The Chicago Bulls made a big splash early on in free agency. They needed some shooting, so they added one of the best three-level scorers available, giving former Miami Heat star Norman Powell a two-year, $45 million deal.
Powell is one of the most underappreciated players in the league. While not a superstar, he's a borderline All-Star scorer, but the Heat simply couldn't afford to keep him around after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As a proven veteran, he doesn't necessarily fit the Bulls' young timeline, though he'll certainly be a solid mentor. That said, the fans shouldn't get too attached to him, as he may not be in the Windy City for long.
Norman Powell may not finish his contract with the Chicago Bulls
Talking on ESPN's Get Up, NBA insider Brian Windhorst shed some light on this move. Essentially, this was just the Bulls making the most of their cap space to give Powell big bucks and potentially flip him for draft capital:
"This is the Bulls using their cap space on a player," Windhorst said. "Maybe he stays in Chicago long-term and they build around him a little bit, maybe this is a hold deal both for him and for the Bulls to flip him later."
Powell will probably get more money with the Bulls than he would've gotten elsewhere. He wins by maximizing his earning potential, and he'll play in a pressure-free environment where he can drive up his numbers and his trade value.
The Bulls, on the other hand, win by having a 20+ points-per-game scorer to showcase and potentially turn into a first-round pick at the trade deadline or after the season. They could afford to overpay for his services given their ample cap space.
This front office is making intentional moves and planning for the future. Watching them trade out of the second round of the draft just to waive the player they got in the trade was disappointing, but they're clearly making savvy financial moves.
Powell will have a green light to take as many shots as he can handle under Tiago Splitter's guidance. That's not necessarily good for Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Noa Essengue, as they also need to have the ball in their hands and develop their games. Still, there should be enough touches for everyone.
The Bulls are still a couple of years away from contention, so these moves make perfect sense. Bryson Graham has already let it be known that they will be open for business and eager to absorb bad contracts for draft picks, and this signing is right in line with that approach.
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