7. Lonzo Ball (2021)
Contract: 4 years, $80 million
If I had to rank all of the players on this list according to their talent and ability at the time they played for the Bulls, Lonzo Ball would have a very strong case to be at the very top. Unfortunately, we’ve only had the chance to witness 35 games of this hypothetical healthy Lonzo since he signed in Chicago, which is why ends up on the ‘worst free agent signings’ list instead.
After being stuck in point guard purgatory for a half-decade following the trade that sent Derrick Rose to New York, it seemed as though Ball was the promised prince that would sweep down and brush all our troubles away. And for those 35 games, it actually… seemed to be fact, not fantasy.
He averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while knocking down a ridiculous 42.3% of his shot attempts from beyond the arc. In those 35 games, Lonzo was by far Chicago’s best shooter, playmaker, and defensive stopper. Without him, it’s easy to see why the Bulls have broken down without one of the NBA’s most elite complementary pieces.
Originally signed to a four-year, $80 million deal, I figured Ball would end up being a massive steal for the Bulls that addressed many of their biggest needs. Instead, injuries have put his career in serious jeopardy and his cap hit to the team now weighs down a Bulls team that seems perpetually just one piece away from being taken seriously.