The Bulls’ 2022 free agency started slow but ended up making four signings. After having some time to process each signing, let’s get into my Chicago Bulls free agent grades.
Andre Drummond
2 years, $6.6 Million (PO)
The Bulls desperately needed a backup center with Tristan Thompson a free agent and Tony Bradley underperforming this past season. Here comes Andre Drummond.
Drummond averaged a double-double in Brooklyn, while only playing 22 minutes a night. This is quite impressive and shocking that he went for this low price.
Drummond will immediately come in and be a serviceable backup that can always provide a presence on the glass.
However, the Bulls came into the off-season with a need for rim protection. Drummond is not a great rim protector at this stage of his career, despite what fans want to believe. At the end of the day, he’s an improved serviceable backup on a great deal but still lacks what the Bulls needed.
Grade: B
Chicago Bulls Free Agent Grades: Zach Lavine
5 years, $215,159,700
Chicago re-signs their longest current tenure player to a deserving max contract. Zach LaVine outplayed his previous 4 years, $80 million by making two All-Star appearances. However, let’s speak about the new deal.
LaVine is 27 years old and still has the potential to be better. After having back-to-back All-Star seasons, I expect LaVine to try and take the next step forward during this deal, making that jump to All-NBA.
This was a deal Chicago needed to make, as losing LaVine would put the team’s potential reasonably low. One may question that $43 million annually is overpaying, but with the max contracts being given this season, it is perfectly fair.
Grade: A
Chicago Bulls Free Agent Grades: Derrick Jones Jr.
2 years, $6.6 Million (PO)
Entering this free agency, I believe many fans (including myself), thought the Bulls would not bring back Derrick Jones Jr. Due to his lack of shooting, this does raise some concerns about if he is worth a roster spot.
Nevertheless, the Bulls were able to obtain Jones Jr. through the luxury tax, rather than spending their mid-level exception. This was a great way to fill a roster spot for Chicago as it saved money for signing Drummond and Dragic.
Last season, I thought Derrick Jones Jr. was best at small ball center. He was great at running the floor and being a lob threat for Lonzo Ball.
With Nikola Vucevic, Andre Drummond, and Tony Bradley all on the roster, it’s unlikely he will spend much time there.
Playing the four, teams will sag off and focus on double-teaming DeMar and LaVine.
I potentially see the Bulls squeezing him out of the rotation and going more small ball, with Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, and Patrick Williams all playing minutes at power forward.
Grade: C-
Goran Dragic
1 year, $2.9 Million
The last roster spot goes to point guard Goran Dragic. This seemed strange considering the Bulls have an absurd amount of players who can all play point guard such as Lonzo, Caruso, White, Ayo, and possibly even Dalen Terry.
At the end of the day though, Dragic is very talented and a steal at $2.9 million. Having Dragic helps bring depth, shot creation, and shooting. This was a signing that Arturas Karnisovas could not pass up on at this price.
Also, by having Dragic, the Bulls could be comfortable trading away Coby White. Coby White will be a free agent after this next season and I doubt the Bulls will want to pay him.
This signing helps a team that desperately needs three-point shooting and is now more flexible about trading Coby White.
Grade: A-
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