Although the Chicago Bulls are no longer in the running for a championship, that doesn’t mean the 2023 NBA Playoffs aren’t well worth a watch. General basketball fandom aside, there’s one key reason every fan should have their eyes glued to their television in May: these players may very well be wearing a Bulls uniform next season.
For those unfamiliar, I broke down the Bulls’ cap space situation earlier this week. I still fully expect them to prioritize retaining their own players first, but that doesn’t mean Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley won’t have their eyes on a few new pieces worth adding as well.
The Bulls won’t be signing any splashy max contracts this summer, but just like the Alex Caruso signing in 2021, sometimes the under-the-radar additions end up making the biggest impact of all. For that reason, let’s look over a few players the Bulls could reasonably sign from this year’s best postseason teams.
Several interesting free agent options for the Bulls are putting their skills on display in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
5. Paul Reed, Philadelphia 76ers
Buried behind projected MVP Joel Embiid, Paul Reed has understandably not been given enough minutes to truly shine. In the two games he started, however, Reed averaged a very respectable 13.5 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per contest.
For a Bulls team looking to add a true power forward while remaining under the luxury tax, Reed could be a fantastic buy-low option and would directly address a big team need. Whether he backs up Patrick Williams or logs minutes as a small ball center, the Bulls have minutes to offer at either slot.
If the Bulls miss in their swing for Reed, that’s alright, as there are plenty of solid alternatives to choose from. Jalen McDaniels, Shake Milton, and Georges Niang are also a few 76ers free agents who performed well this season and might be worth a glance in free agency.