Bulls Rumors: Paul Millsap to Chicago could be in the works

Bulls rumors could feature a potentially exciting addition for this building Chicago team heading into Training Camp and the preseason. Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley seem to now have sights set on the veteran four-time All-Star and former Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks power forward Paul Millsap.

According to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic (paid content) on Aug. 30, the Bulls are among the teams interested in pursuing Millsap in free agency at this point of the offseason. He also tabbed the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets as two of the other teams going after Millsap.

This could be big for the Bulls, but that’s some lofty competition to sign Millsap in the remainder of the weeks of this summer. Depending on what Millsap is looking for heading into next season, the Bulls could be a solid fit for him.

The Nets would offer him a more immediate shot at a ring, and the Warriors could offer something similar if that core unit is able to stay healthy next season. But the Bulls could also offer him a nice path to playoff contention, if nothing else, in the Eastern Conference.

Bulls rumors indicating the front office is going after Paul Millsap

A stronger East would still present some challenges for the Bulls in the postseason next year, though.

Moreover, before we get too far ahead of ourselves with postseason projections for the Bulls for next year, it is important to note the team’s looming need at the four. After officially parting ways with restricted free agent and fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers last week, the need at the four remains.

The Bulls did acquire athletic small forward Derrick Jones Jr. from the Blazers, adding depth to the bench for head coach Billy Donovan, but he’s not a natural fit at the four. Donovan and the Bulls can either play DeMar DeRozan or Patrick Williams at the four in the starting unit. But there’s not a clear fit in the second unit off the bench at power forward behind those two.

Adding Millsap would immediately resolve that issue for the Bulls. And there’s a growing sentiment that the Bulls could fit Millsap in the starting unit while playing P-Will off the bench in still a good number of minutes per game if that’s what attracts him to play in Chicago next season.

While Millsap is not the same player that he once was, the 36-year-old veteran is still someone that can contribute at a high level for a growing contender like the Bulls. Last season with the Nuggets, he averaged 9.0 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks. And he shot 47.6 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 72.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The Bulls are set to open up Training Camp on Sep. 28, giving them a little less than one month until that time arrives. And then, the preseason slate is set to open up at home at the United Center on Oct. 5 against Markkanen and the Cavs.