Chicago Bulls: 3 underrated players worth keeping for 2020-21 season

1. Shaquille Harrison, Combo Guard

The final name on this list is also by far the most underrated Bulls player on the list. The 6-foot-4 and 190 pound former Tulsa Golden Hurricane combo guard Shaquille Harrison had his best season yet in the NBA (or the G-League) with the Bulls during the 2019-20 campaign. For both Harrison and rookie point guard Coby White, their momentum was impacted the most by the season’s indefinite suspension once Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was known to have tested positive for COVID-19 back in mid-March.

Harrison signed a one-year contract with the Bulls last offseason, that was originally worth less than $200K in guaranteed money. But the rest of his contract this year became guaranteed for the remainder of the season after Jan. 10, 2020. If the Bulls do decide to keep Harrison around at least for next season, then they’re not likely to get him on another deal worth less than $1 million. But he’s going to be worth a decent pay bump if he returns to the Windy City next year.

Prior to the season’s pause, Harrison played in 43 games (starting in 10 of them). He averaged 4.9 points per game, 2.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.0 percent from the free-throw line. That allowed him to register a sparkling 2.8 box plus/minus rating, .153 win shares per 48 minutes, 0.6 value over replacement player rating, 3.4 percent steal rate, and 55.9 true shooting percentage.

This was by far the most efficient season for Harrison to date. He’s also one of the better perimeter defenders that the Bulls have on the roster currently. His solid 2.4 defensive box plus/minus rating and 105 defensive rating proves that fact. The Bulls should bring him back without a doubt for at least one more year.