Chicago Bulls: Ranking every player at the quarter-mark
Chicago Bulls player rankings at the quarter mark: The bottom tier
Now, we get into the part of the list with some meat to it. The bottom tier for the Bulls includes players that have either failed to meet expectations, have contributed in a very limited sense, and/or have just been underwhelming out of the gates this season. Anyone who’s appeared in at least five games for the Bulls this season, and/or have at least 50 minutes played, qualify to make it out of the “incomplete tier”.
13. Matt Thomas, SG
One of the late additions to the Bulls’ roster during the latter stages of Training Camp and the preseason was the former Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz sharpshooting two-guard/wing, Matt Thomas. There were flashes that Thomas showed in the past of being at least a decent on-ball defender and a knockdown shooter from the outside.
But so far this season, Thomas hasn’t found much traction at all in just seven games played. He’s averaged just over one point per game while shooting around 25 percent from the field and 14 percent from beyond the arc.
12. Troy Brown Jr., SG/SF
High hopes existed for the 22-year-old shooting guard/small forward Troy Brown Jr. after the Bulls landed him from the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline last season. But Brown has yet to show much of anything positive on the Bulls on a consistent basis since he landed in Chicago at the trade deadline last season.
Brown has worked his way down the bench this season thanks to a rather uneventful start. He’s averaged 3.5 points per game, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, with a 9.8 player efficiency rating, and -4.6 box plus/minus in just over a dozen games played out of the gates this season.
11. Alize Johnson, PF
Definitely, the most underwhelming player for me personally out of the gates this season for the Bulls is the former Pacers and Brooklyn Nets power forward Alize Johnson. As someone who was an insanely efficient rebounder and fierce on-ball defender, with at least a decently efficient shooting stroke, Johnson had some potential to work his way into the second or third unit for Donovan and the Bulls this season.
Yet, Johnson is one of the worst paces in terms of rebounds per 36 and rebounding percentage in his career to date this season. And he’s turned the ball over too much considering he’s such a low usage player on the offensive end.