As the flashy and splashy part of free agency has ended, the Bulls still have an opportunity to fill their roster. As the stars and high-level agents have been signed, there are still opportunities for the Bulls to sign players. Ayo Dosunmu is a clear target to resign and luckily he has been reported by anonymous sources that he will be reconsidered as a part of the team.
This list is more focused on the moves that can be made on the lower margins, agents that could be seen as low risk, high reward. This is more possible as a result of the Disabled Player Exception contract for Lonzo Ball. Enabling the Bulls to spend 10.2 million on a free agent or use Lonzo in a trade involving a player in their final year.
There are still a few very interesting free agent options out there for the Bulls to sign.
3. P.J. Washington
P.J. Washington is a restricted free agent worth pursuing but it will be difficult to acquire him. The Bulls could attempt to acquire him but with the expectation that the Hornets might match the contract. He is an all-around type of player, he can play any role the Bulls need him to be as a forward. The Bulls could use him as a starter or as a bench player, switching between him and Patrick Williams in subsequent games. As it goes on now, he has as much punch as Patrick Williams on this team but with less offensive potential.
Washington had a relatively below-par season last year, with all his stats falling off his expected productivity. His efficiency dropped from 47% to 44% from the field. Even worse, his plus/minus went from 143 to -375. To be fair, a lot of this was due to a worse-constructed team than years prior. The Hornets became a clearly lottery-bound team very early on, starting out with a record of 6-20.
Washington is a great off-ball player, not as number one option which he was forced to be on the talent-depleted Hornets some nights. His best seasons were when the team was geared with more offensively talented players taking responsibility than Washington. For the Bulls, who are covered on the offensive side, PJ Washington could be a useful off-ball player.
The Bulls need a forward who can play defense if they want more of a balanced team. As of now, they have a perimeter defense at the guard position, but not on the power forward and center positions. Washington is a solid balanced player, and may be worth pursuing if his price tag has taken a hit.
2. Bismack Biyombo
Bismack Biyombo is a very cheap player to acquire but a much-needed defensively-minded player. When it comes to centers, Biyombo plays a very traditional center style on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. His talents are what the Bulls have lacked in the prior seasons has been size and blocking ability. Especially, when it comes to players like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who annihilate the smaller forwards the Bulls put out.
Off the bench in Phoenix, Biyombo averaged 1.7 blocks per game and a defensive rating of 107.6. His defensive ability as a backup center was good enough to keep him on the roster for two years. As a seasoned player, his defense was reliable, enough to stop players in the paint. He does have a weakness on the perimeter though, but the Bulls have defensive guards to cover him a little.
Bismack Biyombo would be a great defender and an elite injury insurance player for the Bulls.
The signing would be great as the Bulls’ wouldn’t have to focus on a small-ball lineup bench. They could mix and match their roster a bit better with a more traditional big man. Leaving the team with a stronger interior defense. It would really be up to Billy Donovan to use the right rotations to make this work, as the roster could become too weak from the perimeter if matched wrong.
This signing could be seen as lackluster but with the resources the Bulls have, it is the most realistic option they have. They could acquire him for under 10 million, likely around the 3 million mark. Considering the new CBA rules kicking into effect next year, the Bulls should try to spend the least amount of cap as they can.
1. Christian Wood
Also suggested by Pippen Ain’t Easy’s own Satya Damaraju, one particular forward from Dallas could provide much offensive assstance at a cheaper cost. Christian Wood in the 2022-23 season was a great offensive player. Wood averaged 16.6 points per game on 51.2% shooting with a 3-point percentage of 37.3% last season. His scoring was efficient with a reliable three-pointer which the Bulls lack off the bench.
The only downside is his defense which has been lackluster his whole career. His lack of defensive ability comes down to two possible reasons; his mentality or size which limits his ability to stop bigger defenders. I believe it’s likely a mix of both, as Wood has the athletic ability to be, at the minimum, a decent defender. He wouldn’t be able to stop offensive juggernauts like Giannis or Embiid but he would at least be able to stop slower bigs and be able to switch on faster guards better than Vucevic could.
It’s not that he lacks the mentality to be a defensive player but more he needs a situation that makes him more comfortable. His situation worsened when he was benched by Jason Kidd on the Mavericks last season. At times, Kidd noticeably underutilized Wood, benching him when he was on a hot streak or when everyone else but Luka could shoot. His potential in Dallas was never met, and it would help to put him at the forefront.
If the Bulls find the right role for him, Christian Wood is a true ceiling-raising player.
Christian Wood could be a vital inclusion on this team. Since this Bulls’ roster has been rather injury prone in the past, having a player who can offensively carry when LaVine and DeRozan get injured is a great addition. As well, a player who can play off LaVine’s drive to the basket as an off-ball shooter or as a pick-and-pop could do wonders for the Bulls. Vucevic has this role but with the addition of another threat, it could help create some dynamic offense for the Bulls.
The only problem for the Christian Wood signing would be signing him to a perfect deal. The Chicago Bulls present themselves at the current moment as a play-in team, would Wood want to play for an uncertain playoff roster, or would he want to play with a team with greater stars? This might be true as there have been rumors, he might be included in a sign-and-trade deal with the Lakers. It gives more credence that the Bulls will maybe not be able to sign the forward, but it would be very beneficial if they could.