When the Chicago Bulls tried to push all of their chips onto the table two years ago, they brought in Lonzo Ball to lead their squad. The point guard put up great numbers but only appeared in 35 games for Chicago before going down with a knee injury. He hasn’t returned since and is expected to miss all of next year, too.
Chicago’s point guard spot has been rough ever since, but they found some success this past season with Patrick Beverley. They added him after the trade deadline and went 13-9 in the 22 games he appeared in, and Beverley started in all of them.
However, it looks like Beverley could move on from the Bulls this summer. According to Harvey Glassbrook of Sports Illustrated, Chicago needs to target a backcourt leader to replace Beverley this offseason.
“The Bulls went on their run late in the season when sparkplug guard Patrick Beverley and his trademark intensity came to the Windy City,” Glassbrook wrote. “However, with Beverley seeking greener pastures and a larger payday, the Bulls must now scour the market for a new floor general to lead the troops. The Bulls need someone who can run an offense, create opportunities for his teammates, and provide a defensive presence on the perimeter.”
It won’t be easy to replace Beverley’s leadership, especially with the amount of cap space the Bulls have and the number of roles they’ll need to fill in free agency.
Chicago will also be looking to add big man and forward help, meaning their point guard position may not be a top priority. However, if they can get a leader similar to Beverley, it would provide them with a massive boost.
