Chicago Bulls Free Agency: 4 biggest 2019 offseason whiffs
Scouting Report. Forward. 2. player. 77. Pick Analysis. 26-Years-Old. Maurice Harkless
Would the former Portland Trail Blazers wing Maurice Harkless prefer to land with the Chicago Bulls over the Los Angeles Clippers?
Probably not.
The Clippers have a legitimate shot to contend for an NBA Championship this coming season and the Bulls are still a long ways away from even reaching the top five of the Eastern Conference standings. But the longevity and positional need the Bulls have that Harkless could fill could make him more valuable and maximize his skill set compared to the Clippers.
Furthermore, this part of the list should come with an asterisk due to the fact that Harkless wasn’t actually a free agent signing for the Clippers. But he could technically be considered a free agency miss since he was dealt to the Clippers as part of the Jimmy Butler deal that landed that former Bull with the Miami Heat.
The base salary for Harkless will pay him around $11 million this year. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, so this should still be a move the Bulls consider. Harkless is valuable commodity that could thrive with the Bulls. On a good season for him, he can shoot around 33 or 34 percent from three-point range while remaining efficient on defense (registered a 2.3 defensive box plus/minus in 2018-19).