With the recent injury to Coby White, the Chicago Bulls are in an even bigger need of a point guard this offseason. If the point guard position wasn’t mandatory this offseason, it sure is now. Let’s take a look at who the Bulls should target this offseason.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAyxLjrtbmg[/embedyt]Chris Paul
Strengths: All-time great point guard, fantastic leader, makes his team better
Weaknesses: Paul is 36 years old, and is in search of a long term deal around 3 years, $100M.
If the Bulls want to go all-in for next season, Paul’s the way to go. He’s the best PG on the market and an extremely talented player overall. As shown by his recent stints in Oklahoma City and Phoenix, Paul makes every player around him better. CP3 already played under Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, so he’d fit right into his system. Paul’s skillset is the perfect fit for this Bulls team, as he can put up points when he needs to (career high of 43 points in a game), but is primarily a distributor, as shown by his career 9.4 assists per game. Paul would make up for Zach LaVine’s defensive limitations in the backcourt, as he’s made 7(!) All-Defensive First Teams in his career. Finally, the Bulls had a serious turnover problem last season, and one of Paul’s biggest strengths is his career 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. If Paul declines his player option, he’d be a fantastic target for Chicago.
Mike Conley Jr.
Strengths: A lot of playoff experience, and a dependable point guard.
Weaknesses: Conley is 33 years old, so while he’s younger than CP3, he’s not exactly a young up-and-coming player. Conley, like Paul, will likely command a large salary.
Out of all the players on this list, Conley’s probably the most likely to stay with his current team. He has a great situation with the Utah Jazz, as they don’t rely on him to be their number one player but he still has a significant role on a playoff contender. However, if he decides to test the free-agent waters, Conley could be a good fit on the Bulls. While he’s not a top-flight facilitator (career 5.7 assists per game), Conley’s an efficient scorer who’s averaged 14.9 PPG in his career. His shooting is great (he shot 41.2% from beyond the arc this season) and he’s also a great defender. He could make up for Zach LaVine’s defensive limitations in the backcourt while opening up the offense.
Kyle Lowry
Strengths: Plays hard every night, high-quality facilitator, and has a ton of playoff experience.
Weaknesses: Lowry is 35 years old, and is known to want to go to a contender this offseason.
Lowry would be a great veteran leader for this Bulls team who could also become a great contributor. Lowry gives immense effort on both ends of the floor as both a quality scorer and a skilled defender. Lowry’s career averages of 14.9 points and 6.2 assists per game are great numbers for what the Bulls are looking for, and they only go up if you factor out his first six NBA seasons, during which he never started more than 21 games in a season. Like Paul and Conley, Lowry would be an expensive commitment to an aging player, but his game should age well. Just because Lowry said that he wants to retire as a Toronto Raptor doesn’t mean he has to play the rest of his career in Canada, and the Bulls could be a great fit for his game.
Lonzo Ball
Strengths: Ball is a talented facilitator and defender whose shooting has improved immensely since being traded to New Orleans.
Weaknesses: Lonzo has never been a consistent player and he hasn’t had a full quality season. Ball’s status as a restricted free agent will likely drive up his price in free agency, as the Pelicans are expected to match most offers for him.
Ball is the best young (he’ll be 24 at the start of the season) option in the free-agent point guard market. Unlike the older players, Ball can grow along with the rest of the Bulls’ younger players, like Zach LaVine (26), Coby White (21) and Patrick Williams (19). He’s always been a quality defender and facilitator (career 6.4 assists per game). He’s gone from a liability at both the free-throw line (44% in his first two seasons) and beyond the arc (31.5% in his first two seasons) to a quality shooter (78% from the line and 37.8% from 3). Whatever team signs Ball in free agency will hope that he can sustain and even improve upon those numbers. However, while improvement would be nice, passing and defense, the skills that made Ball a quality player in his first two seasons, are the only things Chicago really needs out of him. While the front office may be reluctant to pay him $20M+/year on a new deal, that may be the only way a deal gets done. Overpaying Ball might be the only way the Bulls can find a long-term solution to their point guard woes this offseason.
Dennis Schroder
Strengths: Proven Player, has previously played well under Billy Donovan.
Weaknesses: Disappeared in the playoffs, not a good fit for the Bulls.
Schroder had a breakout 2019-20 season under Billy Donovan in OKC before being traded to the Lakers during the offseason. L.A. gave Schroder the lead point guard role, and he didn’t live up to expectations. Though he averaged more assists (5.8) per game than he did in OKC, he averaged 3 less points per game and his shooting regressed greatly. In the playoffs, his numbers further declined as the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns. Though he’s a talented player, I don’t see Schroder filling the Bulls’ needs.
Spencer Dinwiddie
Strengths: Has shown flashes of being a very talented player and could come at a discount since he’s coming off of an injury.
