2) FA targets that could improve Chicago Bulls roster
Skal Labissiere, Power Forward/Center
Another potential Bulls free agent target in this hypothetical world that would improve their frontcourt rotation in all likelihood is a bit surprising that he’s still available. The former highly touted Kentucky Wildcats five-star recruit and the 6-foot-10 and 235 pound 24-year-old big man Skal Labissiere had a pretty solid season last year with the Portland Trail Blazers.
When he was still in his early 20’s, Labissiere was showing a high rate of improvement in different limited roles during his tenure with the Trail Blazers and Kings.
During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Labissiere played in 33 games with the Trail Blazers (just one of which he started in). And he averaged 5.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks. Labissiere shot 55.1 percent from the field, 23.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 75.8 percent from the free-throw line.
The Bulls aren’t getting a whole lot of consistent production out of the gates this season from their frontcourt rotation. And if the day comes that the Bulls front office (this time under a new regime of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley) decides to waive overpaid big man Cristiano Felicio, then Labissiere could be a nice replacement for him on this roster.
In his run with the Blazers last season, Labissiere posted a number of career highs in various all-encompassing advanced metrics categories. He registered a career-best -1.3 box plus/minus rating, .119 win shares per 48 minutes, 1.4 total win shares, 58.8 true shooting percentage, a sparkling 121 offensive rating/113 defensive rating, and 15.4 player efficiency rating.
It should only be a matter of time before another team around the NBA gives Labissiere a chance this season. Maybe that team could be the Bulls in the near future.