After bolstering their backcourt with the additions of Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, here’s an updated look at the Chicago Bulls depth chart.
Billy Donovan’s first season as head coach didn’t go as well as the Chicago Bulls hoped, with a 31-41 record and no playoff berth. On Day 1 of NBA free agency they made a big move, landing Lonzo Ball in a sign-and-trade deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple will be headed to the Pelicans in that deal.
Also on Day 1, the Bulls signed guard Alex Caruso to a four-year, $37 million deal. He and Ball will reunite in Chicago, after spending two seasons together with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Bulls now have the makings of a particularly deep and formidable backcourt, with Ball and Caruso both strong defensively. Ball is a good all-around player, and he’s not the extreme detriment as a 3-point shooter that he once was (37.5 percent and 37.8 percent in the last two seasons).
Updated Chicago Bulls depth chart with Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso
Here’s how the Bulls depth chart looks now.
PG – Lonzo Ball, Coby White, Alex Caruso, Ryan Arcidiacano
SG – Zach LaVine, Coby White, Alex Caruso, Denzel Valentine, Adam Mokaka
SF – Patrick Williams, Troy Brown Jr.
PF – Lauri Markkanen, Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu
C – Nikola Vucevic, Thaddeus Young
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed to, this depth chart for the Bulls is not quite final yet. In particular, among the players Marks mentioned the Bulls having Bird Rights on, Markkanen is as good as gone via a sign-and-trade after being tendered a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. That move would bring back someone to fill Markkanen’s roster spot, and probably a spot in the Bulls’ frontcourt.
Ball and LaVine instantly are one of the best starting backcourts in the East, if not the entire NBA. White and Caruso coming off the bench will create some interesting lineup possibilities for Donovan.