Facundo Campazzo would be perfect low-budget free agency option for Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are currently down 0-1 in their first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Game 1 was very promising for the Bulls despite the loss because their stars failed to deliver but it was a three-point game with 30 seconds to go.

It’s worth noting that the Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo was in foul trouble most of the game, finishing the game with five fouls.

The Bulls have their hands full in this series, as it’s unlikely that Antetokounmpo will be in foul trouble many more times the rest of the way. The offseason could be arriving sooner rather than later for Chicago. The way the regular season ended for the Bulls — in addition to the current predicament with their stars — it’s almost common knowledge that roster changes are ahead.

Injuries played a big role in Chicago’s bumpy finish, but that’s commonplace in the NBA. Specifically, Lonzo Ball has a history of being injured, so the Bulls need to beef up their perimeter facilitators in the event they are without Ball for extended time again next season. Fans saw what happened when Ball went down a few months ago. The Bulls will need to get a backup point guard who can not only facilitate, but also lock up the perimeter ball handlers on defense.

The Denver Nuggets have a role payer who does both of those things … and very well. Bulls fans, meet point guard Facundo Campazzo.

Chicago Bulls free agent target: Facundo Campazzo

Campazzo is a quick, scrappy guard who excels at pressuring the ball the full 94 feet and can hit open 3-pointers. Last year in the playoffs, he shot an average of 44% on catch-and-shoot 3-point opportunities. His shooting was key in the Nuggets’ first-round upset of the Portland Trail Blazers.

In that series, he averaged nine points, four assists and three rebounds. His stifling defense also wore down Blazers’ stars Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. As a small guard, his quickness allows him to get under the ball, turning offensive players in the backcourt. That type of pressure isn’t common in the NBA, so when it’s consistent in the playoffs, opposing guards get worn down as the series goes on.

The Bulls’ perimeter defense is nonexistent. This type of the defensive presence would instantly boost their defensive rating. Since Campazzo a high quality 3-point shooter, he can play alongside Ball, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.

However, due to his height, Campazzo wouldn’t fit in a lineup with Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. They would be too small because one of them would be giving up too much height on their assignment. If Billy Donovan was to choose to play two of those three together, Campazzo would likely get the mismatch and the team’s help-side would have to be tip-top. But that’s hardly a problem if he’s disrupting and facilitating/scoring when he’s called upon.

Campazzo is entering the offseason as a restricted free agent. If Chicago were to go after him, the Nuggets would be able to match the offer. But with Jamal Murray coming back for Denver, the front office might not feel inclined to do so.

Either way, Campazzo is a viable option for the Bulls to consider at the backup point guard spot given all the issues we saw this year when they were thin at the position.