Free agents the Chicago Bulls could sign as an upgrade over Denzel Valentine: Josh Hart
An intriguing group of impending free agent reserve shooting guards this summer is something that could greatly benefit Karnisovas, Donovan, and the Bulls heading into next season. If the Bulls are able to hang on to the veteran 35-year-old shooting guard Garrett Temple heading into next season, then this could be a really potent and rejuvenated group.
One option that the Bulls could consider to upgrade at the two-guard this summer out of free agency is the former Los Angeles Lakers and current New Orleans Pelicans 26-year-old Maryland native Josh Hart. The Bulls could use a consistent two-way boost from a reserve two-guard, and that’s exactly what Hart could provide.
Hart does a little bit of everything for what you would expect out of a shooting guard coming off the bench. He rebounds the ball surprisingly well, can distribute the ball efficiently as a tertiary facilitator, and defends effectively on the perimeter. But Hart does need to be kept in more of a guard defender in matchups instead of on the wing.
Set to become a restricted free agent this summer, the Bulls might be able to get Hart signed to a deal that would pay him around $2 million more annually than they got Valentine signed for last offseason. That would be worth it considering Hart shoots around 35 percent from deep for his career, isn’t a defensive liability, and averaged an insane 8.0 rebounds per game this season.