One of the Chicago Bulls' most unexpected pickups at the trade deadline was forward Guerschon Yabusele, and it was only possible because of a risky gamble. Yabusele worked with the Knicks to remove his player option for next season in order to land on a team with more minutes available at his position. It was a shrewd move for the Frenchman, who joined a Chicago team in desperate need of frontcourt depth.
Geurschon Yabusele is right where he wants to be
In the process of waiving his player option, Yabusele gave up a guaranteed $5.78 million next season. Keep in mind that he was out of the NBA entirely two seasons ago and had to fight his way back through breakouts in international play. But Yabu was willing to bet on himself as long as he got enough minutes to prove his worth.
By joining a team overloaded in guard depth, Yabusele wisely positioned himself as a valuable contributor. And it's instantly paid off with more opportunities. In 41 games with the Knicks this season, Yabusele never started and only averaged 8.9 minutes per game. In seven games so far with the Bulls, he has started five times and is averaging 25.4 minutes per game.
Yabusele has quietly become one of the biggest winners of the trade deadline. He's feasting on his increased minutes to boost his stats across the board. In Chicago, he's up to 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He's looking much more comfortable and confident than he did in New York.
The added comfort on the court has translated to better shooting for Yabusele, who's hitting 43.2 percent of his threes for the Bulls. As a role player without standout skills, this type of shooting could go a long way in securing his next contract. Whether it's re-signing with the Bulls or shopping his talents elsewhere, Yabusele has now put himself in a great position for the offseason.
His initial wager during his contract restructuring was significant, but it is quickly proving worthwhile. It's not one that many role players in his position would be willing to take, especially playing on a playoff contender like the Knicks. But Yabusele has a unique perspective shaped by previously finding his way out of the NBA for 5 years. He's comfortable playing either in the Euroleague or NBA, so he would rather take a risk to prove his value and potentially secure a longer-term deal in the process.
In the meantime, Yabusele is helping the Bulls as a reliable and versatile contributor in the frontcourt. His steady presence should help their young guards grow without destroying their tanking efforts. In the end, it could be a win-win situation for all parties.