The Chicago Bulls only saw one of their coveted free agents in 18 games last year. An unfortunate ankle injury kept Tre Jones sidelined for the last month of the season. Yet, they are bringing him back for three more years and $24 million.
While playing an average of 25 minutes a game before his ankle injury, this mid-season acquisition put up nearly 11.5 points and five assists a contest. Jones shot better from behind the arc and the free-throw line with the Bulls than with the San Antonio Spurs.
Chicago recently moved on from one of their key guards already. In one of the trades that took place before the free agency period officially opened, the Bulls sent Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in return for forward Isaac Okoro.
This Deal Is a Success for Both the Bulls and Tre Jones
The fifth-year guard was a free agent before Chicago retained his services. Jones had not played since March due to his lingering ankle injury.
In the Bulls' last ten games with Jones on the court, they went 6-4 during that span, including a four-game win streak. Spurts like these are what led Chicago to clinch their third consecutive play-in.
Jones is one of four players on the Bulls' roster that was selected in the 2020 NBA Draft. Patrick Williams went fourth, and the newly added Okoro went fifth. Jalen Smith was selected tenth, while Jones, himself, was taken in the second round with the 41st pick.
Prior to the 2023-24' NBA season, the former Duke Blue Devil signed a two-year deal worth $19 million with the San Antonio Spurs. That's an average annual salary of $9.5 million. Jones returns to his second team in the league at $8 million per year.
Chicago makes up the extra salary from taking on Okoro following the trade. They will save more than $1 million a season with this new contract.
The Bulls still have some big contracts on the books for this season, including veteran center Nikola Vucevic ($20 million in 2025-26'), Patrick Williams ($18.5 million), along with Kevin Huerter and Zach Collins (both over $16 million).
After extensions for head coach Billy Donovan, executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas, and general manager Marc Eversley, the Bulls have signaled that ownership believes in this regime.
Chicago's front office wants to keep a young core of players with experience together. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu are under contract, and they look to do the same regarding free agent Josh Giddey. Jones fits this theme of continuity, making this new contract a slam dunk for the Bulls.