Chicago Bulls: 3 Thunder players to reunite with Billy Donovan

2) Who Chicago Bulls could reunite with Donovan

The lone player on this list that still remains on the Thunder roster heading into the next cycle of free agency this offseason (but is a looming free agent) is the ever-improving 6-foot-10 and 220 pound 26-year-old power forward/center Nerlens Noel. The former sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft of the Sixers is finding his stride since leaving Philly the last few seasons.

Noel spent three of his first season in the NBA with the Sixers, and then two each with the Thunder and Dallas Mavericks. The last two seasons saw Noel get his first exposure to Donovan with the Thunder. And the 2019-20 campaign was going to be his last season with the Thunder, at least with Donovan as head coach.

This offseason Noel is set to be an unrestricted free agent that could see a slight pay bump after a solid showing with the Thunder off the bench in the last two seasons. Noel played in 61 games during the shortened 2019-20 regular season with the Thunder (starting in six of them). And he averaged 7.4 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks. Noel shot 68.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and a much improved 75.4 percent from the free-throw line.

That all amounted to a career-best and sparkling 3.1 box plus/minus rating, 1.5 value over replacement player rating, .209 win shares per 48 minutes, 4.9 total win shares, 71.1 true shooting percentage, and 20.4 player efficiency rating. Noel could be a fantastic presence off the bench for the Bulls behind the likes of power forward Lauri Markkanen and center Wendell Carter Jr.