The Bulls’ reunion with the free agent center makes sense; Will Chicago offer a deal?

The Chicago Bulls are looking for a center in free agency, and one of their former players is on the market.

Chicago could need to acquire as many as three centers this summer, depending on what happens with Andre Drummond and Nikola Vučević in the coming days (both are expected to be gone).

Free agents recently linked to the Bulls are Jalen Smith, James Wiseman and Xavier Tillman.

Smith, Wiseman and Tillman are all under 26, which fits the Bulls’ rebuilding plan. Making a deal with one – or better yet, two – of these guys would be a huge win for Chicago’s front office.

At the same time, the Bulls must monitor the entire center market in case their top targets don’t work out.

A great backup option at center for Chicago is Daniel Theis, who briefly played for the Bulls during the 2021-22 season before being traded to the Houston Rockets.

Theis, 32, is an unrestricted free agent and is not expected to demand a contract above the veteran minimum.

Interestingly, Theis’ 10.0 points per game in 23 games played for the Bulls (14 starts) is his highest scoring average among the five teams he has played for.

Theis isn’t a starting center for a contender, but the Bulls aren’t ready to be one.

Theis would bring stability to a young locker room and, at worst, provide valuable minutes as Chicago’s backup center next season.

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