The Chicago Bulls have a problem with Lonzo Ball out. Should they explore the available free agent guards left on the market? Or should they proceed with the current roster? This is a question the Bulls will soon have to answer.
As for Lonzo Ball, he started the 2021-22 season on a tear. His playmaking and defense helped the Chicago Bulls stay atop of the Eastern Conference. Then, injuries struck the team, including Ball.
Ball played 35 games and averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. As things were going Ball’s way, tragedy struck as he tore his meniscus in January 2022, and he was shut down for the remainder of the season.
Related: Updated injury report for Lonzo Ball continues to be disheartening
Potential Free Agent Guards Chicago Could Target
As the Chicago Bulls look to start the season without their starting point guard Lonzo Ball, the team has a decision to make. Do they go with the team presently constructed and wait for Ball’s return? Or do they pick up a replacement guard in free agency until Ball returns?
The roster currently has some backup guards that should be able to handle things while Ball is out. This includes Coby White, second-year man Ayo Dosunmu, and newly signed Goran Dragić.
While this may be enough, there are some guards in free agency that could help while Ball remains sidelined. Out of the currently available free agents, a few guards that could help the Bulls are Isaiah Thomas, Lou Williams, Rajon Rondo, and Eric Bledsoe.
These guards are easy choices. Thomas can provide energy and help push the pace to set up Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan on the offensive side of the ball. The same can be said about Rondo, who will always make the right pass, and his championship experience could be vital to the young players on the Bulls.
Williams is a veteran that can bring scoring that the Bulls at times desperately need. Lastly, we have Bledsoe, who is coming off a season where he was shut down from Achilles tendon pain.
Now, we are not sure how healthy Bledsoe is, but if he is in basketball shape, then Bledsoe can bring the Bulls a nice defensive presence at the guard position. This would make up for not having Ball’s quick hands at the point to start the season.
The Bulls would love to have an excellent start to the season to hold them over until Ball returns, and any of the above-mentioned free agents could surely help Chicago in achieving this.