Weaknesses: He’s coming off of a serious injury and has never been a good three point shooter.
Dinwiddie, who played 5 preseason games for the Bulls in 2016, had developed into one of the league’s more promising young point guards before getting hurt early this season. While players coming off of an injury would usually take their player option and look to prove themselves before cashing in the next year, the apparent lack of a role for Dinwiddie on the Nets (Kyrie Irving and James Harden are very talented ball handlers) may make him want to cash in this year. In his last two healthy seasons, Dinwiddie looked like a great player, averaging 18.6 points and 5.6 assists per game despite often being relegated to a bench role (he only started 4 games in the 2018-19 season). If Dinwiddie recovers from his injury and returns to the player he was, he could be a great fit on the Bulls.
Kendrick Nunn
Strengths: Young, has playoff experience.
Weaknesses: Not much of a facilitator, has struggled at times.
The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year finalist has had an up-and-down career since going undrafted. While he shined at times for the Heat during their Finals run, the coaching staff seemed to sour on him, as there were games where he didn’t even play despite the injuries and COVID protocols that ravaged Miami’s roster. Though Nunn could still improve his game, his career average of 3 assists per game doesn’t exactly scream “facilitator.” Miami will likely want to bring Nunn back, and since he’s a restricted free agent, the Heat can match any offer the Bulls send his way. He’s probably a lesser option for the Bulls at this point.
TJ McConnell
Strengths: Good Facilitator and a quality defender.
Weaknesses: He’s never been much of a scorer and has very minimal starting experience.
McConnell had another solid season for the Indiana Pacers this season, averaging 6.6 assists per game despite only starting 3 games. However, McConnell’s never been a double-digit scorer, only averaging 8.6 PPG this season and 6.8 in his career. Could he thrive in a starting role? He hasn’t started double-digit games since the 2016-17 season, and he’s grown a lot as a player since then. However, his shooting has actually gotten much worse since then. Being an off-the-bench ball handler might be his ceiling, and I’d prefer if the Bulls don’t overpay for another one of those, especially seeing as Tomas Satoransky has much better career shooting numbers.
Goran Dragic
Strengths: Experienced, quality player.
Weaknesses: 35 years old.
Dragic is a quality player who has been great for the Miami Heat over the last few seasons. The only reason Miami would decline his player option is if they want to chase a big free agent, which they are likely to do. Dragic’s career averages of 13.9 points and 4.8 assists per game aren’t eye-catching numbers, but he could be a great value for the Bulls at the right price. He’s also a good defender, which is something, as I’ve often stressed, the Bulls need in the frontcourt. Unlike some of the other older point guards on the market, Dragic would probably not command a long-term deal, which could be a plus as the Bulls look for their long-term point guard.
Derrick Rose
Strengths: Is a much better shooter than he was in Chicago, and has proven he can still play winning basketball.
Weaknesses: Hasn’t put up the assist numbers like he did in Chicago, may not want to come back to the Bulls.
Derrick Rose, my favorite player to wear a Bulls uniform in my lifetime, is a free agent. While he’s not the same MVP-caliber player he was early in his career (though he did get one first-place MVP vote this season), he’s dedicated himself to improving the other aspects of his game. Rose has become a very good shooter (he made 41% of his threes after being traded to New York) and is still a decent facilitator (4.2 assists per game this year). Some thought he’d never play a significant amount of minutes after his injuries, but as his playoff performances this season showed, he still has a lot left in the tank. However, Rose probably wants to go to a contender if he doesn’t stay in New York. I love Rose, but I don’t see him making a return this offseason.
Cameron Payne
Strengths: Has greatly improved from his time in Chicago.
Weaknesses: That’s not saying much..
Could the Tank Commander himself return to Chicago? We would’ve laughed at that idea a year ago, but he’s contributed to the Phoenix Suns this season. While his per-game averages this year look similar to those of his Bulls tenure, a deeper look into his shooting percentages and usage show that he’s improved greatly. He shot 44% from deep this season on 2.8 attempts per game. It’s a small sample size, but it’s a massive improvement from his 29.8% mark in the 2018-19 season. He’s also looked good in the playoffs, which may show that his improvement isn’t a fluke. So, could the Tank Commander return to Chicago? I don’t see the Bulls, or any team for that matter, suddenly giving him a sizable contract or thrusting him into a starting role, especially considering the broader scope of his career. He’s probably best served as a decent reserve on a good team.
Jalen Brunson
Strengths: Has improved statistically in almost every category in each year.
Weaknesses: Is most likely not good enough to be a starting caliber point guard.
I can see Brunson as a target for the Bulls with a sign and trade of Lauri Markkanen. Could be a solid playmaker for the Bulls, but would likely be better suited for a bench role. There are definitely questions to what his role would be on the Bulls.
Malcolm Brogdon
Strengths: Incredibly underrated guard who would definitely help the Bulls out.
