Chicago Bulls potential hidden gem free agent targets: Robert Franks
With free agency essentially in the rearview mirror not just for the Bulls this offseason, but for pretty much all teams around the NBA landscape, there’s not much left on the market. And with teams now just a couple of weeks away from the start of Training Camp, rosters are essentially finalized as this point of the offseason.
Yet, the Bulls could still add some depth to the roster ahead of the start of Training Camp on Sep. 28. It already feels like Karnisovas and Eversley are taking the approach of throwing numbers at problem positions deeper down the bench to see what sticks in camp and the preseason.
This is why it could make sense for the Bulls to go out to get someone that could fill a spot at a position of need on the bench like the former Washington State Cougars and Orlando Magic power forward/center Robert Franks. The 24-year-old Seattle, WA, native was an undrafted free agent signing of the Magic last season. But it took until April 2021 for him to make his NBA debut during the regular season.
Franks was still efficient in limited minutes for the Magic down the stretch last season. He was also solid in the G-League over the course of the last two seasons, playing for various teams such as the Lakeland Magic.
Playing in seven games with the Magic down the stretch last season, Franks showed off an improving jumpshot, solid on-ball defense, and an effective rebounding ability. He averaged north of one steal and one block per 36 minutes and shot above 46 percent from the field.
And in the last two seasons in the G-League, Franks shot around 37 percent from beyond the arc. That’s not to mention his 92 percent free-throw shooting on 13 attempts last season.
Franks could play some valuable minutes for the Bulls at the four. Given his improvement in the G-League and in limited minutes with the Magic in the NBA last season, it’s worth a shot. He doesn’t get much exposure, but is a potential target worth noting if the Bulls still want to add depth in the frontcourt unit.