What the Bulls Got in Derrick Jones Jr.

On Friday afternoon, the Chicago Bulls finally moved on from Lauri Markkanen.

The former No. 7-overall pick in the 2017 draft was sent to Cleveland via sign-and-trade as part of a three-team deal. The front office was able to replenish the draft capital they sent out in the DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball deals earlier this summer, but they were also able to add a player we could see become an important part of the team’s rotation this season.

Who is that player? Derrick Jones Jr.

What does his addition mean? Well, here are some words to read …

A Long-Time Target

During the Chicago Bulls 2020-21 Media Day, Marc Eversley made something very clear: “One thing about AK is when he wants to get something done, we get it done.”

Fast forward a little less than a year later, and Bulls fans now know Eversley was telling the truth. Be it drafting Patrick Williams, trading for Nikola Vucevic, or signing Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan, Arturas Karnisovas has shown he will go all out to acquire the talent he covets. And, believe it or not, Derrick Jones Jr. is just the latest example.

One of the first free-agent rumors tied to this new front office revolved around Jones. Not only did we predict that he could align with this front office’s philosophy all the way back on October 19th of 2020, but the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson also reported that the Bulls were expected to pursue him last offseason.

Speculation continued around Jones, but Karnisovas went on to stay rather quiet with Garrett Temple being the front office’s lone free-agent signing. Clearly, however, Jones stayed on the team’s radar. In fact, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson, the first version of the deal we saw finalized on Friday involved just the Bulls and Trail Blazers swapping Markkanen for Jones and a first-rounder.

Anyway, while it may have come a bit later than expected, this serves as yet another example of Karnisovas’ aggressive approach.

Another Young Piece

When the Chicago Bulls went out of their way to add Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan, concerns started to brew about the team’s young assets. After all, the team parted ways with 22-year-old big man Wendell Carter Jr., and the expectation quickly became that 24-year-old 2017 lottery pick Lauri Markkanen would also be out the door. However, not only is the Bulls’ arsenal of young talent arguably more fruitful than some realize, but the acquisition of Derrick Jones Jr. still shows that youth must remain on this front office’s mind.

Jones has five seasons of experience under his belt at just 24 years old. After appearing in 32 games as a rookie, he was traded to the Miami Heat during his sophomore season, where he appeared in just 14 games. Over the next two seasons, Jones would become a useful rotation player for the Heat, averaging 21.9 minutes per game with 7.7 points and 4.0 rebounds on 51.1 percent shooting from the field. This solid play in Miami ultimately led to a fresh two-year, $18.9 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jones averaged a somewhat underwhelming 6.8 points per game with 3.5 rebounds while appearing in 58 games (43 starts) last season. Still, it was a year where he added to his playoff experience after making a Finals appearance with the Heat one season before. In neither season he played a significant role during the postseason (averaged a combined 6.3 minutes), but there is no question being a part of these competitive environments at such a young age can be a draw for a team like Chicago.

And, remember, Jones is on an expiring deal, so if the Bulls do not view him as a future piece after this season’s trial run, they can simply let him walk away.

Some (Much-Needed) Defense

With Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic on the roster, scoring points will likely be the least of the Bulls’ worries. With that in mind, the organization has done a decent job at bolstering the defense around the margins with additions like Alex Caruso, Tony Bradley, and now Jones.

Jones is a high-energy and lengthy player who can be a real pest on the defensive end. He might stand only six-foot-five inches, but he has a ridiculous seven-foot wingspan that makes him a very solid perimeter defender. Combine that with his high-flying legs and Jones has a knack for making the big block. The 24-year-old was second on the Trail Blazers in blocks last season with 54, which ranked 4th among players under six-foot-seven. His 2.1 block percentage also ranked in the league’s 99th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass.

No, we should not consider Jones any kind of elite defender, but he should be a plus on that end of the court for Chicago. This past season with the Blazers was the first time since his rookie year that his defensive box plus-minus dropped negative (-0.3), and a good chunk of that can be attributed to Blazers’ team-wide defensive issues (finished with 2nd-worst defensive rating in the league).

As a potential backup to Patrick Williams, Jones should be able to check-in without greatly sacrificing the defensive intensity, which is not something the Bulls could have said with a guy like Markkanen still on the roster.

You Got Options

Jones is technically listed as a wing, and the Trail Blazers kept him true to that last season by playing him 90 percent of the time at the small forward position. However, the season before that, Miami actually had Jones play the majority of his minutes (55 percent) as a small-ball four. An explosive player who lacks outside shooting (31.6 percent on 2.3 attempts per game from 2-point range in 2020-21), he is arguably best suited for filling this role, especially on a Chicago team that has a clear hole at power forward.

Either way, Jones is a slasher who does the majority of his offensive work in the restricted area. He can be a real menace in pick-and-roll situations alongside a high-IQ player like DeMar DeRozan, especially if a floor-spacing big man like Vucevic is on the court. Jones shot a wildly efficient 74 percent on his shots at the rim during the 2019-20 season (93rd percentile) when he played most of his time in the frontcourt, as opposed to a 65 percent clip (66th percentile) last season in Portland.

At the end of the day, however, any offense Jones brings should be considered a cherry on top. The Bulls will mostly be looking for him to be a high-impact defender that can round out their second unit.