Weaknesses: Why Would Indiana want to move on from him?
Depending on the price, Malcolm Brogdon could be a great asset for the Chicago Bulls. However, what would the Indiana Pacers want in return for Brogdon? Well the Bulls don’t currently have a lot of trade assets to work with. The Bulls may have to complete a sign and trade with Lauri Markkanen and some second round picks.
Marcus Smart
Strengths: Great defensive guard, could easily be moved this offseason.
Weaknesses: This season he shot 39.8%, 33% from three, and 79% from the free throw line. His primary job on the Bulls wouldn’t be scoring, but it’s still a concern.
Marcus Smart is one of those players whose stats don’t show how he plays. You can look at his stats and they will tell a different story than how he actually plays. Marcus Smart is one of the best defensive guards in this league. The Bulls could easily use someone like that on their team.
Kemba Walker
Strengths: Still a great point guard in this league. He’s only 2 years removed from a starter in the all star game.
Weaknesses: He’s very injury prone. It’s incredibly risky to give up assets for a player who has a history of injuries. Another very bad concern is his contract. Walker is currently halfway through his 4 year, $141M contract. Why would the Bulls want to take that contract on?
While Kemba Walker was and still is an amazing player, the Chicago Bulls are probably better off without him. He’s on a deal that would crush the Bulls current cap space. Why would they want to do that and give up assets for an aging, injury prone point guard? All we can do is hope that Arturas Karnisovas doesn’t make a move for Kemba.
Damian Lillard
Strengths: Insane shooter, passer, and playmaker. Top 3 point guard in the league(debatably higher).
The only real weakness to Damian Lillard is what it’ll take to bring him to Chicago.
There isn’t really much to say about him, He’s The Damian Lillard. Lillard would turn the Bulls into instant contenders. The only true concerns are if Portland is willing to move on from him, and his trade value. The Bulls would have to get up a lot in return, but to get Damian Lillard it would be worth it.
Vasilije Micic
Strengths: He is definitely ready to play in the Nba. Micic is a really good passer without outstanding court vision and awareness of the game.
Weaknesses: How will his skillset translate to an always evolving Nba?
Reports came out that the Chicago Bulls were interested in acquiring Micic, whose draft rights belong to the Oklahoma City Thunder. As we know Micic just won the EuroLeague MVP, however we don’t know how well his skill set will translate to the Nba. The 27 year old point guard has many of the skills to be an Nba guard. For the Bulls to acquire him they will need to make a trade. The price for him may only be a second rounder or two, and the Bulls should absolutely be ready to make that move.
Cade Cunningham
Strengths: Absolute star at Oklahoma State this season, Cunningham has an nba ready skill set. Cunningham has great passer vision and the will to make plays happen. He has great size at the point guard position being 6’8, 220 lbs.
Weaknesses: Can be very turnover prone, which was a problem for the Bulls last season.
Well he’s the projected #1 overall pick for a reason. He’s a playmaker with the potential to guard multiple positions defensively. Cunningham is only 19 years old (20 by the time the season starts), so he has a ton of potential. Cade brings a lot of the things that the Bulls are currently missing.
Jalen Suggs
Strengths: He’s a very good slasher, as well as a playmaker. Plays the game of basketball with a type of intensity you don’t see out of a lot of players.
Weaknesses: Only shot 33.7% from 3 on 104 attempts this season at Gonzaga. Can sometimes be known to take chances to make big time plays defensively.
Suggs is what you call a flashy player. He would bring a lot to this Chicago Bulls team as a facilitator and a scorer. His defense may be concerning, especially in a starting lineup with minimal defense already. He is only 20 years old, so he has a lot of potential as well. Can Jalen Suggs’ game translate to the nba?
Davion Mitchell
Strengths: He’s an elite on ball defender. Explosive athlete off the ball, is able to burst by defenders. Mitchell is a great passer with great court vision.
Weaknesses: Only an average sized nba point guard. Relies heavily on his dominant hand when attacking the rim. Shoots 67.5% from the free throw line (yikes). He’ll be 23 years old by the time the season starts. Is it worth it to draft a 23 year old early in the draft?
Realistically Davion Mitchell is not good enough to be a top 4 pick. It would be a lot more realistic for the Bulls to land a top 4 pick and trade down to draft Mitchell than to take him in the top 4. Davion Mitchell could end up falling to the end of the lottery come draft night and may be a steal for the Bulls if they could land assets+Davion Mitchell for a top 4 pick. The question is why would Chicago want to do this? The answer is quite obvious. Davion Mitchell was the star on Baylor who ended up winning the national championship this year. They took down teams such as Jalen Suggs’ Gonzaga, and Houston in March Madness. Mitchell could end up being a star in this league and the only reasons he may fall in the draft are his free throw percentages, and his age.