Billy Donovan was going to sleep well on Monday night.
With the NBA’s free agent negotiating period opening up, the Bulls wasted no time giving their coach the one player he loved to gush over this past season, as the Sun-Times confirmed that Tre Jones would be returning on a three-year, $24-million deal.
“He’s got something; he’s got the ‘it factor,’ ” Donovan said of Jones before the end of the regular season. “He really does. He’s just a winner.”
Before a left foot sprain cut Jones’ season short, the former Duke product started nine of 18 games for the Bulls, averaging 11.5 points and 4.9 assists per game, while shooting 50% from three-point range. In those nine starts he averaged 14.9 points and 7.1 assists per game, but more importantly went 6-3 in the standings.
“You can look at size and length \[Jones is 6-1\] for the position, and he probably doesn’t have any of those things,” Donovan said. “But he has really good speed; he’s really tough; he’s got a high IQ; he understands competition. He can really stay in the moment and compete.
“He’s got a lot of substance, a lot of competitive character to him.”
What does the addition mean for the Bulls’ guard room? It’s interesting because they have already traded Lonzo Ball over the weekend in a deal with the Cavaliers, and while Donovan is not shy about his three-guard lineups, the room remains a bit crowded.
That’s why they might not be done dealing.
Re-signing restricted free agent Josh Giddey remained a priority, but they could also be looking to trade Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu, becoming a more wing-dominant team that gives opposing teams issues with their size in the starting lineup.
The Bulls continue monitoring the trade market for Nikola Vucevic, but they may have to wait until the February Trade Deadline to move the veteran center.