Lots and Lots of Dunks

The 2020 Slam Dunk Champion, the Chicago Bulls are about to have two of the best dunkers in the league on their roster.

*Bruno Mars voice* Don’t believe me? Just watch …

written by

Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

more bulls news

What Would be the Best Draw for the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament?

Nine games stand between the Chicago Bulls and the Play-In Tournament. I know ... yippie! Practically locked into the No. 9 seed, this puts them in line to host the No. 10 seed at the United Center in Round 1....

Best Defense of the Season, Playing Big, Javonte Green’s Instant Impact, and Other Bulls Bullets

Lose to the 14-win Wizards one game and hold the Pacers' elite offense to their worst performance of the season the next. Your 2023-24 Chicago Bulls, everyone! As I said in last night's Enhanced Box Score, I'm now even more...

WOW: Minnesota Timberwolves Sale to Alex Rodriguez Falls Through

The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a bomb on Thursday morning. According to a statement released by the Timberwolves and Lynx ownership group, the franchise is no longer for sale. A transition of power was thought to be in place over the...

Enhanced Box Score: Bulls 125, Pacers 99 – March 27, 2024

I got to be honest, I'm even more upset about the Washington Wizards' loss. If the Chicago Bulls played like they did tonight, they would have beaten that depleted Wizards team by 40. This was a locked-in group from the...

Javonte Green Makes Bulls Return… Immediately Does Awesome Stuff

Javonte Green has officially made his Chicago Bulls debut ... again. The 30-year-old signed with the organization via a 10-day hardship deal on March 22. Injuries to Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, and Julian Phillips paved the way for...

WATCH: Alex Caruso Snatches Rookie Ben Sheppard’s Ankles

Alex Caruso will always be known for his defense capabilities, but he's showing a lot more than that this season. The veteran guard is averaging double-digit points for the first time in his career. A big part of that has...

Draymond Green Ejected Less Than 4 Minutes Into Game Against Orlando

Draymond Green was at it again on Wednesday night. Out East to take on the Orlando Magic, the Golden State Warriors watched Paolo Banchero bulldoze Andrew Wiggins to the rim early in the first quarter. As Banchero high-fived his teammates...

Pre-Gamin’: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls (7:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

Everything was awful on Tuesday. Be Better. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1772971933161705610?s=20 Game Info Indiana Pacers (41-32) at Chicago Bulls (34-38) – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Projected Starting Lineups Chicago Bulls Coby White Alex Caruso Ayo Dosunmu...

Around the Association: Caitlin Clark Gets Big(3) Offer, Knicks Getting Help, Lakers OT Thriller, More

It's hard to believe we have less than three weeks remaining in the NBA's regular season, and we should be in for some real drama down the stretch. The Knicks have plenty to play for in their remaining 11 games...

WHOA: NCAA Looking to Ban Prop Betting on All College Athletes

As the NCAA men's basketball tournament gears up for the Sweet Sixteen, the college sports world received some big news. On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that NCAA president Charlie Baker wants to officially ban prop betting on college...

Latest News

Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Friday, Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (0-1) face Juan Soto and the New York Yankees (1-0), with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET at Minute Maid Park.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to...

Rays vs. Blue Jays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0), led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., visit the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Tampa Bay square off against Toronto live.When...

CRAAAAAAP: Justin Steele Exits the Game with an Injury (UPDATES)

Yep. That's about as bad as it gets. All those fears and anxieties you felt when Justin Steele took that liner off his knee in spring training came back tonight, only this time it's a soft tissue injury during the...

Heat vs. Trail Blazers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Portland Trail Blazers (19-54) are heavy underdogs (+14.5) as they attempt to break an eight-game losing streak when they visit the Miami Heat (39-33) at 8:00 PM ET on Friday, March 29, 2024 at FTX Arena. The matchup airs...

Cavaliers vs. 76ers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Cleveland Cavaliers (44-29) take the court against the Philadelphia 76ers (39-34) as 7.5-point favorites on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET on NBCS. The matchup has an over/under of 210 points.Cavaliers vs. 76ers OddsCavaliers odds to win:...

Knicks vs. Spurs Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The New York Knicks (44-28) are heavily favored (-10) to continue a three-game winning streak when they visit the San Antonio Spurs (17-56) at 8:00 PM ET on Friday, March 29, 2024 at AT&T Center. The contest airs on BSSW....

Wizards vs. Pistons Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Detroit Pistons (12-61) are 2.5-point underdogs as they attempt to turn around an eight-game losing streak when they visit the Washington Wizards (14-59) on Friday, March 29, 2024 at Capital One Arena. The matchup airs at 7:00 PM ET...

Pacers vs. Lakers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers (41-32) will attempt to extend a five-game winning streak when they hit the road to play the Indiana Pacers (41-33) on Friday, March 29, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as just 2.5-point underdogs. The game airs at...

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Western's top two teams, the Denver Nuggets (51-22) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (50-22), hit the court at Ball Arena on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET on ALT. The Nuggets are favored by 6.5 points at home....

Warriors vs. Hornets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The Golden State Warriors (38-34) play the Charlotte Hornets (18-54) as double-digit, 11.5-point favorites on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET on NBCS. The over/under is set at 218 in the matchup.Warriors vs. Hornets OddsWarriors odds to win:...

more bulls news