The Chicago Bulls added to their frontcourt Monday, agreeing on a three-year, $27 million deal with forward/center Jalen Smith, according to ESPN.
Before hitting the market as an unrestricted free agent this summer, Smith served as a rotational player for the Indiana Pacers the last three seasons. He averaged 9.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and one assist in 17.2 minutes per game last season.
Smith addresses multiple needs at once for the Bulls. He’s a 6-foot-9 power forward who also can slide into the five spot, and he balances that inside presence with efficient finishing across the court, shooting 59.2% from the field and 42.4% behind the 3-point arc last season.
Moving on from Andre Drummond to sign Smith continues a youth movement across the Bulls roster, swapping out a 30-year-old veteran for a 24-year-old with a high upside.
Here are the other moves the Bulls have made so far in free agency.
Andre Drummond leaves for Philadelphia in free agency
Andre Drummond will not return to the Bulls this season after agreeing to terms with the Philadelphia 76ers in a key free-agency departure.
Drummond will sign a two-year deal worth more than $10 million, according to reports by The Athletic and ESPN. The veteran center hinted at the deal with a social media post: “I’m in the mood for a Philly cheesesteak.”
I’m in the mood for a Philly cheesesteak 🫂
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) June 30, 2024
The Bulls floated several trades involving Drummond at the deadline in February but ultimately held on to him as they made another failed push for the playoffs through the play-in tournament.
After signing with the Bulls in 2022, Drummond was a force on the boards during his second season in Chicago, averaging 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game. He led the league in rebounds per 36 minutes (18.9) among players with at least 10 appearances.
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That formidable presence around the rim is what made Drummond appealing to the Bulls, but they often struggled to find a consistent role for him throughout his time in Chicago. Drummond started only 10 games in two seasons with the Bulls, seven of them as a fill-in for starting center Nikola Vučević during an extended injury absence.
Drafted by the Pistons in 2012, Drummond played nearly eight seasons in Detroit before he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020. Since then he has bounced around the league to the Los Angeles Lakers, 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Bulls before returning to Philadelphia.
Drummond has averaged 12.7 points, 12.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in his career.
Patrick Williams reportedly agrees to a 5-year deal
The Bulls will continue to invest in the development of Patrick Williams after reportedly agreeing to re-sign the versatile wing to a five-year, $90 million deal, as reported by The Athletic.
Assessment of Williams’ value to the Bulls has been hindered by the perception of his No. 4 draft selection in 2020, which placed outsized expectations on the young player’s shoulders. But removing Williams from this framing makes it clear why the Bulls still rate him as a long-term investment.
Williams is one of the best shooters on the roster, averaging 41% behind the arc in his career and 39.9% on an average of 3.4 attempts last season. And he provides a cross-positional defensive versatility that few players his age can match.
That doesn’t mean the Bulls think Williams is anywhere near his potential. His lack of offensive aggressiveness has been a sticking point the last four seasons. Injuries also have been a concern while contributing to the inconsistency of his growth. He missed the majority of the 2021-22 season after wrist surgery, and after playing all 82 games in 2022-23, he had to be shut down this past season because of a knee injury.
For these reasons, the reported contract is ideal because — in theory — it will continue to appreciate in value as it ages. By the time the Bulls hit the fifth year of the deal, an $18 million annual contract might feel like a steal for the quality of player the Bulls are banking on Williams growing into. This ultimately represents the best of both worlds — a mostly team-friendly deal that still gives Williams long-term sustainability in a market to build confidence as he once again attempts to establish himself as a starter.
Re-signing Williams also continues a trend toward the future for the Bulls, who are in flux this offseason as they attempt to restructure their roster. With Williams and new point guard Josh Giddey in the mix, the average age of the current projected starting lineup has plummeted to 25.6 years. If the Bulls move either Zach LaVine or Nikola Vučević, that number could drop below 24.
Bulls pick up Torrey Craig’s 1-year option
The Bulls picked up their one-year, $2.8 million option on forward Torrey Craig on Saturday, potentially returning a versatile rotation player who offered an important lift in energy and defensive pressure last season.
Craig initially won the starting power forward position over Patrick Williams, edging out the younger wing with his adaptability as a defender and reliable shooting across the floor. But Craig suffered from inconsistency last season due to a plantar fascia injury that he sustained in January and never fully returned to form, averaging only 18.3 minutes over the final 33 games.
At 33, Craig would be one of the most veteran players on the Bulls roster this season aside from Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević. The Bulls could flex Craig as a sign-and-trade asset as they approach free agency with a focus on realigning the roster around developing young talent.