Slept on free agents that would be great for Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls: Josh Richardson
Another two-guard/wing option on the free agent market this summer could be the Dallas Mavericks and former Philadelphia 76ers two-way shooting guard Josh Richardson. The 6-foot-5 and 200-pound Richardson was a force on both ends of the floor for the Mavericks this season. But it just didn’t seem like the best fit for him under head coach Rick Carlisle.
Richardson’s advanced metrics were some of the worst of his career with the Mavs this season. He registered a career-low -2.1 box plus/minus rating, .066 win shares per 48 minutes, and 53.7 true shooting percentage.
It is a legitimate question to note if the Bulls will actually have enough cap space to sign someone like Richardson. But if there is a lack of suitors for the 27-year-old former Tennessee Volunteer, then the Bulls could get him at a cheaper price than anticipated.
There is the real possibility that the Bulls could buy-low on Richardson this summer. Just because he had one down season with the Mavs doesn’t mean that he isn’t very much cut out to be successful with the Bulls.
If the Bulls can buy-low on Richardson this offseason, then it is realistic that he could fill a spot on the bench in the backcourt rotation. That would be an immediate and much-needed upgrade to this bench in a versatile role for Richardson.
Donovan needs a better bench, and it’s hard to find many more capable players to help fill that need than Richardson.