Lakers News: Ranking The Top 5 Bulls Free Agent Fits For Los Angeles
This afternoon, your Los Angeles Lakers hope to extend their win streak to four games, as they host ex-Lakers Patrick Beverley, Alex Caruso, (the injured) Lonzo Ball and the rest of their Chicago Bulls.
Several Chicago players, including Beverley, will reach free agency this summer. Let's take a look at some of the top fits for LA.
5. Derrick Jones Jr.
Last season, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan was forced to cobble together backup big minutes piecemeal. When reserve center Tony Bradley emerged as a bust and Chicago failed to sign an actual backup power forward, Donovan commissioned the long-limbed, 6'5" Jones to serve as a small-ball power forward and center. Though he can jump out of the gym, his height disadvantage at the position has made him more or less unplayable in the postseason. He's worth a gander at the veteran's minimum.
4. Javonte Green
A good defender whose most natural on-court fit with Chicago has been as a (very tiny) small-ball power forward, the hyper-athletic 6'4" Green can also knock down the occasional catch-and-shoot triple. Playing out of position has yielded frequent injuries, so Green is worth a look at the veteran's minimum or perhaps a biannual exception.
3. Ayo Dosunmu
Chicago's second-year combo guard had been starting in the stead of Lonzo Ball at the point to kick off the season. He's got solid defensive instincts and three-point shooting, but he's not a lead guard. He's also not quite big enough to legitimately defend elite two-guards. A restricted free agent this summer, he may be worth more to Chicago than he will be to rival teams. He's regressed since his rookie season, which is never a great sign.
2. Nikola Vucevic
Vucevic is the best player on the Bulls roster to reach free agency this summer, but he may not be a great fit alongside Anthony Davis. Though he's a solid three-point shooter (he's making 35% of his 4.4 long range tries this season) and passer for a big, he's a subpar defender, and operates best when he has space to work in the low post. He'd also be costlier than he's really worth. That said, he is a high-level talent, and if signed at the right price (i.e. $15 million annually or less), could probably be flipped via trade.
1. Coby White
The fourth-year combo guard has improved significantly this season, and while he remains a fairly inconsistent defender and lackluster passer, he's an athletic player and solid shooter (he's a 37.3% shooter from long range on 4.6 tries this year). White is a restricted free agent, but the market for his services shouldn't be too intimidating. Assuming the 23-year-old could be signed around the mid-level exception or lower, he could be worth a look.
The Bulls are a strangely incomplete and inconsistent team, but these players at the right rate could help other clubs, like your Los Angeles Lakers.
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