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Do the Chicago Bulls need to add a veteran presence at point guard?

By Nicholas Niendorf

Milwaukee, WI - APRIL 27: Jason Terry #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI - APRIL 27: Jason Terry #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bulls seem to have a clear roster going into year one of their rebuild, but still lack veteran experience.

Only 34 days remain before the Chicago Bulls play their first preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans, yet the roster still isn’t entirely set.

The biggest question mark remains at the power forward spot, namely Nikola Mirotic. While the Bulls have remained adamant that they plan on bringing back Mirotic this year, no recent news has been announced or leaked yet.

The other big question mark remaining on the roster is whether or not the Bulls will make any additions at the guard spot. There is a glaring lack of veteran presence on Chicago’s books, with only Dwyane Wade and Robin Lopez having more than four years of NBA experience. Wade’s probable buyout looms over the Bulls and Lopez has undeniable value as a trade chip.

If Chicago parts ways with the two, the team’s most senior player will be guard Justin Holiday, who has been in the NBA for the past four seasons. While Holiday does have championship experience after playing for the Golden State Warriors during their 2014-15 campaign, he’s not what is traditionally considered a vet.

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Almost every rebuilding team snags aging players who don’t necessarily warrant minutes on the floor, but can still contribute to an NBA locker room. If the Bulls seriously plan on moving Wade and Lopez, and want to build a healthy culture, acquiring a veteran guard is an absolute necessity.

The Bulls can have up to 20 players on the roster going into training camp, and currently have 15.

Of those 15, Kris Dunn, Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne seem likely to consistently fill out the roster’s point guard spot.

The aforementioned trio only has a total of five seasons of NBA experience between them, although Dunn spent four years in college and Grant five. Suffice it to say, Chicago will be throwing out young players on the floor every night, especially at point.

Grant started at guard for the Bulls a total of 28 times last season, generally at point guard. While Kris Dunn only started seven times for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he logged an average of 17 minutes in 78 appearances last season.

Cameron Payne suffered a foot injury in late September last year and only appeared in 31 games, 11 of which were for the Bulls. Wednesday’s announcement that Payne will undergo surgery on his right foot, which will leave him out until November, leaving significant playing time open.

While guards Antonio Blakeney and Ryan Arcidiacono are on two-way contracts, meaning they will be able to slide between the G-League and the NBA seamlessly, neither have spent a single minute in the NBA.

The fact remains that the Bulls have finally begun their youth movement and it’s going to show on the court.

The expected “younger and more athletic” retooling stage alongside Jimmy Butler has become a full-on rebuild and Chicago needs experience. Sending out young players to get destroyed every night can have a debilitating effect on morale, development, and culture.

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    • Veterans can not only help cope with the losing, but make it a positive process. Luckily for the Bulls, there are still a lot of players with merit floating around.

    Jason Terryis an ideal fit for the Bulls and should be given first priority as a target.

    Terry, who just notched his 18th season last year with the Milwaukee Bucks, is one of the most experienced veterans in the league. He has played more minutes in the playoffs (3,994 minutes) than Payne (1,160) and Grant (2,293) have played combined across all games. He’s played in almost every role possible in the NBA, whether as the second option on a contender, a sixth man or as a spark plug.

    The Bucks’ roster voted Terry as teammate of the year last season, but his value goes beyond his intangibles.

    Terry played at both guard spots across 74 games for the Bucks last year, averaging 18.4 minutes per game and knocking down 42.7 percent of his 3-point attempts.

    While he’s certainly past his prime, he can still be a pest on defense and provide consistent minutes for a team like the Bulls. The Bulls biggest challenge will be snatching Terry away from Milwaukee.

    Two more solid targets still available are 34-year old Leandro Barbosa, who just finished a stint with the Phoenix Suns, and the 12-year vet, Jarrett Jack, who only played two games for the Pelicans last season.

    Like Terry, Barbosa has contributed to NBA rosters in a variety of ways. He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award during the 2006-07 season with the Suns and provided minutes off the bench for the 2014-15 championship Warriors squad. Barbosa is also a player who can still contribute actual minutes to rebuilding teams. He averaged 6.3 points in 14.4 minutes per game last year and was able to appear in over 65 games for the third straight year.

    Jack, on the other hand, would likely fill out the very end of the Bulls’ roster. He was a solid contributor for the Brooklyn Nets during the 2015-16 season, but suffered a torn ACL midway through the year. He hasn’t been able to find an NBA home since, but might still warrant a spot on a roster as one of the league’s consummate glue guys.

    Other familiar names for fans are former Bulls guards C.J. Watson and Aaron Brooks. The two played 60+ games for the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers last year, respectively, and would be enjoyable returns to see in Chicago’s locker room.

    Every successful youth movement in the NBA needs support. For the Bulls, that support will come from coach Fred Hoiberg and from within the team itself.

    Next: Ranking the best hashtags for the upcoming tank

    Whether the Bulls make their move to add experience to the roster before the season or midway through it, one thing remains clear: veterans can not be optional if Chicago’s rebuild is going to be successful.

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