Free agents Arturas Karnisovas and the Chicago Bulls missed out on: Josh Hart
One name that was actually mentioned in various media and fan circles with the Bulls as a potential landing spot since last season is the versatile Pelicans shooting guard/wing Josh Hart. Karnisovas and the Bulls actually had a really opportune shot at signing Hart during the offseason as he was available pretty late in the month of August.
Hart was figured to be one of the earlier free agent signings for a team that needed a versatile two-way boost with a younger option available. Hart fit the bill for the Bulls in terms of someone that plays solid on-ball and help defense on the perimeter and on the wing. He was one of the more switchable and versatile defenders available for the Bulls at a value price tag during the offseason.
If the Bulls had signed Hart, it would’ve also given this team another option off the bench to get a spark on both ends of the floor. Hart is an excellent floor spacer, disruptive on-ball defender, and a very underrated rebounder that brings a ton of energy to the table in that regard. It’s insane that Hart has averaged seven rebounds per game playing most of his minutes at the two or the three for the Pelicans in the last three seasons.
The Pelicans wound up re-signing Hart to a three-year contract worth a total of around $36 million during the offseason. That would be a pretty expensive salary for the Bulls to put on their cap sheet right now, but also one that likely could’ve been worth it. Nonetheless, signing other guards/wings during the offseason like Javonte Green, Caruso, and Jones, still proved to be excellent moves for the Bulls.