Chicago Bulls: Grading the 2019 offseason moves
Waived Antonio Blakeney
In his first professional season, Antonio Blakeney was on a two-way deal in which he absolutely shined on. He played phenomenal basketball in the G-League, earning Rookie of the Year honors, and even showed flashes of volume scoring at the NBA level.
Blakeney quickly became a fan favorite in Chicago, and after his two-way contract expired, the Bulls quickly locked him up on a two-year, team-friendly deal.
In his second season, and first full NBA season, Blakeney was an utter disappointment. He proved that he had nothing in him other than the ability to score, but did not do so at an efficient mark at all. He had all of the opportunity to move into a solid role with Denzel Valentine out for the entire 2018-2019 season, but he instead failed to play solid enough minutes to earn a spot in the rotation.
Blakeney’s downfall was a major letdown for the city of Chicago, as many had high hopes for the young guard. The decision to waive him was absolutely the right move, as opening a spot for a more well-rounded player was critical for the Bulls.
Grade: A
Waived Walt Lemon Jr.
Walt Lemon Jr. was an instant fan favorite in Chicago. He is a hometown product who has had to scrap his way on to NBA rosters, and upon finally landing with the Bulls, he showed out in his 6 games in the red and white, averaging 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5 assists per contest. Watching Lemon was no doubt fun, as by the time he made it up to Chicago the team was completely out of any playoff consideration.
However, Lemon was simply a stopgap for the rest of the season while key players sat out so that the team could continue to tank. Some Bulls fans were livid that he was not re-signed, however, one must remember that he was playing in what is considered the “garbage time of the NBA season”. Perhaps the Bulls could sign him to a two-way deal this year, but leaving him off of the full-time NBA roster was a smart move.