Chicago Bulls: 3 players bound to disappoint next season

3) Chicago Bulls bound to disappoint

A good example of a Bulls player that could still have some value on the trade market, but likely won’t bring much to the table for this team this season, is the former Vanderbilt Commodores seven-footer and center Luke Kornet. This 7-foot-2 and 250 pound towering big man did bring some intrigue to the table when the Bulls signed him out of free agency last offseason.

Kornet showed a lot of potential during his two year run with the New York Knicks in terms of filling the role of a modern big man that can space the floor and protect the rim. During the 2018-19 regular season with the Knicks, Kornet averaged seven points per game and 0.9 blocks, while shooting 36.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Last season with the Bulls, those numbers regressed to six points per game and 0.7 blocks, while shooting just 28.7 percent from beyond the arc. Former head coach Jim Boylen really liked Kornet, and used him often (when he was healthy) in a key spot in the frontcourt rotation. He also tried to use him shooting more inside-out, which was a mistake.

During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Kornet played in three dozen games with the Bulls (14 of which he started in). And he also averaged 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.4 turnovers. Kornet shot 43.9 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Better usage of Kornet shouldn’t be ruled out under the direction of newly hired head coach Billy Donovan. He’s helped this sort of turnaround before with big men during his time as the Oklahoma City Thunder head coach. But in all likelihood, it’s best if Kornet’s minutes dwindle a bit this season.