Chicago
Bulls ROSTER
29-40 • 11th in EASTERN CONFERENCE
| NAME | POS | AGE | SALARY | HT | WT | COLLEGE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #20 | Adam Mokoka | G | 22 | N/A | 6' 4" | 190 lbs | N/A | |
| #5 | Al-Farouq Aminu | F | 30 | N/A | 6' 8" | 220 lbs | WAKE FOREST | |
| #0 | Coby White | G | 21 | N/A | 6' 5" | 195 lbs | NORTH CAROLINA | |
| #6 | Cristiano Felicio | F-C | 28 | N/A | 6' 11" | 270 lbs | N/A | |
| #27 | Daniel Theis | F-C | 29 | N/A | 6' 8" | 245 lbs | N/A | |
| #45 | Denzel Valentine | G | 27 | N/A | 6' 4" | 220 lbs | MICHIGAN STATE | |
| #3 | Devon Dotson | G | 21 | N/A | 6' 2" | 185 lbs | KANSAS | |
| #17 | Garrett Temple | G-F | 35 | N/A | 6' 5" | 195 lbs | LSU | |
| #11 | Javonte Green | G-F | 27 | N/A | 6' 4" | 205 lbs | RADFORD | |
| #24 | Lauri Markkanen | F-C | 23 | N/A | 7' 0" | 240 lbs | ARIZONA | |
| #9 | Nikola Vucevic | C | 30 | N/A | 6' 11" | 260 lbs | USC | |
| #44 | Patrick Williams | F | 19 | N/A | 6' 7" | 215 lbs | FLORIDA STATE | |
| #51 | Ryan Arcidiacono | G | 27 | $3,000,000 | 6' 3" | 195 lbs | VILLANOVA | |
| #21 | Thaddeus Young | F | 32 | $12,900,000 | 6' 8" | 235 lbs | GEORGIA TECH | |
| #31 | Tomas Satoransky | G | 29 | $10,000,000 | 6' 7" | 210 lbs | N/A | |
| #7 | Troy Brown | G-F | 21 | $3,219,480 | 6' 6" | 215 lbs | OREGON | |
| #8 | Zach LaVine | G-F | 26 | $19,500,000 | 6' 5" | 200 lbs | UCLA |
The Chicago Bulls didn't make too many changes to their squad in the offseason. Their most significant addition came in the form of fourth overall pick Patrick Williams, a highly-promising 6-foot-8 power forward who spent one season with Florida State last year. He joins Chicago's young core of Coby White, Wendell Carter Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and Zach LaVine.
Kris Dunn, who signed with the Atlanta Hawks as a free agent, is Chicago's most notable loss during the offseason.
It is worth noting that Otto Porter Jr. exercised his $28.5 million player option for 2020-21 -- a no-brainer given the uncertainty brought about by the coronavirus pandemic -- so he'll remain in Chicago for at least another year.
Similarly, it's going to be a very interesting year for Markkanen, who himself is in the final year of his rookie-scale deal. The 7-foot power forward managed just four games for the Bulls last term in what was an injury-plagued year for him. Markkanen is expected to have a big season for the Bulls in 2020-21.
Chicago also parted ways with Jim Boylen, bringing on former Oklahoma City Thunder shot-caller Billy Donovan on a four-year deal as the team's new head coach. Donovan joins the Bulls with a 243-157 win-loss record in five years with the Thunder. The 55-year-old very impressively coached OKC to an improbable playoff run last season, and Chicago is hoping that he can work his magic with the Bulls, who themselves are currently on a three-year postseason drought.
chicago bulls Team Analysis
The Chicago Bulls finished the 2019-20 season with a 22-43 record. Simply put, they weren't a very good team, which had a lot to do with their offense. The Bulls struggled mightily on the offensive end last term, ranking all the way at 29th in the NBA, bettering only the Golden State Warriors.
Scoring was one of Chicago's biggest weaknesses last season. They averaged just 106.8 points per game, which ranked 27th in the league. They attempted a considerable amount of shots (88.6 per game - 16th), but the rate at which they made them left a lot to be desired (44.7 percent - 26th).
