The upstart Houston Rockets pushed the Golden State Warriors to seven games in their opening-round Western Conference playoff series, largely due to a monster road win in Game 6. Houston overwhelmed Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green with a two-big lineup featuring Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams.
Adams dominated the paint with 17 points and three blocks in a throwback performance for the 31-year-old. The Chicago Bulls have long lacked any such dominance on the interior.
The Rockets couldn't repeat their performance in Game 7, falling 103-89 and watching their statement season come to an end. That loss means Adams, who signed a two-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies before the 2023-24 season, is officially an unrestricted free agent.
The Bulls should be at the front of the queue, ready to bring the veteran center to The Windy City.
Steven Adams would give the Bulls an interior presence they've lacked
Nikola Vucevic has always been a polarizing player among Chicago fans because of his slow, plodding game and lack of rim protection. But for a team that shot and made the third-most three-pointers in the league during the regular season, his ability to stretch the floor as a 40.2 percent shooter from deep had value.
His defensive struggles, though, especially on the interior, played a part in the Bulls allowing the third-most points in the NBA and the most points in the paint. Trade deadline acquisition Zach Collins didn't help in that area, nor did reserve big Jalen Smith. Rookie Matas Buzelis led Chicago in blocks.
Enter Adams.
A knee injury kept the New Zealand native out all of 2023-24, and he only played in 58 games, averaging 13.7 minutes per contest for the Rockets this season. Houston had Sengun penciled in at center every night, and head coach Ime Udoka opted for younger, more athletic defenders like Tari Eason and Jabari Smith up front.
Adams played a key role for the Rockets in the playoffs, though, appearing in all seven games of the Warriors series, averaging 22.1 minutes and pulling down 6.6 rebounds (3.3 offensive) and blocking 1.1 shots a night. (It's important to note that Adams is an expert at tipping rebounds to teammates or out to the three-point line to earn extra possessions, which don't count as "rebounds" on the stat sheet.)
Would Adams run the floor and catch lobs from Josh Giddey or post up on the block and find Coby White at the three-point line? Likely not. But he would be a physical paint presence for 20-plus minutes per night, something the Bulls desperately need.
The 10-year vet wouldn't be an expensive signing, either. His deal with the Grizzlies was for two years and $25.2 million. That was two seasons and one major knee injury ago and only one year removed from a 2019-20 season in which he nearly averaged a double-double with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Bringing Adams in on a one- or two-year contract to fill a gaping hole in the roster would be a smart move for Chicago, even if the franchise lands another big man like Khaman Maluach in the draft. Adams would bring a strong—literally—veteran presence to a young team and would allow a raw but gifted center like Maluach to develop behind him. It would be a win-win deal.