The “Middle Ground”
On the bubble are Isaiah Canaan and Nikola Mirotic, one for a better reason than the other.
Isaiah Canaan is the fifth of the five-man point guard rotation, one which collectively under-performed last season. Although under contract through 2018, it’s not a burdensome hit to the cap if Canaan were to be released.
Averaging 4.6 points and 0.9 assists while shooting 36.4 percent from the floor isn’t enough to justify a roster spot for Canaan.
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Mirotic is a different situation entirely. Hitting restricted free agency, the knock-down three-point shooter is of great value in today’s game. While the Bulls may be interested in locking down the Montenegro native, it comes at a larger price.
Averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and with a solid 3.7 career value above replacement, the forward is a more defensible option to return.
These two, however, will hinge on the Bulls’ selections at No. 16 and No. 38 in the 2017 NBA Draft. If a selection fills the role of one of these two, it signals their withdrawal from Chicago.