The Bulls fell in love with the three-ball last season, attempting 35.1 triples per game -- 11th in the NBA. However, efficiency was an issue as they made just 34.8 percent of their attempts from distance, which ranked 22nd. Their efficiency from within two-point range didn't fare any better, as they shot on a 51.1-percent clip (25th) on 53.5 two-point attempts per game (20th).
As a unit, Chicago wasn't able to get to the line too often. They attempted just 20.5 free throws per game last season (27th), making 75.5 percent of them (22nd).
Assisting the ball is another area the Bulls will want to improve on this season, as they averaged just 23.2 dimes per game in 2019-20 (23rd). It's not as if they took care of the rock too well, with Chicago turning the ball over an average of 15.5 times last season (27th).
All in all, the Bulls need to improve significantly on offense this coming season if they hope to make more of an impact on the Eastern Conference.
While Chicago's offense in 2019-20 was less than mediocre, their effort on the defensive end was actually quite commendable. All things considered, the Bulls were a relatively formidable force on defense during the 2019-20 campaign, as the team recorded an overall defensive rating of 108.9 over the course of the season. This ranked an impressive ninth in the entire NBA.
Chicago's interior defense last season, however, was not something to write home about. They allowed their opponents to just 50.9 two-point attempts per game, which ranked fourth in the league. On the contrary, opposing teams made 55.7 percent of their shots from within two-point range, which was a lowly 28th in the league. Moreover, Chicago averaged just 4.1 blocks per game last season (27th).
They fared better in defending the three-ball. The Bulls held opposing teams to just 31.6 attempts from deep last season (fourth), with their opponents making 35.3 percent of them (12th).
All in all, Chicago ranked first in the league in terms of limiting their opponents' total field goal attempts (82.5). Opposing teams shot 47.9 percent from the floor, which ranked 27th in the NBA. Nonetheless, the Bulls held opposing teams to 109.9 points per game (17th).
Another thing the Bulls will want to improve on in 2020-21 is their knack for committing unnecessary fouls. Last season, they averaged 21.8 fouls per game (23rd). This resulted in 26.0 free-throw attempts per game for opposing teams, which ranked all the way at 28th in the league.
Chicago didn't rebound the ball well either. Their 41.9 boards per game ranked 29th in the NBA. They secured 31.4 defensive rebounds per contest, dead last in the league.
The one thing this team did extremely well last season was keeping their hands active on D. They swiped 10.0 steals per game, which ranked first in the NBA. Kris Dunn (now with the Atlanta Hawks) averaged 2.0 swipes per game, while Zach LaVine, Thaddeus Young, Tomas Satoransky, Otto Porter Jr., and Chandler Hutchinson all averaged at least 1.0 steals per contest.
Billy Donovan is currently serving his first season as the head coach of the Bulls. Chicago's front office tapped him up during the offseason after deciding to part ways with Jim Boylen, who sat at the helm for a season and a half.
Prior to joining the Bulls, Donovan was the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He coached that team for five seasons before leaving his post at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Donovan had the privilege of coaching Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook during his first year in OKC. They went all the way to the West Finals that year, which also happened to be KD's final season with the Thunder. Donovan led the squad to four more playoff appearances after that, but all of them resulted in early first-round exits for the Thunder.
Working under Donovan are his assistant coaches Dave Bliss, Mike Wilks, David Akinyooye, and Mike Miller (last season's interim head coach for the New York Knicks; not the former player). Bliss, Wilks, and Akinyooye all worked as Donovan's assistants in Oklahoma last season and the trio joined him as he made the move to Chicago.
Top chicago bulls Roster Questions
Chicago's most recent signing came in the form of veteran swingman Garrett Temple. The 34-year-old signed with the Bulls in what was a rather uneventful offseason for the team on a one-year deal worth $4.8 million.
Temple adds a much-needed veteran presence for a young and inexperienced Bulls side, with the 6-foot-5 guard/forward serving as a key player in the team's second unit. Temple has made a number of spot starts this season due to Chicago's injury woes, but coach Billy Donovan prefers utilizing the vet from off the bench.
