DeMar DeRozan Grade: A+
For someone once infamously touted as the “worst move of the summer,” there isn’t much else to say about DeMar DeRozan’s MVP-caliber season that hasn’t already been said. In a league that’s been handing out max contracts to unproven players like candy lately, the fact that the Bulls were able to acquire DeRozan for just $82 million is astounding. Best of all, the Bulls won’t be stuck paying DeMar big money in the latter half of his 30s. This is not only the best move the Bulls made last year but quite possibly the greatest free agent signing in Bulls history.
Devon Dotson: D
There’s not much to say about Devon Dotson other than I’m disappointed he couldn’t grow into the vein of former beloved bench Bulls guards like C.J. Watson, Nate Robinson, and John Lucas III. Dotson is still only 22 years old, so there’s time for him yet to figure things out, I just don’t think it will happen with the Bulls.
Matt Thomas: C-
Matt Thomas was a well-intentioned signing, but the talent level was just never there to justify giving him big minutes in the Bulls rotation. Signing Thomas shows the front office clearly understands what this team needs, they’ll just be tasked with finding a better sharpshooting option this summer.
2021 Free Agency Grade: A
Not every signing was a home run, but not every signing needed to be. The risks Chicago did take all appear to be panning out quite nicely, as DeRozan, Ball, Dosunmu, and Caruso figure to be part of this team’s core moving forward. Green also seems to be a player the Bulls would like to hold onto moving forward.
Adding five players like that in one offseason without wasting big money on underwhelming talent is a feat I’ve never seen a Bulls front office manage to accomplish. This team may not still have a definitive franchise cornerstone, but I feel very confident assigning the Bulls a retrospective ‘A’ for their moves made during the 2021 free agency period.