Bad news arrived for the Chicago Bulls on Sep. 2 with four-time All-Star and the former Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks veteran power forward Paul Millsap signing with the Brooklyn Nets out of free agency. ESPN, among other sources, reported that Millsap will be signing with the Nets at least through next season.
The details of the contract that Millsap signed with the Nets wasn’t fully announced yet as of the morning of Sep. 3. As far as the Bulls are concerned, though, the fact is that the need at the four still remains with Millsap taking his talents elsewhere heading into next season.
There looked to be some interest between the Bulls and Millsap in the week leading up to when he signed with the Nets. But there was a multitude of suitors after Millsap, for good reason. He was one of the best free agents left on the market heading into this week.
Chicago Bulls now have to look elsewhere for help at power forward with Paul Millsap signing with the Nets
By far the biggest positional need in the rotation for head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls heading into Training Camp later this month is at power forward. After the Bulls dished out restricted free agent and fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers last week in a three-team sign-and-trade deal, the role of backup power forward is officially left open at the moment.
There are still options available for the Bulls at the four in free agency after Millsap and Markkanen have signed elsewhere. But the options are dwindling, and executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley need to act fast.
It would make a lot of sense for the Bulls to add someone like Patrick Patterson, DJ Wilson, Nicolo Melli, etc. before Training Camp begins on Sep. 28. Emphasis should be placed on the fact that the Bulls’ front office needs to act fast here, though.
With less than four weeks remaining until the start of Training Camp for the Bulls, the need at the four will be a key storyline to watch in the coming days and weeks. Right now, the Bulls don’t have a clear option as to who will play key minutes off the bench at the four.