Bulls could bring back draft mistake in free agency
The Chicago Bulls offseason has been more about who was subtracted than who was added.
The Bulls traded away Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan while adding rookie Matas Buzelis in the draft and signing Jalen Smith in free agency.
They did little to address one of their biggest weaknesses, which is 3-point shooting, as they were just 26th in the NBA in 3-pointers made per game last season and traded away one of their best long-range shooters in Caruso.
Whether the Bulls are aiming for the playoffs or traying to tank (does anyone know?), there are reasons they should sign an elite shooter in free agency and there happens to be one available in Doug McDermott.
The Bulls originally drafted McDermott in 2014 in a move that turned out to be disastrous, as they traded up to get him and then traded him away before he got a chance to prove himself.
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McDermott is in the twilight of his career 10 years later, but still knocks down 3-point shots at a high rate and there are other reasons the Bulls should consider bringing him back.
How much cap space do the Chicago Bulls have?
The answer is none, but according to Bleacher Report, the Bulls still have around $4.3 million left of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which should be more than enough for a one-year deal for McDermott.
He’s not going to play big minutes, but would create space for the Bulls young guards when he’s out there, as he’s a known sniper whose shot has to be respected.
McDermott would be a cheap shooting option for the bench, and one that the Bulls could potentially flip at the deadline to a team that needs shooting.
On a cheap, expiring deal, McDermott could be an asset to any team looking for shooting that can’t afford to add him now.
If the Bulls trade Zach LaVine, their need for 3-point shooting will be even more dire, as it would leave just one high-volume long-range shooter in the rotation.
The modern game is built on shooting and spacing, and though McDermott is in the latter stages of his career, he can still shoot the ball at a high level.
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