Grading every Chicago Bulls 2023 free agency signing (so far)

The Bulls surprisingly sign Jevon Carter to a three-year, $20 million deal.

While several reports indicated the Bulls would show interest in free agent guards like Derrick Rose, Donte DiVincenzo, or even a reunion with Patrick Beverley, management decided to go in an entirely different direction with this move here. I fully expected the Bucks to prioritize retaining Jevon Carter this summer, but the Bulls managed to swipe a valuable asset from their Central division rival here.

Signing for the next three years on a $20 million deal, the Chicago-native Carter joins the Bulls on what looks to be a shockingly team-friendly contract. Seeing as how other guards around the league like Dennis Schroder and Caris LeVert received significantly more money on the open market, this deal looks extremely palatable — best of all, I have a sneaking suspicion that Carter contributes more to winning than either of the aforementioned players.

Jevon Carter is an excellent addition to round out the Bulls’ backcourt rotation.

Carter averaged 8 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.4 rebounds primarily off the bench for Milwaukee last season. He was a key contributor for the second unit, helping the Bucks hold down the fort while the starters rested, as Milwaukee outscored opponents by 3.4 points per 100 possession when Carter was on the court.

Most importantly, Carter is an excellent shooter — attempting 4.2 long-range shots per game and knocking them down at an impressive 42.1% clip — and point-of-attack defender. It’s not often you see a true ‘3-and-D’ talent at the point guard position. He’ll slot perfectly alongside Zach LaVine when the Bulls stagger their starters’ minutes, and could even create a fearsome defensive duo alongside Alex Caruso. With Carter on the roster, Billy Donovan will have an even easier time coaching one of the NBA’s best defenses.

Grade: A