Chicago Bulls rumors: Team in contact with free agent Dion Waiters

According to recent NBA rumors, the Chicago Bulls are among the teams in contact with free agent wing Dion Waiters. Would Waiters be a strong fit for this team in transition?

The Chicago Bulls do not figure to be major players in NBA free agency this offseason. After trading Jimmy Butler, they are clearly in a rebuild and would not be wise to blow their cap space on aging veterans. That being said, they are unlikely to completely hold out of free agency. The Bulls are going to find somebody.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Bulls are among the teams talking to Dion Waiters. The New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings were also mentioned in the report.

The Miami Heat bringing Waiters back is probably the most likely scenario. However, if they land Gordon Hayward in free agency, anything can happen. Waiters rejuvenated his career with Miami last season, scoring 15.8 points and 4.3 assists per game and hitting 39.5% of his three-point shots.

A good fit?

Waiters has always been a talented offensive player but has had issues with staying motivated throughout his career. Going to Miami was a great move for Waiters, as he became a more mature player and started to hit his massive offensive upside. Waiters undoubtedly took his game to the next level last season.

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If the Waiters we saw last season is the guy who the Bulls would get going forward, I would be all in on this signing. He is a fantastic offensive weapon who could fill up the stat sheet for a team that is not going to compete. Also, at only 25-years-old, Waiters could become a massive long-term asset for the rebuild.

Can the Bulls handle him?

That being said, can the Chicago Bulls organization handle a player like Waiters? Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and company in Miami did a great job of handling Waiters, but they are a top-notch organization. We obviously cannot say the same about the Bulls.

That being said, head coach Fred Hoiberg could be an asset in this situation. While coaching at Iowa State, Hoiberg dealt with many players who had character concerns and maturity issues. He always seemed to keep his team in check and handle the potential distractions extremely well. This obviously would be a different level of a challenge for Hoiberg, but he has at least dealt with similar situations well in the past.

If the Bulls could get the Dion Waiters from the 2016-17 season, this move would be a slam dunk. However, there is certainly some risk involved in this move as well.

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When it comes down to it, the upside of signing Waiters is worth any risk involved. He is a good young player who could help get them through a tough rebuild and become a valuable asset. The Chicago Bulls should continue to make Dion Waiters a free agent priority.