E’Twaun Moore Expected To Sign With Chicago Bulls
By Zach Libby
The Chicago Bulls have missed out on a few top name free agents this summer, but have managed to walk away with some desirable consolation prizes for another run at an NBA title. But it looks like their quest in adding more veterans to the roster hasn’t been conquered.
According to Mary Stevens of SportsTalkFlorida.com, the website to Sports Talk 1080 in Orlando, guard E’Twaun Moore is expected to sign with the Bulls in the next few days. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
In case you missed it, E'Twaun Moore is likely to sign with the Chicago Bulls in the next few days, per sources: http://t.co/G5nxRR0UdH
— Mary Stevens (@MaryStevensNBA) August 15, 2014
The news of the signing is coming days after reports were saying that Moore was going to ink a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers to back up both Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. Instead, Morre will now play for the team that arguably has the best shot in knocking off Lebron James in the playoffs.
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Moore, a former second-round pick by the Boston Celtics back in 2011, played a major role as a contributor coming off the bench for the Orlando Magic the last two seasons. Playing behind
Jameer Nelsonand Aaron Afflalo at the guard position, Moore saw the floor for 154 games, including 24 starts, averaging 7.1 points, two rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 34.6 percent from the 3-point line.
The Purdue Boilermaker also has experience playing overseas, in which he had a brief stint during 2011’s NBA lockout with the Treviso Basket, a club from the Italian Serie A League. Moore was also expected to sign with Olimpia Milano this summer to team up with former Brooklyn Net MarShon Brooks but backed out of a deal after receiving interest from a couple NBA teams.
Chicago currently has 12 players guaranteed on the roster for this season, including three at point guard and two at shooting guard. The Bulls clearly aren’t expecting Moore to have a starting role at either position for this season, being that Derrick Rose is practicing at full stride in Team USA camp and Jimmy Butler had a breakout year as a starter for 67 games in 2013-14.
Moore now joins a Bulls team that’s reloading from their first-round exit against the Washington Wizards. Despite whiffing on acquiring both Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love, general manager Gar Forman found a way to improve the frontcourt by amnestying Carlos Boozer and replacing him with Paul Gasol.
They also signed Real Madrid’s Nikola Mirotic to a three-year deal and traded for first-round draft pick Doug McDermott to bolster their talent at the 3.
Due to the fact that the team already has both Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks backing up Rose, and Tony Snell behind Butler, there isn’t much room for Moore to see valuable minutes on the floor.
However, having a young player on the bench that’s been in the league for three years who can come in at any time as the next man in line would be beneficial in case someone goes down to a season-ending injury … because let’s face it, there isn’t a guarantee that Rose will stay healthy for the whole duration of the season.
So how much will Moore contribute this season to a team that’s desperate in clinching their first title since 1998? Not that much, but by signing someone at 25-years old for the league minimum who has shot 35% from beyond the arc is an acquisition that will be in my opinion, the most unsung of the offseason.