As a managerial duo, Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley have built a reputation around the NBA for being notoriously tight-lipped about their plans and decision-making process. Despite being very aggressive in trades and free agent signings, it’s usually very difficult to see what their next plan of action is. This, however, is not one of those times. The Chicago Bulls absolutely intend to re-sign Zach LaVine to a max extension this summer.
But what happens after that? If they’re successful in their endeavor to lure LaVine back to town, the front office will still have a few holes to fill in order to bring the Bulls a step closer to legitimate championship contention.
Among those holes, Chicago will likely want to improve their interior defense and outside shooting, two areas the Bulls ranked near the bottom of the league last season. Acquiring a veteran free agent that can address these issues needs to be near the top of the priority list this offseason, but they also need to come cheap.
Even if the Bulls successfully re-sign Zach LaVine, they’ll still need to make a few free agent signings to become true contenders
Should the Bulls re-sign LaVine, envisioning the core rotation pieces starts to become a much easier task. Lonzo Ball, LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, and Nikola Vucevic will likely once again comprise the starting lineup. Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, and Coby White will round out the reserve guard rotation, while Javonte Green should be the primary small forward off the bench.
The power forward and center slots are much more difficult to predict, however, as Tony Bradley has not yet accepted his player option and Marko Simonovic has yet to show anything to prove he’s ready for such a role yet. Free agency is increasingly looking like the team’s best route towards improving their deficiencies on the interior.
Here’s an early look at the three relatively cheap free agents that I believe the front office would target in order to round out next year’s rotation.
3. Thaddeus Young
Bulls fans should be well-acquainted with this 15-year veteran by now, as Thaddeus Young recently provided invaluable service for a growing Bulls team during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. Young averaged 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists primarily in a bench role during his two seasons in Chicago.
Thad’s versatility was huge for those teams, as he navigated between roles as a traditional power forward and a small ball center to maximize the talent of the players around him. Unfortunately, there wasn’t actually much talent around him in the first place.
His performance was one of the very few silver linings during a span where the Bulls would post a paltry record of 53-84. In fact, Young would prove to be the best playmaking big man the Bulls have had since Joakim Noah.
Perhaps even more impactful than his performance on the court, Young was an invaluable leader in the locker room. Young was nominated for the Twyman Stokes Teammate of the Year Award in 2019, was invited to join Team USA in 2020, and would go on to win the NBA’s Hustle Award in 2021. He’s the type of player that has always prided himself in winning small battles and making a difference wherever and whenever he can.
Young was a mentor and friend to many, most of all to LaVine. Thad and LaVine’s friendship dates back to Zach’s rookie season when the veteran made a strong impression on the guard in Minnesota. LaVine would later go on to name Young “the best teammate I ever had.” It’s clear to see the importance Young has had on LaVine’s career trajectory, and it would be great to see his career end alongside a good friend.
Young will be turning 34 years old later this month, so there may not be much quality basketball left in him, but he has already proven he doesn’t need minutes to make this team better. He may not be the best player on this list anymore, but he’s perhaps the most affordable and realistic option to pursue.
2. Isaiah Hartenstein
If the Bulls aren’t going to bring Young back aboard the ship, they need to sign someone who is undeniably a better player at this point. Whether you’ve been following his rise in Los Angeles or not, Isaiah Hartenstein would be an upgrade in every way.
Hartenstein has improved every year he’s spent in the league, as he’s progressed from fighting to just being the 15th man on an NBA roster in 2018 to become a clear-cut rotation player today. In just shy of 18 minutes per game with the Clippers last season, he posted averages of 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game.
While those numbers may not jump off of the page at you, his per-minute production is actually elite. In fact, he severely outclasses Bulls starting center Nikola Vucevic as a player in nearly every advanced statistical category: PER, BPM, TS%, Win Shares, VoRP, you name it. The only thing holding back Hartenstein from becoming a solid starter is a lack of experience and tendency to commit too many fouls. These are obstacles that can easily be overcome given enough minutes to learn and develop.
Although Hartenstein has only recently just turned 24 years old, he’s due to sign his third NBA contract and thus is not a restricted free agent. That will be crucial for any team that has their eyes locked on the blossoming big man, as the Clippers do not hold the right to match any offer for him in free agency.
In fact, the most likely roadblock to signing Hartenstein this summer isn’t going to be the Clippers, it’s the rest of the league. The Bulls can only offer the MLE to Hartenstein, but he’s likely to have multiple offers on the table at that amount from other suitors. Chicago would likely have to make room in the rotation for Hartenstein to have a sizable role on the roster before he agrees to sign here.
I wouldn’t say it’s likely the Bulls sign him this summer, but I do believe the front office will do their due diligence and measure the market on a talent like Hartenstein. After all, no one expected Chicago to pry Alex Caruso away from the Lakers on the MLE either.
1. Mo Bamba
In the 2018 NBA Draft, Mo Bamba was chosen sixth overall by the Orlando Magic, just one slot ahead of the Bulls’ selection of Wendell Carter. Fast forward a few years, and now Carter has found himself a comfortable home with the Magic and Bamba appears to be on his way out.
With Vucevic no longer on Orlando’s roster, Bamba was able to shine in a much larger role than in years past. He started 69 games this season and averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game despite logging just 25 minutes per night.
Unlike Hartenstein, Bamba doesn’t have issues with committing too many fouls that keep him off the court. Instead, his lack of playing time has often been attributed to a lack of energy and hustle on the court as well as a deteriorating relationship with former Magic head coach Steve Clifford. Under Jamahl Mosley, Bamba was able to have his best season to date which lends to the idea that a change of scenery would do him some good.
Ironically, coming to Chicago to play behind Vucevic once again probably doesn’t sound like the most ideal scenario for Bamba, but it also wouldn’t have to be a long-term ordeal. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely the Bulls look to retain Vucevic past this season as his contract expires, given how his performance has taken a bit of a dive. Additionally, the Bulls will have to manage their cap space wisely in order to doll out extensions to LaVine, Dosunmu, Williams, and DeRozan.
This means Chicago will likely be looking for a more cost-controlled option at the center slot long-term. Bringing Bamba on board may end up being a better situation for him and Wendell alike, as the Bulls would ideally prefer a big who can stretch the floor and open the paint for DeRozan and LaVine to go to work. Bamba shot 38.1% from deep on four attempts per game last season, proving he would be up to the task.
It remains to be seen just how much a player like Bamba would command on the open market, but a three-year deal in the $20-25 million range sounds about right for a player of his caliber. While Hartenstein may end up receiving more than the MLE in free agency, Bamba should certainly be affordable and open to accepting the MLE from Chicago.
If he were to come to the Bulls, Bamba would immediately provide shot blocking on the interior and shooting on the perimeter — two areas in which the team struggled with last season. This move would leave both parties better off and give Bulls fans a good excuse to continue blasting that song by Sheck Wes. Sounds like a win to me!