The Chicago Bulls have serious roster tweaking to do this summer if they hope to be a serious playoff contender next season. The core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic is solid, but not quite there yet. Chicago needs to add talent around them to give the team a boost.
However, they need to worry about bringing their guys back first. Derrick Jones Jr. recently declined his player option, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. While the Bulls could try to bring him back, it seems unlikely.
According to Will Gottlieb of CHGO, Marc Eversley said Jones declining his option influenced the team’s decision to trade into the 2023 NBA draft and select Tennessee forward Julian Phillips.
“Eversley says DJJ turning down his option played “a bit of a factor for sure” in the trade for Julian Phillips,” Gottlieb tweeted.
Eversley says DJJ turning down his option played "a bit of a factor for sure" in the trade for Julian Phillips
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) June 23, 2023
The Bulls traded into the second round of the draft in a deal with the Washington Wizards, landing the 35th pick and using it to select Phillips.
The 19-year-old forward is 6-foot-8 and has a 6-foot-11 wingspan. Phillips has been praised for his athleticism and defensive presence, both of which Jones brought to the table.
However, Jones is only 6-foot-6, but he does have a seven-foot wingspan.
If the Bulls feel confident in Phillips’ ability to defend at an NBA level, they should feel comfortable letting Jones walk and rolling with the rookie in his place moving forward.
