3 former Chicago Bulls that have shined since leaving the team

Former Chicago Bulls shining since leaving the team: Daniel Gafford

One of the least surprising standout players among the former Bulls shipped off at the deadline back on March 25 is the former Arkansas Razorbacks rim-running center and second-year big man Daniel Gafford. The Bulls’ former front office regime of John Paxson and Gar Forman did a nice job of getting a second round steal with Gafford (38th overall) in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Back on trade deadline day last month, Karnisovas and the Bulls shipped Gafford and third-year former Boise State Broncos small forward Chandler Hutchison to the Wizards. In return, the Bulls originally got big man Mo Wagner and the 21-year-old Brown Jr. But the Bulls would wind up flipping Wagner to the Celtics in the deal that got them Theis and shooting guard Javonte Green.

Hutch has played decently well for the Wizards since landing in the nation’s capital. But Gafford has really shined for a Wizards team that is scorching hot of late.

In his 31 games played with the Bulls prior to getting dealt to the Wizards, Gafford averaged 4.7 points per game, 3.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks. That was good for a 0.5 box plus/minus rating, .180 win shares per 48 minutes, and an 18.8 player efficiency rating.

But in 10 games played (and about five minutes more on the floor per game than he had with the Bulls) with the Wizards this season, Gafford averaged a much-improved 11.2 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.0 blocks. That was good for a stellar 6.0 box plus/minus rating, .221 win shares per 48 minutes, and an astounding 27.8 player efficiency rating.