Chicago Bulls
Believe it or not, the Chicago Bulls may have done a good thing at the NBA Trade Deadline — and they didn’t even receive the cash considerations that have become customary for their every transaction!
Otto Porter Jr.’s contract is hardly a savory one, so taking on that kind of salary in exchange for two pending free agents may seem like a head-scratching move. With that being said, Chicago was hardly a free agency destination during the prime days of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler, and that wasn’t going to change this summer given their young and rebuilding core.
This is the Bulls being realistic about their cap space and their appeal to free agents right now. Porter is good. The Bulls still need someone who can make plays, but I like the idea behind this deal. Portis for sure worth a look for Wiz as well.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 7, 2019
Adding Porter is a more pragmatic solution than declining Parker’s team option and overpaying to keep Bobby Portis — especially within a rotation that already has Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. for its frontcourt of the future.
At best, Portis would’ve been a super sixth man. Maybe that’s worth shelling out $8-12 million annually for a young and upcoming contender, but that’s not the Bulls’ situation.
At age 26, and with a nice blend of established talent and room for growth, Porter fits Chicago’s timeline well. He’s also an excellent two-way fit alongside Markkanen and Carter on the wing, where the Bulls needed help before the Justin Holiday trade earlier in the year.
It’s no secret Porter has taken a step backward from his career year in 2017-18. His numbers have dropped from 14.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game on .503/.441/.828 shooting splits last year to 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds a night on .457/.369/.766 splits this year.
With that being said, he’s still an above-average shooter who could simply need a change of pace to thrive. He shouldn’t be expected to be the third member of a Big 3 like he was in Washington, but alongside this young core, he should be able to grow, spread the floor and provide solid defense across multiple positions.
There’s no guarantee that works out, and the Bulls clearly have needs to address with their team-building still, especially as it pertains to playmaking in the backcourt. Porter is the kind of player who might thrive on a contender, but could struggle with the confidence of a heightened workload that a worse team demands.
Felt confident that Otto might breakthrough in another spot. Chicago ain't that spot
— Justin Rowan (@Cavsanada) February 7, 2019
Even so, Porter can help cover for Zach LaVine‘s deficiencies on defense, knock down 3s and is established enough to make Chicago better moving forward. The Bulls didn’t have to give up a first-rounder to acquire a piece that could become part of their core moving forward, avoided overpaying for Portis as a sixth man and finally eased the lingering tension with Jabari Parker.
It may seem like a weird deal for both sides, but it’s an oddly sensical one for Chicago and a practical use of cap space that was likely going to waste this summer anyway.
Grade: B+