NEWSLETTER
Torrey Craig has agreed to a two-year deal to join the Chicago Bulls, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The veteran forward marks the third signing of free agency for the organization, joining guard Jevon Carter and the re-signing of Coby White.
Torrey Craig: Fit and Impact
All things considered, Craig represents the exact kind of player the Chicago Bulls should have been targeting at this point in the offseason (we even name-dropped him as an ideal target this week). With the number of attractive free agents winding down, Craig is undoubtedly one of the best assets left on the board. The 32-year-old will fill a major need at the wing with his six-foot-seven size and above-average defensive play. Even more encouraging, Craig is fresh off shooting 39.5 percent from downtown last season on a career-high 3.1 attempts per game.
While Craig may not be the most well-known name out there, he is a rock-solid rotational talent who has become a favorite of playoff teams in recent years. Coming from overseas and playing three years with the Denver Nuggets, Craig found himself on the Finals-bound Milwaukee Bucks in 2020-21. Midway through that season, he was traded to the other Finals-bound team the Phoenix Suns and appeared in all 22 playoff games. After signing a nice new deal with the Indiana Pacers that offseason, it only took a handful of months for the Suns to trade for him back. He played 79 games for the team this year and averaged 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
Craig is capable of playing either forward position, but I have to imagine the Bulls will use him primarily in the frontcourt. For a team that has extremely limited options on the glass, Craig could prove to be a breath of fresh air. Not to mention, he’ll fit right into the team’s clear preference for having switchable defenders.
With all that said, it’s hard to say how much Craig will truly move the needle for this team. While both he and Carter fill an area of need, we all know the primary issue for Chicago has simply been their commitment to this existing “Big 3.” The fact they are still likely moving forward with the nucleus of the roster feels like it caps their ceiling and ultimately doubles down on mediocrity. There is still some time left, so we’ll see what happens. And, again, in a vacuum, I think these are two very good role players.
