3. Luke Kornet, Center
As far as former New York Knicks 7-foot-2 center Luke Kornet goes, at least his contract isn’t too expensive or long-term for the Bulls. The Bulls nabbed Kornet on a minimum two-year contract last offseason, so keeping him around could be a low risk move that pays off if his production spikes next season. He was much more efficient with the Knicks in the two previous years than this season with the Bulls.
It seemed like head coach Jim Boylen was a driving force behind the usage of Kornet this season and the signing of him in free agency last summer in the first place. He’ll be getting a little bit under $2.5 million on the final year of his contract that he signed in July of last year with the Bulls.
If the Bulls can get the type of efficient rim protection and three-point shooting as a stretch-five off the bench that he provided for the Knicks, then he could be worth a second chance. The price tag he comes with might make it appealing for Karnisovas to try him in a different role and slightly adjusted usage next season.
The numbers that Kornet posted through three dozen games played (14 of which he started) were well below standard. He averaged 6.0 points per game, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.7 blocks. He shot 43.9 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from beyond the arc. It could be worth adjusting Kornet’s usage back to his roots and letting him take four or five three-point attempts per game like he did with the Knicks, instead of the two or three he had with the Bulls this season.