The Chicago Bulls are reportedly adding to their roster less than a month before the beginning of training camp. And, for Bulls fans, this could be one of the more intriguing additions the team made this offseason. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Bulls have signed power forward and Illinois native EJ Liddell. Currently, it is unknown what the details of the contract are.
The Chicago Bulls have agreed to a deal with EJ Liddell, league sources told @hoopshype. Liddell, an Illinois native, played for the New Orleans Pelicans last season and was the No. 41 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/NmFyy6sTZA
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 7, 2024
The New Orleans Pelicans drafted the Ohio State alum with the 41st pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. However, due to an ACL injury, Liddell missed his entire rookie season. The forward made his debut in 2023 with the team, but he had a very minor role. In eight total games, Liddell averaged just 2.9 minutes. Liddell did, however, showcase his talents with the Birmingham Squadron of the G League. In 26 games in Birmingham, Liddell averaged 17.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.8 blocks. He also shot 50.9% from the field.
Chicago Bulls Sign Physical Forward With Illinois Ties
EJ Liddell’s Wild Offseason So Far
Early in the offseason, the Pelicans traded Liddell after two seasons with the team. In a package deal along with Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller, and Larry Nance Jr., the Pelicans traded Liddell to the Atlanta Hawks for Dejounte Murray. However, roughly a month later, the Hawks traded Liddell to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for David Roddy. Nearly a month after that, the Suns released Liddell. In the span of one offseason, Liddell is now a part of his fourth NBA franchise after signing with the Bulls.
Liddell has a lot of potential, but it seems unlikely he will play any type of consistent role this season. This is true even on a team like the Bulls, who have experienced a lot of roster turnover this summer. Regardless, this is a textbook low-risk, high-reward move for both sides. The Bulls will likely keep Liddell in the G League at the most. However, if he can showcase his talents with any level of consistency, the Bulls may be inclined to give him a larger role.
The Bulls Will Look Different in 2024-25
After missing the playoffs for two consecutive years, the Bulls committed to re-tooling their roster this summer. Most notably, the team lost DeMar DeRozan via a sign-and-trade to the Sacramento Kings. Additionally, the Bulls lost veteran Andre Drummond to the Philadelphia 76ers and traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey. The team is also expected to have Lonzo Ball back on the court for the first time since 2022.
While there are some notable mainstays, such as Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, it is clear next season will feature a different Bulls team. Considering the team has made the playoffs just one time since 2017, this could prove to be the right call for the Bulls.
