July 1, 2024, 9:36 AM
The Chicago Bulls have added some depth down the middle.
Chicago signed free agent centre Jalen Smith to a three-year, $27 million contract, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Monday.
Smith, 24, played the last two and a half seasons with the Indiana Pacers after being traded there from Phoenix at the 2022 trade deadline.
The fourth-year big man averaged 9.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks last season in a limited 17.2 minutes per game in the 2023-24 season. Notably, he hit 42.4 per cent of his three-pointers last year.
The Bulls now replace Andre Drummond’s minutes at the five after losing the veteran big in free agency to the Philadelphia 76ers.