10 Best available free agents to fill Bulls last roster spot

After receiving so much flak for standing pat at the trade deadline and subsequently receiving praise for the addition of Patrick Beverley, you have to think the Chicago Bulls front office is giving themselves a little ‘pat’ on the back right now. They weren’t going to stop there, however, as the unexpected news of Goran Dragic’s release has opened up an empty roster space that the Bulls would be wise to use on a player that better suits this team’s needs moving forward.

Having just passed Wednesday’s playoff eligibility deadline for released players, we finally have a more accurate idea of who’s actually available to pursue, rather than just rumors.

Of course, there’s always the possibility the Bulls promote one of their two-way contracted players (Carlik Jones and Terry Taylor) to the main roster. However, seeing as Chicago just waived a guard to clear the backcourt logjam I don’t see Jones getting moved up now, and Taylor was only signed a week ago and hasn’t had adequate time to prove himself just yet.

So for that reason, I expect the Bulls to look to the free agent market instead of offering an internal promotion if they intend to fill out that 15th roster spot. But who exactly is even available at this point of the season and worth signing? Let me help break Chicago’s best options down for you, putting an emphasis on this team’s main area of need: interior defense and forward depth.

Here’s a look at the 10 best free agents that could potentially make a difference for the Chicago Bulls.

10. Luka Samanic

As the former No. 19 overall pick in 2019, it should come as no surprise that Luka Samanic might be an intriguing piece for a team looking to retool its forward depth. Especially considering the fact he was drafted by the Spurs, who have historically done the leg work and have a strong history of picking high-value players outside of the lottery.

Granted, the fact San Antonio let him walk is cause for concern there — and is ultimately why he finds himself so low on this list — but I believe Samanic still has the potential to thrive in the right situation. Start by stripping back the offensive workload, which is where he really struggled for the Spurs, and allow him to play a specific role off the bench instead of overextending his abilities and I think Luka could still find his place in the NBA.