LOSER: Felicio, the return of RoLo, and GarPax
Using their No. 38 pick in this year’s draft, the Bulls found a lanky, rim-runner in Daniel Gafford to take a role as the team’s back up center. This means Cristiano Felicio and Robin Lopez suddenly make a lot less sense for next year’s roster.
Rumors linking a return to the Chicago Bulls and their No. 7 pick from 2004, Luol Deng, emerging this week, it seems the Bulls will turn their attention to finding a veteran power forward. In all likelihood, they’ll target a forward who can knock down threes off the bench; while these aren’t easy commodities to come by, it’ll be crucial for the Bulls to search for this kind of player.
It’s been an honorable run for Robin Lopez in a Chicago Bulls uniform. The 31-year-old center is likely bound to chase a ring, something a classy 11-year veteran like Lopez deserves at this point in his career.
The arrival of Gafford gives the Bulls another athletic interior presence, but likely won’t match Lopez’s impressive ability to box guys out. Coby White takes over as the hair champion for the Bulls, but no one will fill the void of mascot fighter.
Last night was definitely not great for Felicio and his remaining 3-year, $24 million contract. At this point in his career, players like Felicio have been styled out of the league for better athletes and shooters. If Gafford’s skills translate at all into the NBA, it’ll be hard for Felicio to find minutes in the Bulls rotation. This is a bad look for the GarPax front office, who made a bad bet on him just two offseasons ago.