Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
As The Chicago Bulls eye a return to the playoffs, these three players will not be back next season.
After a tumultuous run under Jim Boylen, the Chicago Bulls went with a proven name and a steady hand by hiring Billy Donovan as their new coach. When they acquired Nikola Vucevic from the Orlando Magic, they clearly saw themselves as a playoff contender.
But 11 losses in 14 games, starting from just before acquiring Vucevic, dropped the Bulls out of contention. A 31-41 record left them out of the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
The Bulls may be a pretty active team this offseason, with point guard looking like a major target area. They also could still have a high lottery pick if the ping-pong balls keep it from going to the Magic via the Vucevic trade. If the pick lands in the top-four, with a little better than 20 percent chance it will (according to Tankathon), Chicago gets their pick back.
With acquisitions, signings and draft picks come decisions to let players go. So these three Chicago Bulls players won’t be back next season.
Note: Lauri Markkanen won’t be on this list, since it’s no secret he’s as good as gone.
3 Chicago Bulls players who won’t be back next season
3. Daniel Theis
Theis was solid after being acquired from the Boston Celtics at the trade deadline this year, averaging 10.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game over 23 games (14 starts) for the Bulls. But he’s also going to be a free agent, and Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype thinks there will be a pretty good market for him.
From what I’m told, Theis is looking for the right balance of an opportunity to play, be on a winning team, and obviously have some respect shown through money. The value I’ve heard for him, expected value from talking about him with people around the league, he can command interest from teams above the mid-level in free agency thus far. Time will tell, ultimately, but this guy is a a starter and has got playoff experience, he can shoot the three if he has to, a leader in the locker room guy.
The Bulls will surely have some interest in re-signing Theis. But if he finds the market it seems he might, and other teams can offer a bigger role, Chicago might be priced out quickly.