Chicago Bulls Linked To 12x All-Star Guard

In ESPN's latest write-up of where some of the biggest names in the NBA will land this summer, Chicago again finds itself on the receiving end of a former All-Star finding new scenery. The Bulls will see the return of point guard Lonzo Ball this season, seeing his first action in three seasons. Unlikely to return to his former self immediately, Ball will need a counterpart in the backcourt to help alleviate the distributing duties as he eases into his previous level of play. This plug-and-play point guard with plenty of experience would give the Bulls a sense of direction offensively from the bench, something they lacked a season ago, and add some veteran experience for when their imminent playoff push begins. Who does Chris Herring see heading to the Windy City, and how much of an impact can he make in their hunt for the postseason?

Chris Paul's Reunion With Billy Donovan

As a part of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2019-20 campaign, Donovan and Paul are familiar with one another and have praised the abilities of their former counterpart. Chicago's head coach has said the 12-time All-Star is a "great leader," a "team guy," someone "willing to sacrifice," and that he's a "calming presence" on the floor. When initially rumored to be linked with the Bulls a few trade deadlines ago, Donovan was intrigued at the notion and would've welcomed his former point guard with open arms.

Adding a player who can coordinate the second unit is something Chicago has lacked for several seasons. Coby White was a great playmaker and shooter off the bench two seasons ago but wasn't a stellar leader. Still, Paul's knowledge of the game and ability to maximize the skillset and potential of his surrounding teammates would bolster the Bulls' reserves tremendously. With the youth movement happening beyond Chicago's starting five, Paul would help develop and groom several of their young players.

Golden State Has To Cut Ties

On a practical level, Chris Paul is still under contract with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are heavily favored to let the 39-year-old veteran go by June 28th, at which point his $30 million contract becomes fully guaranteed. Still, even when they have released him to unrestricted free agency, he will be staring down the barrel of his final destination in the NBA. Without a championship on his resume, many think he could be pursuing a reserve role on a team more capable of making a Finals run than the Bulls. Having missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, the Bulls don't have the best campaign for chasing a ring. However, one of their appeals to Paul is 24-year-old point guard Coby White, whom he's grown close with throughout his unfolding career.

Will the journeyman's desire to play with White and under his former head coach Donovan be enough to drive him to Chicago, or will the chase for his first NBA Championship lead him elsewhere? Paul will likely be an unrestricted free agent within the month, and the bidding war will start. Would you endorse Chris Paul in a Chicago Bulls uniform or see them pursue reinforcements elsewhere?