1) Potential steals for Chicago Bulls in free agency: Maurice Harkless
About the most realistic free agent target that the Bulls could pursue on this list is the former Portland Trail Blazers and current New York Knicks veteran forward/wing Maurice Harkless. The 27-year-old Queens, NY, native is starting to become a true journeyman in the NBA, which isn’t something that he really deserves at this point of his career.
Harkless is a former 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft of the Sixers. This 6-foot-7 and 220 pound former product of the St. John’s Red Storm has now played for four different teams over the course of eight years in the league. He’s now played four seasons with the Blazers, part of one with the Los Angeles Clippers, three with the Orlando Magic, and another part of one with the Knicks.
Harkless started out the 2019-20 season as a member of the Clippers, under their former head coach (now with the Sixers) Doc Rivers. But the Clippers dealt him to the Knicks around the trade deadline, and he’ll now be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Harkless made around $11 million during the 2019-20 season, on his last contract.
During the shortened 2019-20 regular season with the Knicks and Clippers, Harkless played in 62 games (starting in four dozen of them). He averaged 5.8 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks. And Harkless shot 50.2 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 59.1 percent from the free-throw line.