After bringing Nikola Vucevic back to be the starting center for next year and restocking the backcourt rotation with Coby White, Jevon Carter, and Ayo Dosunmu, the Chicago Bulls have only one clear hole left to address: their forward depth. Fortunately, several talented forwards remain ripe for the picking, including the two best unsigned free agents at this moment.
Whether or not the Bulls use Lonzo Ball’s Disabled Player Exception, sign a player to the veteran minimum to avoid the luxury tax, or even execute a sign-and-trade to fill that last roster spot, I’m confident Chicago can add a real contributor no matter what. There are plenty of players worth a good, hard look, but I’d like to highlight the 8 best (in my opinion) forwards remaining on the free agent market.
But first, let’s look over a few honorable mentions. Although these players could certainly still vie for a spot in the NBA, they probably aren’t anything worth Bulls fans getting excited over. Chicago could certainly do worse, but let’s hope the front office aims a little higher for their final free agency signing.
Honorable Mentions: Justise Winslow, Markieff Morris, Blake Griffin, KZ Okpala, Stanley Johnson, Taj Gibson, Terry Taylor, Noah Vonleh
If the Bulls sign a power forward with their final roster slot, they should prioritize one of these 8 free agents.
8. Wenyen Gabriel, Lakers
Having played for six teams in his four seasons in the NBA, perhaps no one has scrapped and clawed their way to overcome adversity and remain in the league quite like Wenyen Gabriel. Unlike other highly touted prospects that get tossed around rebuilding teams as reclamation projects, nearly every team Gabriel has played for has been built to win now. As such, he’s struggled to find heavy minutes, but has been productive in the time he’s gotten. He has the size and defensive versatility the Bulls are looking for when it comes to rounding out the forward rotation.
7. Derrick Jones Jr., Bulls
Speaking of versatile players, Derrick Jones Jr. has proven to be quite the Swiss Army Knife in his two seasons with the Bulls. Playing his fair share of both forward positions and even serving as a small-ball center, Jones has been a quality defender for Chicago and was a terrifying lob threat whenever Lonzo Ball was on the court. DJJ certainly deserves another shot in the league, but I’m not sure if the Bulls are the team who’s best equipped to make use of his dynamic above-the-rim play.