By most intents and purposes, the Chicago Bulls had a successful 2021-2022 NBA season. In fact, they clinched a playoff berth after a five-year drought, and they looked like an elite team for much of the first few months of the campaign. This time, however, they need to step up again as they enter the 2022 NBA free agency.
Do not forget how they limped to the playoffs, dropping to the Eastern Conference's 6th seed after staying in the top half for most of the season. Not long after, they were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks after just five games in the first round. For sure, there are some holes to plug for this franchise.
Now head coach Billy Donovan and general manager Marc Eversley look to the offseason, where there are some priority signings to make.
Here are three players the Bulls should definitely pursue in 2022 NBA free agency if they are to return to the playoffs in 2022-23.
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3 players Bulls must sign in 2022 NBA free agency:
3. Jalen Smith
First on the list is Jalen Smith. He may not be the hottest name in the offseason, but he is an especially intriguing option for the Bulls. Take note that Indiana just declined his third and fourth-year team option, which feels like a bit of a blunder on the Pacers' end.
Earlier in the year, Smith was traded by the Phoenix Suns for scraps before the trade deadline, and he quickly went on to blossom with the Pacers. After the trade, Smith averaged 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in only 24 minutes per game.
Most shockingly, he demonstrated that he could hit threes. Smith displayed a range that nobody expected from him in Indiana. More specifically, he shot 37.3 percent of his 3-pointers on a respectable 3.8 attempts per contest. If the Bulls succeed in pursuing Smith, he could potentially fix two key issues. First, he would shore up the Bulls' frontline by being a complementary 4 alongside Nikola Vucevic. Next, shooting was one of the Bulls' biggest weaknesses last season, and Smith will address that.
Since Indiana can only give Smith a $4.5 million contract after the Suns declined the team option, this presents a great chance for a rival team to pounce and sign him.
As such, the Bulls should take a chance here because Jalen Smith is the kind of low-risk, high-reward bet that might potentially pay off big time.
Chicago's front office has wanted Mitchell Robinson for quite some time now. Ironically, they botched a chance to trade for him in February, but now they have another opportunity in free agency. He's the kind of frontcourt talent who can develop into a bona fide star player, which would be an eventual upgrade to Vucevic.
If Jalen Smith brings shooting, Robinson brings elite interior defense and rim protection. Those are a couple of things the Bulls have been lacking. Keep in mind that Robinson has blocked three shots per 36 minutes throughout his entire career, and he has been among the league's top five shot-blockers in three of the past four seasons.
Having said that, Robinson does have a couple of weaknesses. First, he tends to get into foul trouble, though he has been working on that as each season has passed. Next, he is also not the most gifted offensive big man, and he would be a step down relative to Vucevic in that respect. In fact, the 24-year-old has never averaged double-figure scoring in any season yet. He cannot consistently hit the jumper and doesn't have a wide post-up repertoire. He, however, can rim-run, roll, and finish an alley-oop.
And again, he blocks a ton of shots. The Bulls just need to take the bad with the very good.
1. Zach LaVine
Lastly, the Bulls need to bring Zach LaVine back. He has solidified his place among the NBA's top scorers, and he deservedly needs to get a bag.
Recall that the Bulls managed to keep LaVine in 2018 by matching a four-year, $78 million offer sheet. As a result, he is an unrestricted free agent because this season was the last year of that deal.
Rumors have swirled about LaVine entertaining other teams' overtures, but recent information suggests he will stay put after all. The Lakers, Trail Blazers, Mavericks, and Hawks were among the teams allegedly courting LaVine.
According to the Athletic, if LaVine does re-sign with the Bulls, he should get a $210 million, five-year deal.
The Bulls need to get on that and quick!
On the off chance LaVine makes a sharp left turn to somewhere else, he would only be allowed to accept a four-year, $157 million maximum contract.
Overall, it seems like a no-brainer for both the Bulls and LaVine, but unless the line is signed, nothing is final.
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