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Free agency: The Chicago Bulls need to go after Tyus Jones

By Luke Askew

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 19: Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the game on March 19, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 19: Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the game on March 19, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Wolves have extended a qualifying offer to Tyus Jones, making him a restricted free agent. Should the Chicago Bulls go after him?

The Chicago Bulls finally have their point guard of the future (Coby White), but they desperately need to add depth at the guard position if they want to compete anytime soon.

Earlier this morning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves extended a qualifying offer to point guard Tyus Jones, thus making him a restricted free agent. He would be the perfect option to back up Coby White.

Tyus Jones has had an up and down first four years in the league with the Timberwolves. He never found his footing as a starter, playing behind Ricky Rubio for two years and then Jeff Teague for two years, but he was one of the most reliable backup PGs in the league last season. And, as we learned recently from the Toronto Raptors, having a quality backup point guard is crucial (see Fred VanVleet).

I’m guessing at this point in his career, Tyus is feeling like he should be a starter somewhere, so if the Bulls were to bring him in, they’d have to get him on board with staying in a reserve role. Even though Coby White is young and inexperienced, he needs to be the Bulls’ starter from day one. It’s critical for his development.

The good news about White, though, is he’s really good off the ball. The Bulls could use lineups where Jones and White are in the backcourt together, which would work out perfectly because they balance each other out. Tyus isn’t the best shooter, but Coby is a sniper. Coby’s not great on the defensive end of the court right now, but Tyus is solid.

Another thing Tyus is good at is being patient with the ball in his hands.

via GIPHY

In the clip above, watch how Tyus comes off of the Karl-Anthony Towns screen and keeps his dribble alive long enough to lure the help defender, Omari Spellman, away from Towns. Jones’ patience with the ball in his hands freed up KAT for an easy slam.

I’m not sure how much money it would take to pry Jones away from the Wolves. It’s possible Chicago would have to overpay. If that were to be the case, then it’s not worth it. But there’s no harm in extending an offer to Jones and seeing what happens. Ultimately, it’ll be up to the Wolves to decide if they want to match whatever offer Jones receives, but still, the Bulls should try.

If things don’t work out with Tyus Jones this summer, there are other potential backup point guards that could realistically be brought to Chicago, but none are as appealing as Jones. He’s a winner, he’s not afraid of the moment, he’s a good defender, he’s good as a pick-and-roll ball handler and he’s a good teammate.

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Tyus Jones would be the perfect dude to bolster the Bulls’ second unit.