New Chicago Bulls that aren’t likely to return in 2021-22: Garrett Temple
The lone Bulls player on this list that was a free agent signing last offseason that doesn’t seem too likely to return beyond next offseason, as least as it appears right now, is the veteran 34-year-old shooting guard Garrett Temple. The 6-foot-5 and 195 pound Temple is an important part of the rotation so far this season.
Getting minutes in the starting five in the absence of LaVine, due to his violation of the league’s health and safety protocol, Temple isn’t doing so well for the Bulls of late. And he missed a significant stretch of time in the past month and a half due to a nagging lower-body injury. That combination shouldn’t inspire much confidence that he could be a key piece of the rotation heading into next season.
It was nice to have the veteran defensive presence on the roster this season when the Bulls handed the former Brooklyn Net and Baton Rouge, LA, native Temple a one-year contract worth around $5 million last offseason. He’s played well in different roles at different points of the regular season slate so far.
In seven games played through April thus far, Temple averaged just 5.9 points per game, 1.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks. And he’s shot 35.7 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 100 percent from the free-throw line.
The Bulls could invest their dollars elsewhere this coming offseason that might make better use of their space on the cap sheet than handing another one-year deal to Temple. They should also focus on building up a more potent bench, especially at the two-guard behind LaVine, starting this coming offseason.