Grading Bulls' Early Moves in NBA Free Agency

The Chicago Bulls aren't running it back.

If you want to extract a theme from the franchise's work so far during the 2024 NBA offseason, that's the one.

Their longstanding commitment to this core is finally over. Or, it's at least not as firm as it has been. Defensive dynamo Alex Caruso has already been shipped out of town, and it sure seems like DeMar DeRozan could be the next to exit. If the Bulls can ever sniff out a trade market for Zach LaVine, his days in the Windy City would be done, too.

Embracing some level of change feels refreshing for a club that had seemed quietly content logging serious mileage on the treadmill of mediocrity. Is Chicago making the right moves, though? To help tackle that topic, we'll tag later grades to three of the club's most notable transactions so far.

Trading Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey

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MIAMI, FL - APRIL 19: Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2024 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 19, 2024 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images)

To kick off the offseason, the Bulls traded Caruso for 21-year-old, 6'8" stat sheet-stuffer Josh Giddey. It was an interesting way to end Caruso's three-year tenure with the team, to say the least.

There are elements of the swap that make sense. Caruso is 30 years old and approaching the final season on his contract. Giddey is almost a decade younger and barely three years removed from being the sixth overall pick. He's also the kind of passer who can elevate the players around him, a skill this squad has been without since a knee injury forced Lonzo Ball to the sideline back in Jan. 2022.

He also just saw his minutes trimmed to a career-low level (25.1) and then saw even less floor time in the playoffs (18.1) as opponents exposed his lack of assertiveness as a scorer and shooter. His trade value almost certainly took a hit with that reduced usage, though this deal doesn't reflect that.

Giddey is young enough to improve, of course, and those offensive issues don't become big worries until a point of the playoffs at which Chicago is highly unlikely to arrive any time soon. Still, to let go of an asset like Caruso and not get back a single first-round pick—while sending him to the pick-rich Oklahoma City Thunder, no less—is almost unfathomable.

Grade: C-

Adding Jalen Smith

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Jalen Smith #25 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against Ayo Dosunmu #12 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on March 27, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

The Bulls figured to make at least one change at the 5 spot this offseason, and bringing in Jalen Smith on a three-year, $27 million deal was a fun way to do it.

The former lottery pick (No. 10 in 2020) stumbled out of the gate but a trade from the Phoenix Suns to the Indiana Pacers midway through his second season helped him finally find his footing.

Since landing in the Circle City, Smith has flashed the unicorn blend of shot-blocking and three-point shooting just about every modern club craves in a center. He's also just been hugely active and productive whenever he hits the floor. His per-36-minutes marks this past season included 20.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.1 three-pointers (with a 42.4 percent connection rate) and 1.3 blocks, per Basketball Reference.

He is still only 24 years old, so it is very possible (if not probable) he hasn't played his best basketball yet. The Bulls were wise to buy into both his underrated production and potential to do more.

Grade: A-

Re-Signing Patrick Williams

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 2: Patrick Williams #44 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 2, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 110-97. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Patrick Williams is now four years removed from being the fourth overall pick of the 2020 draft. You could argue, though, that remains the most notable accomplishment of his career still—by far.

He appears no different from the teenager who came to Chicago back then. As a rookie, he averaged 9.2 points on 56.2 percent true shooting while posting a 10.5 player efficiency rating and minus-2.4 box plus/minus. During his fourth season, he put up 10 points per game on 55.3 true shooting with an 11.0 PER and a minus-2.3 BPM.

Discernible growth in his game is nonexistent. What is unfortunately notable, though, are the injury issues that have limited him to fewer than 45 games in two of the past three seasons.

He looks an awful lot like a three-and-D support player with injury worries. So, how exactly did Chicago deem him worthy of a five-year, $90 million commitment? That's a bet on upside he hasn't really shown and an elevated pay rate to someone who seemed unlikely to find that kind of coin elsewhere as a restricted free agent.

Grade: D+