth man and that suits him. Could be great in Chicago, but would function better as a backup which is something the Bulls currently have plenty of.

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Brandon Jennings (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Jennings is no stranger to the Central Division. He spent four years in Milwaukee before moving to Detroit for two-plus seasons. Jennings can score the ball better than he can facilitate an offense, but isn’t a prolific scorer akin to the top guards in the league. He fits somewhere more in the middle. He might project slightly higher if not for rapturing his Achilles tendon – an injury he has shown full recovery from. That injury is still a major concern in terms of his body’s ability to withstand a full season and how it will limit his athleticism and mental approach to the game. Something we saw with Derrick Rose. Jennings should only be an option for the Bulls if he is looking for a one-year deal on a modest salary.

Jordan Clarkson (Restricted Free Agent)

Clarkson is my favorite available option. He is young and athletic with great potential. The rub is that Clarkson is a restricted free agent which means it will take a significant offer to pry him free from Los Angeles, who will likely match any reasonable offer that Clarkson might receive. Still, the Bulls should at least put an offer on the table, as long as they aren’t offering the max, and see what they can do to bring Clarkson to the Windy City. The Lakers might be so fixated with Russell Westbrook that they let Clarkson slip away. Crazier things have happened and with D’Angelo Russell rumored to be available via trade, maybe Clarkson can be had as well.

We will have more in-depth coverage on some of the players who will be available via free agency throughout the week so be sure to check in with us each day as July 1 inches closer. Tomorrow, we will look at free agent shooting guard options for the Bulls.

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