Chicago Bulls: 3 underrated trade targets for the offseason

3. Luke Kennard, Shooting Guard

This entire set of possible underrated trade targets for the Bulls for the current offseason is based around a list of 25 top potential players on the block this year, from Bleacher Report back in April. And we’re starting off the list with the Detroit Pistons dead-eye 6-foot-5 and 205 pound shooting guard Luke Kennard.

The former Duke Blue Devil and 12th overall pick of the Pistons in the first round in the 2017 NBA Draft continued to improve his overall game over the course of the last two seasons. But Kennard also missed much of the Pistons 2019-20 regular season run due to a knee injury. He only played in 28 games in the season that was for the Pistons.

In those 28 games played, Kennard averaged 15.8 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks. He shot 44.2 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 89.3 percent from the free-throw line. That led to Kennard posting a career-best -0.3 box plus/minus rating, 58.9 true shooting percentage, .100 win shares per 48 minutes, and a 0.4 value over replacement player rating.

Entering the 2020-21 season, Kennard will be entering the final year of his rookie contract. If the Bulls were to make a trade for him, they would both be able to add depth to the shooting guard/wing rotation and get the control of his restricted free agency. Adding him over the long haul could be a valuable insertion to this rebuild.