Chicago Bulls: 4 impending free agents to watch when season resumes

4. Forward Derrick Jones Jr.

When is the last time you not only saw a basketball player wear a pair of Puma kicks, but play on the court with them? Follow-up question: Would you ever imagine that being “cool?”

Miami heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. pulled it off when he wore a pair of custom Pumas in the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest — and he won. Following that win, Jones earned himself a shoe deal with Puma. That’s right, Puma is cool again.

He might be known more for his dunking and overall athleticism, but Jones is a good basketball player and would bring depth to a position of need in Chicago.

Otto Porter Jr. will likely opt into the final year of his deal this year, but behind him, the Bulls are left wondering if Chandler Hutchison or Denzel Valentine can step up to the plate and offer significant playing time.

If the Bulls were to sign Jones, he would immediately become the next option behind Porter. As a member of the Heat this season, Jones has averaged 24.5 minutes per game and is posting 8.9 points on 51.4 percent shooting and 4.2 rebounds per game.

What Jones brings to the table is much more than athleticism and a little bit of scoring, though. He’s a 23-year-old chock full of confidence on the defensive side of the ball. Jones is so confident, defensively, that he regularly asks Erik Spoelstra if he could guard the opposing team’s best player.

You have to like that kind of confidence, especially considering he plays on the same team as Jimmy Butler. Jones would be a phenomenal free agent signing for Chicago.