In his first 30 games of the season, Temple produced averages of 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals, while also connecting on 1.5 triples per game on a 36.1-percent clip.
The Bulls were not very active during the offseason, not making a significant impact in free agency.
Their only relevant signing was Garrett Temple, who signed on a one-year deal worth $4.8 million. The veteran has played a key role in coach Billy Donovan's rotation. It was more of quality over quantity in terms of signings for the Bulls during the offseason.
Chicago also gambled on undrafted rookie Devon Dotson, who is currently still with the squad on a two-way deal.
The team also signed Noah Vonleh to a single-season deal worth $2.0 million, but the former ninth overall pick was waived prior to the start of the season.
The Bulls were linked to a number of free agents during the offseason, including Derrick Jones Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Markieff Morris, and Jae Crowder.
The Bulls were quiet in the 2020 offseason. They signed a couple of role players via free agency, but they opted against making any trades. As such, Chicago's most recent trade happened way back in the summer of 2019.
As part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Wizards, the Bulls brought on then-free agent Tomas Satoransky to Chicago in July 2019. In exchange for the 6-foot-7 combo guard, the Bulls sent a 2020 second-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick to the Wizards. Satoransky put pen to paper on a three-year deal worth $30 million.
Satoransky served as the team's starting shooting guard during the 2019-20 season. In 65 games last term, he averaged 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. The 29-year-old assumed a bench role this season, serving as a key part of Chicago's second unit.
72-10. These numbers should be enough to convince anyone out there that Chicago's greatest lineup ever is the one they fielded in their historic, record-breaking season in 1995-96.
That season marked the return of the great Michael Jordan in his first full season back following his brief (first) hiatus from the sport of basketball. After falling to the Orlando Magic in the second round of the playoffs the previous season, Chicago came out with a vengeance. They came firing out of the gates and they never looked back.
It was MJ who led this team to glory, but he did have a stellar supporting cast. Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper, and Luc Longley joined Jordan in the starting unit, while Toni Kukoc served as the team's Sixth Man. Steve Kerr, Bill Wennington, John Salley, and Jud Buechler were some of the key players coming off the bench for legendary head coach Phil Jackson.
The Bulls bagged the title that season, defeating the Seattle SuperSonics 4-2 in the NBA Finals. This was their first title after a two-year dry spell and it also turned out to be the first championship of their second three-peat.
Otto Porter Jr.'s decision to exercise his $28.5-million Player Option for the 2020-21 season had a significant impact on Chicago's salary cap for the year. This made the oft-injured Porter the team's highest-earner, accounting for 23.3 percent of the team's total cap of $122.5 million ($13.4 million over the league-mandated cap).
Zach LaVine comes in second in terms of the team's biggest earners with a salary of $19.5 million. Thaddeus Young is set to pocket $13.5 million, while Tomas Satoransky will rake in $10.0 million this term. Cristiano Felicio rounds out the Top 5 with a salary of $7.5 million.
It is worth noting that Lauri Markkanen, who is set to become a free agent in the offseason if the Bulls do not renew his current deal, is set to earn "just" $6.7 million this season (lower than rookie Patrick Williams' $7.1 million salary).
The Bulls selected 19-year-old Patrick Williams as the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. While the 6-foot-7 power forward has served as a starter for first-year Bulls head coach Billy Donovan to start the season, he was slated to take a role as the team's Sixth Man this year eventually.
Instead, Williams started the first 50 games that he played. While they both have made double digit starts, Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky have played the most key minutes off the bench for Chicago as their sixth men.
Chicago's most significant development in this season's starting five comes in the form of second-year point guard Coby White taking over as the team's starter at the one spot. First-year Bulls head coach Billy Donovan likes what he sees from White and has decided to hand the reins of the offense to the seventh overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.
First-time All-Star Zach LaVine joins White in Chicago's new-look backcourt. Rookie Patrick Williams combines with contract-year stud Lauri Markkanen to fill the team's starting forward roles. Second-year big man Wendell Carter Jr. retains the Bulls' starting center position.
