CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls brought in their first new player of the summer when NBA free agency opened Friday, signing guard Jevon Carter to a three-year deal, according to a report by ESPN.
After two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, Carter hit the free-agency market after declining his player option. He reportedly signed a $20 million deal with the Bulls.
For the Bulls, Carter fills a wide variety of needs facing the roster this offseason. He’s a consistent contributor — logging 81 games last season — and brings a hardened edge to the perimeter that should mesh quickly with a Bulls defense that finished fifth in the league last year.
Most importantly, Carter could be a game changer for the Bulls as they attempt to break out of their position as the worst 3-point shooting team in the league. Carter shot 42.1% from behind the arc last season and took 4.2 attempts per game off the bench — a number that would have placed him third overall on the Bulls roster.
This signing will also be a homecoming for Carter, who graduated from Proviso East in 2018.
Here are the other moves the Bulls have made so far in free agency.
Coby White returns on three-year deal
Guard Coby White will remain in Chicago after signing a 3-year, $40 million deal, according to a ESPN. The signing continues another offseason in which the Bulls front office claim to be focused on continuity as they seek to retain the bulk of the roster from last year’s 40-42 season.
A 36.7% career 3-point shooter, White mostly averaged career lows (9.7 points, 23.4 minutes) last season. But those numbers belied White’s largest year of growth, which saw him bulk up his ballhandling and defensive acumen to provide the Bulls with a more complete guard option off the bench.
White’s role has fluctuated heavily ever since he was drafted by the Bulls in 2019, ranging from starting point guard to secondary rotation shooter to versatile playmaker. Coach Billy Donovan suggested White could take up the point again next season, although Carter’s acquisition could mean the guard will remain in an off-ball role.
Andre Drummond exercises player option
Backup center Andre Drummond exercised his player option Thursday to return, bolstering the Bulls around the rim in a key secondary rotation position.
Drummond’s minutes were inconsistent in his first season as a Bull, sometimes sitting out as a coach’s decision for multiple games in a row only to log more than 20 minutes in a game the following week. But he made the most of his time on the court, averaging 6.6 rebounds and six points in 12.7 minutes.
The Bulls will likely need to add at least one more player to the frontcourt to absorb the loss of Derrick Jones Jr., who declined his player option last week. Although the team drafted Tennessee product Julian Phillips with the power forward position in mind, the front office made it clear the rookie will not be an immediate addition to the rotation.
