The Chicago Bulls entered the summer with the goal of pushing for the postseason next year. At the end of this past season, Arturas Karnisovas explained the team had no intention of rebuilding, and the moves they’ve made so far this offseason have backed up that plan.
Chicago re-signed Nikola Vucevic and Coby White to three-year contracts, but it also stayed active in free agency. The Bulls brought in point guard Jevon Carter on a three-year contract and veteran forward Torrey Craig on a two-year deal. Both are set to play huge roles in Chicago’s rotation next season.
According to Chris Herring of Sports Illustrated, the Bulls’ two free agency signings were among the most underrated moves of the summer.
“After keeping largely the same roster last offseason and then standing pat at the trade deadline despite lingering around play-in range all season, Chicago hasn’t done anything flashy this offseason, either,” Herring wrote. “Some fans were disappointed that they brought in Nikola Vucevic on a three-year deal when there hasn’t been much lately to suggest that he, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are an on-court fit.
“Still, you can’t knock the Bulls for landing Carter and Craig, a solid pair of ex-teammates who reached the NBA Finals together in Phoenix back in ’21. Carter’s steadying presence on both ends is meant to at least partially replace the absence of Lonzo Ball, who will miss another entire season because of issues with his left knee, which has undergone three surgeries now. Craig, on the other hand, gives Chicago a big body — bigger than the likes of thin, yet talented forward Derrick Jones Jr., who figures to leave the club—on the wing capable of hanging in against bigger ballhandlers like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic. He also shot nearly 40% from deep last season in the Suns’ offense.”
The Bulls made two very smart moves in free agency, and their team is much improved because of them.
