The Chicago Bulls surprised many during last year’s offseason when they made the decision to flip the switch and end the rebuild by committing to putting together a team that could contend in the Eastern Conference. For a team that finished 31-41 the year prior, this seemed like an impossible bar to reach. However, Chicago’s roster would be completely revamped by summer’s end and the idea the Bulls could be good once again started to seem plausible.
In fact, by the time Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley were done doing their good work, only two players from the end of the 2019 campaign would still remain on the roster. That pair of course being Zach LaVine and Coby White, whom the Bulls have continually tried to build around the two guards ever since.
The Bulls would go on to sign nine new members to the roster that summer, so there’s plenty to re-visit here a year later. Derrick Jones Jr. would be the 10th new player added to the roster in the trade that sent Lauri Markkanen to Cleveland, but given that he was traded for he will be excluded from this list.
Now that we’ve had a year to watch them play, let’s revisit all of the signings the Bulls made during their hectic 2021 free agency
Since Chicago’s sole draft pick came in the second round, they were free to negotiate a deal instead of being locked into a set contract. For that reason, we’ll be lumping in the signing of any rookies in here as well.
Ayo Dosunmu Grade: A-
Drafted 38th overall, not many had high expectations for Ayo Dosunmu coming into the league. Despite winning the 2021 Bob Cousy award for the best point guard in the nation as a junior at Illinois, many scouts held Ayo’s age and perceived lack of upside against him. Dosunmu would go on to reward the Bulls’ faith in him when he joined New Orleans’ Herbert Jones as the only two rookies drafted in the second round to make an All-Rookie Team.
The only thing that prevents this signing from being a homerun A+ signing is the fact that Chicago only tied Dosunmu down for two years. Unlike the aforementioned Jones, Ayo will already be hitting unrestricted free agency upon the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.
Marko Simonovic: C-
Marko Simonovic has yet to showcase anything noteworthy as a Chicago Bull. To be fair, he hasn’t had much of an opportunity to showcase anything. To be even fairer, he may not have anything to showcase at all. The clock is ticking for Simonovic, and how he performs next season may ultimately determine his fate in the NBA.