Chicago Bulls: 5 slept on FA targets that would be perfect for Donovan

Slept on free agents that would be great for Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls: Mike Conley

The entire ability of a team with a big point guard need like the Bulls to sign impending unrestricted free agent Mike Conley solely hinges on the Utah Jazz being able to re-sign him. Conley looks like he’s expressed interest to return with the Jazz heading into next season, but he could be an expensive contract for a team looking to take another step this year.

Although, if the Jazz were to let Conley walk this summer, his asking price could drop for his next contract. And he’s not likely to get the same annual salary figure ever again that he did with the Memphis Grizzlies five years ago. The Grizzlies signed Conley to a massive five-year contract worth $153 million back in 2016.

Conley would be a great solution to the Bulls’ point guard problem this summer. He’s an immediate impact-type veteran point guard that could help in most areas of the Bulls’ starting unit. Conley is a very effective primary-ball handler that is one of the more efficient decision-makers and shot creators among point guards in the Western Conference today.

The assist-to-turnover ratio for Conley year-in and year-out usually sticks around 3-1. He’s also started to shoot the ball from deep at a clip better than 40 percent in recent years. To top it all off, the ability of Conley to remain a steady one-on-one perimeter defender never waivered. He averaged 1.4 steals per game this season, his highest number since the 2013-14 campaign.

If Conley is available on the open market this summer, he should be a top option at point guard for the Bulls. His name isn’t brought up a whole lot in this conversation since it’s probable that he re-signs with the Jazz. But he’s even less often discussed than Chris Paul for the Bulls, which is odd. Conley could be just as effective for the Bulls at this point of his career given what his price tag could be.