The NBA offseason is still far from over for the Chicago Bulls, who have plenty of work left to do to fill out their roster. With up to a maximum of three free agent spots left to fill (and an additional two-way contract spot), many fans are anxious to see just who the Bulls intend to sign. Fortunately, Bleacher Report provided us with a few potential options to look over in the meantime.
Although Chicago has up to three open roster spots, I’m going to work under the assumption that the Bulls intend to guarantee Carlik Jones’ contract for next season, considering he played very well for the team last year, didn’t get cut alongside Marko Simonovic, and has continued to join the team for dinners and was even spotted in Las Vegas supporting the Summer League roster. Similarly, I’m going to assume (and hope) that the Bulls don’t intend to let Ayo Dosunmu walk just yet, especially since he’s a restricted free agent and Chicago reserved the right to match competitive offers.
Working under those two assumptions. that leaves one spot left on the main roster left to fill. In what I’m sure will be news to Jerry Reinsdorf’s ears, the Bulls will also remain beneath the luxury tax threshold if they sign a player to the veteran minimum to fill that last spot. The Bulls do have the Disabled Player Exception from Lonzo Ball’s injury at their disposal, but doing so would push Chicago into the tax and we’ve thus far seen little reason to believe Reinsdorf will sign off on such a decision.
So with that in mind, are there even any interesting free agents still available for the veteran minimum. Well, B/R’s Zach Buckley weighed in on the subject, proposing three free agents the Bulls could sign for cheap to round out the roster. Let’s have a look at them now and evaluate whether or not they’d be a good move for the Bulls at this point in time.
Several interesting free agents remain for the Bulls to sign, even at the veteran minimum.
3. Austin Rivers
Buckley cites playoff experience and shooting ability as prime areas of need for the Bulls, and with that, I agree. Where he loses me, however, is when he suggests Austin Rivers as an ideal free agent target on a veteran minimum.
Rivers has been to the postseason 8 times, but only averaged 30 minutes or more in 2 of those years. His teams have gone 27-37 in the playoffs, and he’s 35.7% from deep in those games. That’s not terrible, but it’s not great either. Especially when he’d be joining an already stacked backcourt and would be the 6th best guard at best in Chicago’s rotation.
This is an extremely redundant move, pass.
Verdict: Pass
2. Javonte Green
A pleasant surprise from the trade that sent Daniel Gafford to Washington and brought Daniel Theis to Chicago, Javonte Green ended up being one of the more productive role players for the Bulls over the last two and a half years. However, injury concerns seem to have stalled any discussions to bring Green back on a new contract.
“Still, if the Bulls have reasons to be confident about his health, then they also have reasons to want him back,” writes Buckley, “They’ve seen the kind of impact he can make as a low-maintenance player who won’t take touches away from Vučević, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.”
Javonte Green may have to be an unfortunate casualty for the Bulls in free agency.
Buckley brings up a good point here, Green is definitely the type of player you want to surround your stars with. His hustle may not show up in the box score, but it’s no coincidence that Green became a fan favorite and earned the “5 Javontes out there” special treatment from color commentator Stacey King.
That being said, the Bulls only have one roster spot to go around, and expending it on another guard we’re forcing to be an undersized forward just doesn’t make sense. Green is a great role player, and I truly believe he can excel elsewhere on a contending team.
Verdict: Pass
1. Christian Wood
It’s no secret the Bulls are in need of depth at the power forward position, and for once, I’d love to see them sign a player who is actually big enough to play the position (my apologies Caruso, you’ve done your best). That’s why when a report broke that the Bulls are candidates to sign Christian Wood, most fans agreed that this would be a logical union.
“Wood could be a spark-plug scorer who gives Chicago some extra spacing at the 5 spot. He has bounced around plenty (seven teams in seven seasons) and has never been the most reliable defender, but if minimum money (or near-minimum money, at least) is all it takes to bring him aboard, it’s hard to see much risk.”
If the Bulls can get him cheap, Christian Wood would be a perfect free agent signing.
Buckley perfectly sums up why so many teams are averse to giving Wood a big payday, but for this price tag, it feels like too good of a deal to miss out on. He has his risks, sure, but for a short-term minimum deal, what’s the worst that could happen?
If he busts, the Bulls can cut their losses and still remain beneath the luxury tax threshold. But if he catches fire in the Windy City, they’ll have gotten arguably one of the best-value free agent signings of the summer.
Verdict: Pursue