No. 4: Ayo Dosunmu, Bulls (Restricted)
Jumping up into the top four here, we have Chicago’s own Ayo Dosunmu. While it would certainly be a stretch to say he’s the fourth most talented free agent on the market right now, I believe his familiarity with the Bulls organization and long-term potential should certainly have him ranking high on Chicago’s list of remaining free agent targets.
I’m not alone in this line of thought here, either, as The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor sang Dosunmu’s praises. He even goes so far as to posture that Ayo could be the next Bruce Brown of free agency, in this video clip below.
Who do you think will be the Bruce Brown of this NBA free agency class?
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 29, 2023
One candidate: Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls pic.twitter.com/sGaG5sv0st
Despite Dosunmu’s struggles in his sophomore season, I believe giving up on a multi-faceted player who can score, defend, and make plays for his teammates off the bench would be foolish after a small step in the wrong direction. This much is especially true now that the Bulls have hired a shooting coach, who will hopefully help address Dosunmu’s greatest weakness next season.
Ayo Dosunmu and Christian Wood could both become free agency steals if utilized in the right role.
No. 3: Christian Wood, Mavericks
As we climb into the top three here, we’re truly among the most talented players still available. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen with Christian Wood here, raw talent often isn’t enough to earn a secure role in the NBA. Despite averaging an extremely promising 18.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2 assists over the last three seasons while shooting a relatively great 38.1% from deep for a 6-foot-10 forward, Wood hasn’t been able to hold down a consistent gig for a team just yet.
This has often been attributed to a rumored bad attitude in the locker room, as Wood has clashed with several head coaches and teammates in pursuit of a bigger role. While it’s extremely concerning that Wood has been through eight different teams in eight years, the fact that those list of teams includes the Pistons, Hornets, rebuilding Suns, Rockets, Pelicans, and mismanaged Mavericks could possibly suggest the fault doesn’t entirely fall on his shoulders here. Perhaps he’s worth the gamble for a Bulls team in desperate need of a true power forward?