Chicago Bulls offseason targets that fit with Patrick Williams: Doug McDermott
One potential free agent target for the Bulls that is no longer participating in the postseason festivities is the Indiana Pacers shooting guard/small forward Doug McDermott. As he has increasingly become a more efficient wing on the offensive end of the floor as his career moved along, McDermott could be an underrated find in free agency this summer.
Bulls fans likely remember the days of McDermott playing in Chicago, but he has found a steadier niche role for his game in the past few years with the Pacers. Head coaches Nate Bjorkgren and Nate McMillan both found a lot of value in McDermott’s game coming off screens and occasionally rolling to the basket from beyond the arc.
More than anything else, the Bulls would be getting a true force to be reckoned with from beyond the arc if they were to sign McDermott in the coming cycle of free agency. The former Creighton Blue Jays star McDermott is now 29 years old, so the Bulls could get some more good use out of him.
One of the best individual seasons of McDermott’s career to date came in the season that was. He averaged 13.6 points per game, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.1 blocks. And McDermott shot 53.2 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Williams had a problem at times during his rookie campaign with aggressiveness on the offensive end. He was an efficient shooter from anywhere on the offensive end, but he lacked the confidence to get it done oftentimes. Having someone that can space the floor like McDermott playing next to him could help open the game up for Williams.