Two years ago, the Chicago Bulls committed to winning. They abruptly ended their rebuild and traded for Nikola Vucevic, signaling their desire to push forward and make a run at the playoffs. That following summer, they signed DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Lonzo Ball, but things haven’t gone quite according to plan.
Ball played just 35 games for the Bulls in 2021-22 before suffering a knee injury and has yet to step back on the court since. And now, it’s looking like he’ll miss the entirety of next season, too. Chicago can’t afford to use Ball’s injury as an excuse for their mediocrity, though.
Instead, the Bulls need to move forward under the assumption that they won’t have Ball at the helm. They desperately need a playmaking point guard. It’s unlikely they will find anyone perfect to replace Ball, but there will be some decent free-agent options available to them this summer.
With that in mind, here are three free agents the Bulls could target to help replace Ball’s production.
Chicago Bulls free agency targets to replace Lonzo Ball: Russell Westbrook
This option has already been discussed, but Russell Westbrook could be a perfect fit for the Bulls. He wrapped up a solid end to the season with the LA Clippers, and if Chicago trusts him with the ball in his hands, Zach LaVine and DeRozan can reap the rewards.
Chicago Bulls free agency targets to replace Lonzo Ball: Dennis Smith Jr.
Dennis Smith Jr. just wrapped up a comeback season with the Charlotte Hornets and could be looking for more opportunities this summer. He still has some solid potential, and with all of the scorers that would be around him in Chicago, he could thrive as a playmaker.
Chicago Bulls free agency targets to replace Lonzo Ball: Gabe Vincent
Gabe Vincent has popped up as a potential option for the Bulls in a few places, but it makes too much sense not to mention it again. Vincent may not be an elite playmaker, but he could turn into a starting-caliber point guard with the ball in his hands more. At the very least, he’s a big-time shot-maker.
