NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls have made their first move of free agency!
First reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and later confirmed by NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson, the Chicago Bulls are signing big man Jalen Smith. The 24-year-old was the No. 10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He was later traded during his sophomore season to the Indiana Pacers, where he slowly carved out a bigger and bigger role.
Smith appeared in 68 games last season for the eventual Eastern Conference Finals-bound Pacers, averaging 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds over his 17.2 minutes per game. He also shot 42.4 percent from downtown on his 2.4 attempts per game.
Jalen Smith to the Bulls!
Smith was one of three under-25 centers we mentioned as a potential target for Chicago earlier this week. The Bulls were in clear need of another frontcourt player, as Andre Drummond was destined to find a new home in unrestricted free agency after a successful season (Philly signed him on Sunday night).
While Smith may not have been the best rim protector available, he was one of the best floor spacers. The big man shot 42.4 percent on his 5.0 attempts per 36 minutes last year. His career mark only sits at 33.5 percent, but shooting upside has long been one of his most intriguing skill sets. And, hey, maybe last season is a sign he finally found his groove.
The rebounding has also been rock solid over his career. Of course, he isn’t going to be the presence that Andre Drummond was, but he’s an active rebounder who has proven particularly handy on the offensive glass. Defensively, however, things could be rough.
When we consider the current direction of this team, adding Smith feels like a legitimately smart move. He gives the Bulls another legitimately intriguing developmental piece, as well as someone who can fit stylistically with youngsters like Josh Giddey, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Patrick Williams, and Matas Buzelis. If the goal is to play fast in transition and keep the ball moving, there may not have been many better options than Smith.
The contract is also totally palatable! The three-year, $27 million deal is projected to breakdown as follows (per Spotrac):
2024-25: $8,571,429
2025-26: $9,000,000
2026-27: $9,428,571
Considering the cap is only going up, that feels like a very nice contract to me. The team also used their mid-level exception for this deal, which was set at $12.8 million. This means they’re hard-capped at the first tax apron (like that matters) and have little left over to spend on another player. The team should also still have their bi-annual exception (worth roughly $4.7 million).
The big question now is how much time will Smith play next season? Nikola Vucevic currently remains part of the picture, but that could change over the next couple of days. The Bulls are reportedly looking for suitors for the veteran, which could mean that Smith finds himself in a starting role as soon as next season. If Vucevic sticks around, however, Smith will still provide head coach Billy Donovan with a nice change-of-pace option for the team’s young core off the bench.
Let’s keep this youth movement going!
