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Chicago Bulls: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason

By James D. Tillman III

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Adam Mokoka #20, Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls and Peter Jok #67 of the Orlando Magic watch the game on July 13, 2019 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Adam Mokoka #20, Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls and Peter Jok #67 of the Orlando Magic watch the game on July 13, 2019 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA free agency
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Sign former New York Knick Luke Kornet

Although the Bulls already have a few big bodies in the frontcourt, they felt the need to add another one to the mix.

Enter Luke Kornet.

Kornet has only been in the league for two seasons and has played a total of 66 games in that time with the New York Knicks. Against the other 29 teams in the NBA, Kornet has averaged 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game on slash lines of .369/.354/.796.

Conversely, in three games against the Bulls, Kornet has had his way against Chicago’s defense, putting together averages of 15.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per outing. He also shot 53.1 percent from the field and an impressive 44.4 percent from long range. Perhaps this was the reason why the Bulls decided to take a flier on him.

On one side of the equation, his overall shooting numbers aren’t anything to write home about. He has shot less than 40.0 percent in both of his NBA seasons. The counterpoint to this is that he has shot better than 37.0 percent from the 3-point line in his first two years in the league. Also, he is one of three 7-footers who averaged 3.5 3-point attempts per contest and converted 35.9 percent of them. Based on those numbers, there is some floor-stretching potential here.

On the other side of the narrative, even though he is over seven feet tall, Kornet is averaging just three rebounds and less than one block per contest. Simply put, he isn’t what one would label as a great rim protector at this stage of his career.

While the Bulls didn’t spend an excessive amount of money on this deal, it is kind of a head-scratcher in the sense that he may not get a ton of playing time in a frontcourt that features at least three other players vying for minutes.

It will be interesting to see if the success Kornet has had against the Bulls is more of an aberration or a sign of what is to come in the future.

Grade: C

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