NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls and Ayo Dosunmu have come to terms on a new deal.
After a nearly three-week-long free agency period, leaving him as one of the best names left in the market, Dosunmu has reportedly agreed to return to Chicago on a three-year deal. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Dosunmu is set to make $21 million over the next few seasons.
NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson also confirmed that Dosunmu is set to return to his hometown.
Consider me thrilled the Chicago Bulls got the job done. With things dragging out as long as they did, and some rumors emerging, I undoubtedly started to get nervous about Dosunmu ending up in a new city. But it appears the negotiations ended in a pretty solid place for both parties. Not only do the Bulls get to keep a 23-year-old asset who has played in 157 career games through his first two seasons, but Dosunmu gets some longer-term security on an average annual salary that checks in above his $5.2 million qualifying offer.
I guess a case could be made that Chicago overpaid for Dosunmu, especially when we consider they seemingly had all the leverage with zero offer sheets coming his way. But $7 million isn’t anything I’m going to fret over for the time being. We should also wait to see if there is a potential option or non-guaranteed on the last year of that deal. We can discuss more once the final terms are exposed.
The big question now, however, is exactly where does Dosunmu fit into the picture next season? While he’s been a mainstay in the rotation the past two years, the Bulls added some rotational competition with Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig this summer. The nine-man rotation appears pretty set, and it likely has Dosunmu on the outside looking in.
The good news for Dosunmu is that his experience playing alongside the Big 3 could prove to be a real tool in earning him playing time. Not to mention, he has shown that he can slide into either backcourt spot and guard some opposing wings with his length since entering the league. If he can find a way to improve off the ball and begin to hit his catch-and-shoot looks at a consistent rate, securing the kind of playing time he’s become used to seeing should be easier.
Assuming guard Carlik Jones does not return, the Chicago Bulls now have two roster spots left to fill and sit roughly $3.5 million away from the luxury tax.
