It’s been a pretty ugly season for the Chicago Bulls so far. They look like they’re on a one-way path to being one of the worst teams in the league this year. But there are some positives. Caleb Wilson and his early development are chief among them. But Jalen Smith also looks like a guy the Bulls should feel excited about.
Even though Smith’s shooting hasn’t been incredible this year, he still looks like the type of player Chicago should invest in. Smith is only 26 years old, he’s a serviceable defender, and his screening isn’t half bad, either. There’s a reason Smith was a top-10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Bulls can dig out that talent.
Smith could end up being a very interesting trade target when the deadline comes around, but unless Chicago gets a crazy offer, it should keep Smith.
Bulls should want to keep Jalen Smith
So far this season, Smith has appeared in seven games for the Bulls. He’s playing heavy minutes for Chicago – particularly with Nicolas Claxton sidelined – and he’s making the most of it.
Smith has averaged 12.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 47.8% from the field and 27.8% from deep on 5.1 three-point attempts per contest.
Despite the rough three-point shooting, Smith has been a much better shooter in recent years. He’s shot at least 37% from deep in two of the last three seasons, though he is relatively inconsistent year to year from beyond the arc.
Still, Smith has the makings of a very valuable big man. Versatile on the defensive end. A capable three-point shooter. A good screener. A nice hustle guy. He’s the type of player teams should want in a reserve role.
Right now, Smith is on an expiring contract. He’s making just over $9.4 million this season. It’s a great deal, but it also comes with some significant risk for the Bulls.
If Chicago decides to keep him through the deadline – which would be smart – it would have to make sure that it can retain him this summer, because Smith will be entering unrestricted free agency.
That said, trading him for anything less than elite value would be a bad idea. Smith is the type of guy the Bulls should want to keep around as they look to build their roster around Wilson.
Smith is a good player. He can hoop. Chicago shouldn’t want to let him go.
Add us as a preferred source on Google