Chicago Bulls: 3 most efficient role players coming off the bench

3) Chicago Bulls efficient bench players

Daniel Gafford, Center

An up and down start to the season, largely characterized by a stretch of about a dozen games where the second-year former Arkansas Razorbacks center Daniel Gafford didn’t have a consistent role, is now starting to steady out. Gafford looks to now have a solidified spot in the rotation as the backup center behind third-year big man Wendell Carter Jr.

At this point, still early in the regular season slate, Gafford is getting about 15 minutes on the floor per game. And the 22-year-old 6-foot-10 and 235 pound athletic big man that was a gem of a find in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft for the Bulls is starting to get more and more efficient in his role as the season moves along.

In 11 games played so far this season (none of which he started in), Gafford is playing in just south of 14 minutes per game. He’s averaged 5.3 points per game, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.2 blocks, and just 0.5 turnovers. Gafford shot 73.3 percent from the field, has no attempts from beyond the arc, and is an improved 63.6 percent from the free-throw line.

All of that has amounted to a solid 0.6 box plus/minus rating, 0.1 value over replacement player rating, .175 win shares per 48 minutes, 0.6 total win shares, 73.1 true shooting percentage, a sparkling 135 offensive rating/109 defensive rating, and a 17.9 player efficiency rating.

Most of the value that Gafford brings to the table for the Bulls this season comes on the defensive end of the floor. He and WCJ are starting to get better and better as rim protectors in recent games.