How do the Chicago Bulls view Anfernee Simons? Is he part of the future for this team, manning the backcourt with Josh Giddey, or is he the only guy the Bulls could get for Nikola Vucevic after exhausting all other options?
We might not know the full answer to that question until this summer, when Simons will be a restricted free agent. But we should get a good feel for it whenever Simons makes his Bulls debut, likely this weekend or early next week (the trade is not technically finalized yet, as more teams may get involved).
Assuming [Coby White is traded](https://pippenainteasy.com/bulls-about-screw-up-coby-white-trade-like-nikola-vucevic) in the next 24-plus hours, the Bulls will enter the back half of this season with Simons and Jaden Ivey both vying for a starting spot next to Giddey. Of course, things are fluid, and Billy Donovan will presumably be trying plenty of lineup combinations — but the minutes distribution in the first few games will be intriguing to watch, and will give us an idea of how each is valued within the organization to start their tenures. Which newly-acquired guard starts with a leg up on the other?
Ivey may have a slight advantage to start — not because he's a better player, but because he'll be a restricted free agent this offseason, thus easier to lock down on a longterm deal if the Bulls desire. In other words, the Bulls might be more willing to see what they have in Ivey because keeping him around will be easier than keeping Simons around.
This is all speculation right now, though; as it stands, the Bulls have White, Ayo Dosumnu, Simons, Ivey, Mike Conley, and new fan favorite Yuki Kawamura all on the roster. So multiple moves need to be made before the Ivey vs. Simons mini-competition can begin in earnest.
What is the Bulls' guard plan after this season?
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The Chicago Bulls currently have 17 guards on their roster (at least it feels that way) so it's easy to mush them all together into a sort of guard soup.
But Simons signed a 4-year, $100 million contract with the Blazers back in 2022 for a reason; he's a hugely talented offensive player who averaged over 20 points per game two straight seasons, can create a shot for himself, and is a high-level 3-point shooter (38% for his career).
Is there a world in which both Ivey and Simons are part of the future? Maybe, although it doesn't feel likely. If Simons and Ivey both ball out in in the next three months, they may price the Bulls out of retaining both. If only one plays well, then the decision on which to pursue in the offseason becomes clear. If neither plays well and go elsewhere in the offseason, that would be a very Bulls result.