Chicago Bulls: 3 free agent targets that fit best with Billy Donovan

1) Chicago Bulls free agent targets that fit well with Donovan: Jakob Poeltl

Among the top potential restricted free agent targets that could hit the open market in this cycle is the San Antonio Spurs towering 7-foot-1 and 245 pound center Jakob Poeltl. The former ninth overall pick of the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft out the Utah Utes hoops program Poeltl got better and better in each of his first four seasons in the league.

This recently turned 25-year-old Austrian big man spent the first two years of his NBA career with the Raptors, and then the last two under legendary head coach Gregg Popovich with the Spurs. During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Poeltl played in 66 games with the Spurs (starting in 18 of them).

And he averaged 5.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks. Poeltl shot 62.4 percent from the field and a rather poor 46.5 percent from the free-throw line. That amounted to a career-best 2.5 box plus/minus rating, .163 win shares per 48 minutes, 1.3 value over replacement player rating, 19.1 player efficiency rating, and a 125 offensive rating/108 defensive rating.

Poeltl is likely due for a significant payday in the restricted free agent market this offseason. Considering he just got better and better in his first four years in the league, it makes sense that he will likely at least triple his salary this offseason.

Since Donovan did so well to position the likes of Nerlens Noel, Steven Adams, Jerami Grant, Markieff Morris, etc. in the last couple of years, he should be able to continue to elevate the game of Poeltl if he were to sign with the Bulls.