2. Do Better
Stanley Johnson – PO 2020 – UFA 2021
This might be the clearest-cut example in this piece. For all the talent Stanley Johnson displayed coming out of college, his NBA career has been lackluster thus far. The fifth-year pro has never averaged even nine points and has been a disappointment. He will join his third team in the defending champion Toronto Raptors and has a player option after this season so he could hit free agency in 2020 (unlikely) or 2021.
So why is he listed here if he has been so disappointing and has an above-market deal? Because of that talent that general managers always see as lying dormant in some players. Johnson has all the physical tools to be a great two-way player but has seemingly regressed every year since his first. If the Bulls have to take a flier on a player as a starter it would already be a failure.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – UFA 2020
The second-overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist saw his role change – dramatically – in 2018. He only started three games and put up career-lows in points (6.7), rebounds (3.8) in 18.4 minutes per game, also a career-low. He exercised his $13 million option because he will not command that kind of scratch on the open market.
Previously a non-factor on offense, Kidd-Gilchrist made big strides in expanding his game beyond rim runs last season. And his defense on the perimeter and protecting the rim would be invaluable off the bench. Obviously, that was a small sample size but if it indeed holds up he could be a sneaky addition. But that would be off the bench, not filling a starter’s role.