Chicago Bulls: 3 free agents to sign to upgrade defensively

Ian Mahinmi, Chicago Bulls Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Ian Mahinmi, Chicago Bulls Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Andre Roberson Mandatory Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Andre Roberson Mandatory Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Free agents that could help Chicago Bulls defensively: Andre Roberson

A veteran option on the free agent market that a lot of fans around the NBA landscape are familiar with at this point is the former Oklahoma City Thunder 6-foot-7 and 210 pound 29-year-old shooting guard/small forward Andre Roberson.

Donovan is very familiar with what Roberson brings to the table after the time these two spent together with the Thunder. Roberson played for both former head coaches Donovan and Scott Brooks with the Thunder from 2019 through the end of last season. It might be good for Donovan to get a familiar face in the mix that can fill the role of a defensive stopper with the Bulls.

The last team that Roberson played for in the NBA was the Brooklyn Nets, in a non-guaranteed deal he signed a couple of months ago. But Roberson only got to play in five games with the Nets before he hit the free agent market once again. The Bulls would be able to sign him to play a key role with the second or third unit off the bench when Donovan needs a defensive specialist to step up on the perimeter or on the wing.

Roberson was a 2016-17 All-Defensive Team selection and one of the better defenders to hold a reserve role for any team in the NBA in the past half-decade or so. In his career to date, he averaged 1.5 steals per 36 minutes and 1.2 blocks. Along with that, he’s registered a career 106 defensive rating, 1.4 defensive box plus/minus rating, 2.0 steal percentage, and 2.4 block percentage. He’s a versatile defender that could make an impact right away for the Bulls down the stretch.