Chicago Bulls: Player grades for the 2020-2021 season
By Ryan Taylor
Nikola Vucevic — A
Vucevic was the best trade acquire of the trade deadline because the Bulls gave up two defective players and two first-round draft picks for an all-star in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds with the Bulls, immediately becoming a centerpiece to the offense and giving the Bulls more flexibility on that end. The only setback for Vucevic is his lack of post-defense, which he needs to improve. He will be a great asset for the Bulls in years to come.
Daniel Theis — A-
Theis, another excellent acquisition at the trade deadline, filled a very specific need for the Bulls this season — post defense. Theis is an aggressive and smart player. In fact, he is the only player I ever saw this season thrive under the drop coverage on pick-and-roll situations. He averaged 10 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his games with the Bulls. He recorded a positive defensive box plus/minus and a 111 defensive rating.
Thaddeus Young — A
Young played a major role in the Bulls’ success this season. Props to Donovan for helping him find his role in the offense as a facilitator to the stars around him, averaging 4.3 assists, which is a career-high by a large margin. He also averaged 12.1 points per game and 6.2 rebounds. He will most likely come back next season after proving how well he meshes with the team.