Chicago Bulls: 3 biggest free agent misses from the offseason
3) Chicago Bulls free agency misses
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Age: 27. Maurice Harkless. player. Small Forward. 3. 110
A player that seemed to be on the Bulls radar dating back to last season, by way of free agency and/or the trade block, was the former New York Knicks 6-foot-7 and 220 pound 27-year-old forward Maurice Harkless. It does look like Harkless is on the path to becoming a true NBA journeyman, but his value should be too great for that label to hit him this early in his career.
It was not long ago that Harkless was one of the more underrated two-way wings/forwards in the Western Conference, during his hay day with the Portland Trail Blazers. Last season alone, Harkless split time between the Knicks (a dozen games played) and the Los Angeles Clippers (50 games played).
In total, Harkless played in 62 games during the shortened 2019-20 regular season between his time with the Knicks and Clippers (starting in 48 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.
Over the offseason, Harkless signed with head coach Erik Spoelstra and the defending Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat. They got him on a bargain value contract for one year, worth well under $4 million. That price tag, and even a little bit more, is something that the Bulls could’ve afforded. And Harkless fits multiple needs for them in the rotation.
It is a shame that this wasn’t a free agent signing that Karnisovas and Eversley were able to pull off for the Bulls heading into next season.