Getting to Know New Bulls Guard Tomas Satoransky: Career Stats, Fit, History, More

The Bulls’ need to address the backcourt problems this offseason were glaring. And even after choosing North Carolina guard Coby White with the No. 7 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Chicago still had work to do in order to successfully re-tool its backcourt. So with that in mind, the addition of Tomas Satoransky (via a sign-and-trade with the Wizards) is equal parts sensible and intriguing.

Satoransky isn’t the sexiest name the Bulls could have added to their mix this summer, but adding a multi-faceted player who had skills that were lacking at the position last season should make him a useful piece to this puzzle moving forward.

So let’s get to better know the Bulls’ newest guard.

Player, Age (in 2019), Position, Measurements

Tomas Satoransky, 28, guard, 6-7 and 210 pounds

Name pronunciation: tom-us sah-tore-RAN-skee

Contract

3 years, $30 million

2018 Performance

Season stats and per-game averages: 80 games (54 starts), 8.9 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds; 48.5 FG%, 39.5 3PT%, 81.9 FT%, 54.5 eFG%, 59.0 TS%

Satoransky is a perfectly cromulent guard who fits a need, while also bringing some upside. Adding a ball-handler with length and shooting ability is something this team needed entering the offseason, and Satoransky knocks off two birds with one throw here. Last season, Satoransky led qualifying Wizards guards in eFG%, true shooting percentage (which takes into account that 3-pointers are more valuable than 2-point shots), and assist percentage. These are the types of marks you expect to see when a team signs a good ballplayer.

Career Performance and Notable Accomplishments

Career stats and averages: 210 (87 starts), 6.6 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds; 48.9 FG%, 40.0 3PT%, 79.2 FT%, 54.6 eFG%, 58.4 TS%

Notable career accomplishments: Three-time Czech Player of the Year (2013-15), All-Liga Second-Team (2016), ACB Most Spectacular Player (2016)

Saturansky’s career assessment isn’t complete without looking at his European accomplishments. He was a star for FC Barcelona of the Spanish ACB League, earning the top-tier Spanish league’s Most Spectacular Player award in 2016. Satoransky joined such luminaries as Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez, and Sergio Rodriguez in gaining that recognition. To be clear, it’s not NBA-caliber competition … but there is something valuable about gaining experience in Europe before applying his craft stateside..

Highlights

Well, he looks like he could be fun!

Upside

Adding Satoransky to the Bulls’ backcourt mix could make for some interesting lineups that could be fun and generate a ton of scoring options. Satoransky can play on or off ball, meaning he can be teamed with Coby White (who can also play on or off), Zach LaVine, or both at the same time. It’s also worth noting that Satoransky played well when he and Otto Porter shared the floor in Washington. The Wizards’ Satoransky-Porter two-player lineup was plus-4.2 points per 100 possession last year. For those of you who aren’t up-to-speed on your advanced basketball metrics, that’s a good thing.

Creating lineups with White, Satoransky, LaVine, and Porter to compliment what’s happening up front with Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. should be something Head Coach Jim Boylen looks forward to on a nightly bases.

They Said It

Tomas Satoransky is a perfect get for the Bulls. 6'7 point guard who will be 28 years old and is:
– Efficient scorer at 59% true shooting
– Quality playmaker at 6.6 assists per-36 minutes
– Capable outside shooter at 40% from three (2 attempts per game)
– Engaged + versatile on D

— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) July 1, 2019

I like that Satoransky deal a lot for Chicago. The Bulls did really well to get him and Thad.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) July 1, 2019

Versatility. The Bulls keep improving there.

In three seasons, Satoransky has played 40% at point guard, 49% at shooting guard and 11% at small forward. Much more point guard last year 82%) because of Wall, but the Bulls have a bunch of backcourt lineup combos

— Mark Strotman (@markstrot) July 1, 2019

Here’s a prediction: Tomas Satoransky will get along just fine with Jim Boylen. Actually, Sato might call extra practices that Boylen doesn’t even want to come to.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) July 1, 2019

Quotable

First of all, thank you #DCFamily, my teammates, fans and all supporters for the last 3 years in the capital city. I appreciate it a lot ❤ But a new chapter is here and I am so excited and proud to be a part of #chicagobulls. Can't wait to be on a court at United Center!

— Tomas Satoransky (@satoransky) July 1, 2019