3) Chicago Bulls set to get more playing time
Since the Bulls parted ways with a couple of their restricted free agent guards that they had to decide on this offseason, there could be a bigger role ahead for the former Villanova Wildcats floor general Ryan Arcidiacono in the very near future. Arcidiacono showed improvement in key parts of his game last season, which was his third year in the NBA.
In general, the Bulls got tremendous value roughly three years ago out of signing Arcidiacono as an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-3 and 195 pound 26-year-old point guard got consistently better (mostly on the offensive end of the floor) in his first two or three years in the NBA. All of his three seasons in the NBA to date have come with the Bulls.
The two restricted free agent guards that the Bulls parted ways with this offseason that could allow for more playing time for Arcidiacono were the breakthrough combo guard Shaquille Harrison and defensive stopper point guard Kris Dunn. Harrison wound up landing with the Utah Jazz, signing a one-year minimum deal. And Dunn signed a two-year contract, worth $10 million total, with the Hawks.
During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Arcidiacono played in 58 games with the Bulls (just four of which he started in). And he averaged 4.5 points per game, 1.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, and 0.6 turnovers. Arcidiacono shot 40.9 percent from the field, a team-leading 39.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 71.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Since Arcidiacono played in just 16 minutes per game last season, the uptick in playing time is very likely going to happen this season under Donovan’s direction.