Chicago Bulls: 2016 Offseason Grades
Bulls Say Goodbye To Former MVP
When the Bulls selected Derrick Rose with the top overall pick in the 2008 draft, the hopes were that he would become a franchise player the organization could build around. For the first few years of his career, that was the case.
In 2009, Rose was named Rookie of the Year. He scored 36 points in his playoff debut against the Boston Celtics. Two years later, Rose became the youngest player to win the Most Valuable Player award, and helped lead the Bulls to their first conference finals appearance since 1998.
But as fascinating as his meteoric rise to NBA stardom was, his descent from that pinnacle season has been just as tragic. One year removed from his MVP campaign, Rose tore the ACL in his left knee and would be forced to miss the entire 2012-13 season.
Unfortunately for Rose and the Bulls, his misfortunes did not end there. Just 10 games into the 2013-14 campaign, Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee and would be lost for the rest of that season as well.
After missing an additional 31 games in 2014-15, Rose played in 66 games last season, which is more than the previous three seasons combined. In those 66 games, he averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 assists per contest.
Considering that Rose spent the first half of the season recovering from an orbital fracture injury he sustained in training camp, those numbers are respectable.
But despite the fact it appeared that Rose was starting to turn the corner somewhat, the Bulls traded the former MVP to the New York Knicks in return for Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon, who the Bulls eventually sent to the Los Angeles Lakers as a means to create cap room for signing Dwyane Wade (more on that later).
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Lopez averaged a respectable 10 points and seven boards in 2015-16, but Bulls fans will be disappointed if they’re expecting him to put up double-doubles the way Gasol did during his two years in Chicago. What Lopez does bring to the table, however, is that he is a solid offensive rebounder and has finished in the top-10 in offensive rebounding percentage the last three seasons.
He plays well in the pick-and-roll and sets solid screens, a factor that should create open looks for both Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic.
Lopez’s offensive game is somewhat limited, as most of his points come by way of a hook shot. However, he does a good job finishing around the rim and he rarely takes bad shots. From a defensive standpoint, Lopez does offer rim protection, as opponents shot the ninth-lowest percentage at the rim when he was on the floor last season.
At the very least, the Bulls have acquired a player that seems to be a marginal upgrade at the center spot in certain areas.
With regards to Jerian Grant?
Well, he struggled for most of the season with the Knicks. Not only was he occasionally pulled from the rotation, he also had difficulty adapting to the Triangle offense.
In the last month the season, though, he averaged 14.5 points and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 49 percent from the field. Furthermore, he closed out the Summer League tournament with a 24-10-5 performance in the championship game and was named Finals MVP.
Another positive about Grant is that he gives the Bulls size at the backup point guard position, something they will need with the departure of E’Twaun Moore.
Being that the writing was on the wall as far as Rose and the Bulls parting ways, the front office did reasonably well here. If Lopez stays within his game, along with Grant improving on his Summer League shooting numbers — 35 percent overall and 22 percent from distance — both players should prove to be valuable additions for the Bulls next season.
Grade: B-
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