Per The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry (h/t Jason Patt of ClutchPoints), the Chicago Bulls have interest in signing Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier this offseason.
The Bulls’ interest in Rozier is predicated on the point guard’s “fearless play and hard-nosed defensive effort.” Mayberry also adds that “there is a genuine belief that Rozier could be exactly who the team needs.”
Chicago also has interest in a similar player in Chicago-native Patrick Beverley. However, Rozier’s youth may give him the edge over the veteran guard, although to this point in his career Beverley has been more productive.
It’s interesting that the Bulls would have interest in signing Rozier, or even Beverley, as what seems to be a starting role (Rozier is unlikely to sign with a team that won’t offer him a starting role, preventing any lateral moves this offseason).
Their current starting point guard, Kris Dunn, is a player with a similar attitude and skillset. The former fifth overall pick is only 25-years-old and also signed through next season but has shown himself to be injury prone, playing just 98 games combined in the past two seasons.
Conversely, Rozier has played at least 74 games in each of the past three regular seasons. Beverley has only played in at least 60 games in three out of his seven seasons.
The Bulls will be armed with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and have selected two dynamic big men in the past two seasons in Lauri Markkanen (seventh overall pick in 2017) and Wendell Carter Jr. (seventh overall pick in 2018). After acquiring two starting-level wings in guard Zach LaVine (from the Minnesota Timberwolves) and forward Otto Porter Jr. (from the Washington Wizards), the only hole in their starting lineup is at the point guard position.
Per the Chicago Sun Times’ Joe Cawley, Chicago has interest in a draft night trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for point guard Lonzo Ball, a terrific facilitator and defender but a mediocre scorer whose injury-prone as well. However, falling out of the top-6 selections during the NBA Draft Lottery could prevent that from happening.
In which case, turning to a spirited floor general like Rozier could be their best option.
